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W201 Sound system

Rob77

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 31, 2005
Messages
1,945
Location
Bolton
Car
1990 W201 2.6 Sportline; 2011 S204 C350 CDI Sport; 1978 Foale/Suzuki GS750; 1994 Aprilia Pegaso 650
I like a good sounding music system and will happily play around with the one in my house but really know nothing of electronics and less about car ones.

I have in mind to improve the sound of things in my car and have a collection of bits that I'd like to use. These include a Nakamichi radio/CD, a Clarion amp and Clarion front speakers and a Nakamichi elecronic crossover.

Are the front, dash mounted, speakers the same dimensions in the W201 as the W124, bacause my Clarion set is for the W124 and would like to try them in my W201.

I'm not even sure what a crossover does, I got it cheap and it seemed like a good idea. Is it likely to improve things? Similarly, the amp and where would I put it? The crossover is very small and I'd have no trouble siting that but the amp? I know that usually it goes under the rear parcel shelf but I think I'd rather it were under the front passenger seat. Has anyone done this and is it practical.

I should add that there isn't a lot wrong with my existing set up (JVC radio/CD), except that I find the controls awful to use and it could always sound better. The Nakamichi has lovely controls, looks great and has to be an improvement all ways.

As I've said in another post, I'll have the dash out soon anyway and it would be super if I could make use of my W124 ones.
 
A good resource for car audio stuff is the Talkaudio forum. I suggest doing your homework before posting!
http://talkaudio.co.uk

I'd think the W124 speakers probably fit a W201. The W124 fitting is a non-standard 12 cm. The Nakamichi crossover may be useful - is it the low-frequency or high-frequency one? The LF one is a good crossover for a woofer. I'd use what you have up front -assuming you can find a home for the amp - and add a woofer & amp in the boot for bass

I'd ignore all the existing wiring for speakers & power and redo the whole lot. That way you can remove the setup and the original wiring is still intact

Car audio does repay lots of pre-planning...

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 
Thanks Nick. I think I've probably overcomplicated my questions with padding though (a fault of mine :o ).

Basically, I'm not looking to spend very much at all on this. I already have all the parts I intend to use, except for cabling, etc.

I'm not fitting a sub at the moment, although I'll probably put one in the boot come the spring. Also, I'm leaving the rear speakers for the moment too.

I'm having the dash out soon though and it's a good time to see to the front end. With that in mind, I'll replace the head unit and front speakers and get the amp and crossover plumbed in, if it's practical to do so. Also, I'll trail an aux in cable to inside the glove box.

1. The front speakers: I just need to know if the W124 ones will fit the W201. I'd look and see but the W201's are hidden below the dash just now.

2. I'd rather have the amp and crossover in the car than the boot and wondered about under one of the front seats. Has anyone installed these somewhere (unobtrusive but accessable) in the cabin? The fuel tank is (I think) behind the front seats too so I don't want any drilling going on near there.

I've had a look at the Nakamichi crossover and it seems to cover low and high frequencies equally :confused: It's a Mobile Sound System EC200, if that means anything.

I had planned just to hand the items to the mechanic, with a list that simply said "put that thing there and the other bit in behind that ... " sort of thing.

I daren't become involved in any preplanning beyond that or else I'll decide I can't live without some system costing way too much.
 

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