USB or iPOD?

[FunkyGeek]

Just got myself a 2010 E350 CDi. From the forums I've read that a Harman system retrofit may not be possible. C'est La Vie. I'll not be fitting third party kit as I did this with a car in the past and it didn't match the balance of the factory fitted system.

At the moment I've got all my music on a USB stick which sounds 'good' but my previous vehicle was a 2004 BMW 5 series with a full Logic7 system and that sounded amazing(!).

So, I was wondering if there's any mileage (sound quality wise) in using an ipod rather than a USB stick.

ALSO, has anyone else noticed that when using a USB stick that there can be a delay of up to 20s before a selected track starts playing?? Will an ipod stop this happening or is it more of the same?

Any help appreciated.

 

[Megaoctane]

Why isn't a H/K retrofit possible? I am thinking of getting it done in my car, E200CDI 2011 model, and no one has told me that it won't work...

 

[FunkyGeek]

I might be mistaken, but I thought I read it here on the forums that Mercedes won't do a retrofit. If they did I'd go for it just for the warranty.

I've seen it here at Command Online for £2280

W212 Saloon Harman Kardon retrofit kit | Harman Kardon Retrofit | Mercedes Retrofits | Comand Online Ltd

but I'm not sure I'd do the upgrade for that amount. So I'm looking at the option of making sure I take the best quality of music into the car that I can.
http://www.commandonline.co.uk/hk_W212_saloon.html

 

[wilsodg]

If you are using the Ipod digital interface (not a headphone connector), then you are feeding digital into the car audio and I doubt there is any difference to USB. If you use the headphone audio jack I'd expect that to be inferior to the USB. The interface on the Ipod is slicker and more capable than the USB interface- especially if you have a lot of tracks - and for that reason alone I just put my entire music collection on an Ipod classic that lives in the glovebox.

 

[gIzzE]

iPod every time, much easier to search etc.


You can put a 4 channel amp onto your head unit for around £250 fitted that transforms the W212.
Not a bad system at all, just seriously underpowered.

 

[c63chris]

+1 on the iPod. Get a spare and leave it plugged in under the arm rest. Works really well and the newer ones are quicker scrolling through the tracks. Also the audio quality varies. My old iPod doesn't sound as good as my iPhone so worth checking this out. Depends on how much you will notice the quality or not.

 

[timskemp]

If you have audio 20 you can tailor the EQ to your preference, also adding a sub and an amp isn't a huge thing to do, I had my Audio 20 in my W204 running really well, using Focal K2 speakers in the front, a rockford slim sub in the boot with an alpine amp, sub running from the rear speakers, high pass engaged on the front.

I've not started modding the W212 yet...

 

[FunkyGeek]

Hi Everyone, thanks for those excellent replies. So here's my list of to-do's

1. Buy iPod touch for storage (nearest thing to the iPhone) or iPod classic (160GB is awesome!)
2. Consider 4 channel amp adding to Head unit
3. Add sub (+amp?) in boot (this will definitely be done)

I don't think I have Audio 20. All I have is Bass/Treble controls. But on the plus side even for a basic system it's not bad! All it needs is a sub for a bit of depth.

I had an alpine 925r + Morel Tempo 7x5 speakers/tweeter + Bazooka sub in my last car. I'll put the bazooka sub (plus a new amp) in the W212 and give my daughter the rest of the kit for her car. Lucky girl!

 

[gIzzE]

W925r, the double din Nav unit with DAB?

If so I will give you £500 for it and you can buy here a nice app radio for £200.

 

[FunkyGeek]

OK, so spoke to the fitter. Here's what I'm getting installed under the glove box. Good solution:

Pioneer TS WX110A
TS-WX110A Space-saving Amplified Sub (150W) - Pioneer Speakers, Subwoofers

gIzzE, yes it's the DD unit. I have the cage, fittings etc. I can send you more pics if you want. I've also got 4 7x5 Morel Tempo speaker and a Bazooka 6.5" BTA6100 sub if you want to consider those as well..

I think you've made me an offer I can't refuse there (my daughter will just have to bawl into her J20 - I'll get her something nice ).

PM me.

 

[gIzzE]

I'll take it mate.

PM me some details.

I was just about to spend £700 on a new one.

 

[gIzzE]

Just realised you have not had enough poststo PM.

I have sent you an email trough the forum, if you don't receive it let me know and we will sort something else out.

Cheers

Guy

 

[gIzzE]

Pioneer TS WX110A
TS-WX110A Space-saving Amplified Sub (150W) - Pioneer Speakers, Subwoofers

I've also got 4 7x5 Morel Tempo speaker and a Bazooka 6.5" BTA6100 sub if you want to consider those as well..

I would consider the Pioneer slim sub, or the Focal underseat, both are a nice step up from that one you have linked to.

TS-WX77A (Archived) - Pioneer Australia

Focal IBus 20 - RoadRadio


If only you have 6" Tempos, I would have had them.

I have the 6" in the front and the 5x7 won't fit my rear doors.

 

[gIzzE]

Can you drop me a mail mate?
Just that I have been offered another w925r and said I have one sorted, but want to make 100% sure you want to let yours go.

Where abouts are you roughly?


You should be able to email me through the forum.

 

[FunkyGeek]

gIzzE, sent you a mail. I can't read private messages yet for some reason.

Just dropped the car off. I opted to go with their recommendation for the Pioneer sub under the glovebox and replace the stock tweeters. I discussed the other options with them but they said to go with the Pioneer, that I wouldn't be disappointed

I'm getting it fitted here:

Auto Audio Installations: in car entertainment specialists

They did my previous install which was the Alpine/Morel/Bazooka kit. They've said that they've done quite a few of these Pioneer+tweeter upgrades now for the E Class.

The WX77A is massive. It's just not what I'm looking for right now. If I was looking at a serious kit upgrade then it might be an option but I'm just adding a bit of punch to the basic system installed. Once you start down that 'serious kit' route it's a slippery slope....

I get it back this afternoon. I'll let you know if it's thumbs up or thumbs down.

 

[sjmaxwell]

On the ipod front the older ipods (80GB) are supposed to be the better sounding as they used better quality components and obviously the compression used will make a difference to the sound quality!

 

[gIzzE]

I'm getting it fitted here:

Auto Audio Installations: in car entertainment specialists

They did my previous install which was the Alpine/Morel/Bazooka kit. They've said that they've done quite a few of these Pioneer+tweeter upgrades now for the E Class.

The WX77A is massive. It's just not what I'm looking for right now. If I was looking at a serious kit upgrade then it might be an option but I'm just adding a bit of punch to the basic system installed. Once you start down that 'serious kit' route it's a slippery slope....

I get it back this afternoon. I'll let you know if it's thumbs up or thumbs down.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[FunkyGeek]

On the ipod front the older ipods (80GB) are supposed to be the better sounding as they used better quality components and obviously the compression used will make a difference to the sound quality!

Looks like a visit to CEX or Cash Converters for one of these then?

CeX (UK) Electronics, Apple iPods & Accessories, Apple iPod, Apple iPod Classic 80GB Black, C

Thanks

 

[FunkyGeek]

Hmmm... better take the iPod connector along with me, just to be safe!

 

[sjmaxwell]

Looks like a visit to CEX or Cash Converters for one of these then? CeX (UK) Electronics, Apple iPods & Accessories, Apple iPod, Apple iPod Classic 80GB Black, C Thanks

Unfortunately it's older than the Classic! The Video ones should be ok but you can tell that those in the know are hanging on to the larger capacity ones (like me!) as they have none for sale and they are so much better sounding - through decent headphones or via the dock connector of course