At present my W210 estate has a 'high-power' Alpine head unit powering the factory standard front and rear door speakers. I am looking at some options to improve the stereo.
However, though I have previously installed systems in other cars using several amps, hiqh quality cables, custom built sub boxes etc, on this occasion I am looking for something much easier, cheaper and less time consuming!
I have to say I am quite surprised how good it sounds already considering I am using the standard factory cardboard type speakers.
Here is what I am thinking, remember ease and low cost is the prime factor. I would consider making the improvements in the following order as funds allow.
1. Replace the drivers in the front door with a set of better quality 17cm drivers probably keeping to the Alpine brand theme as I have had good results with their stuff in the past.
2. Using 17cm adapters which cost about a tenner I thought about installing the factory drivers I will remove from the front doors and put them in the rears for a bit of deeper rear fill. I often carry passengers and though I would normally consider going fronts only with a sub on this occasion I am going to utilise the rear doors.
3. Install two 6" or 8" (depending on fit) subs in the rear tailgate. The tailgate would be deadened and the speakers secured in place with an MDF board for strength. A mono amp would run the two from 80htz down. The amp I already have is a 2ohm stable amp running 1x350x or 1x700 at 2ohm. This way I lose no bootspace.
3. Add an Alpine KTP 445 in line head unit amplifier behind the dash to give more power to the cabin speakers and increase the dynamincs. This simply plugs into the existing factory and head unit wiring direct. The head unit will allow me to filter the cabin frequencies to 80htz and above though if I went the in-line filter route I would consider dropping the front drivers a tad lower.
Any suggestions?
Has anyone got any pics of what they have done in their W210 estate or any advice on what did, or did not, work?
Stu.
However, though I have previously installed systems in other cars using several amps, hiqh quality cables, custom built sub boxes etc, on this occasion I am looking for something much easier, cheaper and less time consuming!
I have to say I am quite surprised how good it sounds already considering I am using the standard factory cardboard type speakers.
Here is what I am thinking, remember ease and low cost is the prime factor. I would consider making the improvements in the following order as funds allow.
1. Replace the drivers in the front door with a set of better quality 17cm drivers probably keeping to the Alpine brand theme as I have had good results with their stuff in the past.
2. Using 17cm adapters which cost about a tenner I thought about installing the factory drivers I will remove from the front doors and put them in the rears for a bit of deeper rear fill. I often carry passengers and though I would normally consider going fronts only with a sub on this occasion I am going to utilise the rear doors.
3. Install two 6" or 8" (depending on fit) subs in the rear tailgate. The tailgate would be deadened and the speakers secured in place with an MDF board for strength. A mono amp would run the two from 80htz down. The amp I already have is a 2ohm stable amp running 1x350x or 1x700 at 2ohm. This way I lose no bootspace.
3. Add an Alpine KTP 445 in line head unit amplifier behind the dash to give more power to the cabin speakers and increase the dynamincs. This simply plugs into the existing factory and head unit wiring direct. The head unit will allow me to filter the cabin frequencies to 80htz and above though if I went the in-line filter route I would consider dropping the front drivers a tad lower.
Any suggestions?
Has anyone got any pics of what they have done in their W210 estate or any advice on what did, or did not, work?
Stu.
