W211 - Hifi Upgrade Woes

[Fady]

I've done a search here and on the US Merc forums, and I am a bit miffed as to the extent one needs to go to to suppliment the factory install with decent kit. As someone who owns a music collection second only to the late John Peel's in size (ok - I exaggerate, but I do have a sizeable collection), and as someone who considers himself an audiophile of sorts, it would be nice to go out and spend some money on a better system.

My car has COMAND but not the £500 Harman Kardon Logic7 option. I spoke with Braybrooks and they tell me that this can be retrofitted and this is the only upgrade path. Cost of this is.....£1650. Now maybe I would consider this at a push if I could guarantee that the sound would be top notch. But no - I see that are wide and varied opinions as to how good this system is and many have replaced all the factory speakers including an apparently not very beefy subwoofer and added a replacement amp. But to be in a position to do this you need to have had the factory upgrade in the first place (this has the necessary premium audio gateway).

Here's some stuff I dug up on the web about the Mercedes hifi/navigation/telephone etc. 'integrated solution' which gives a good insight to anyone interested:

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

I haven't digested it all myself yet, but the upshot seems to be that this is the way forward for Mercedes and that this system is being introduced to all their new models. So seemingly, if you are in a position to specify a new car, you need to make totally sure that you have (an can afford to) include the top audio option. Otherwise the only people who can install this later in the day are those who have the know-how to take a car to bits and do the retrofit at much greater expense. This of course rules out dealerships. And anyone picking up a pre-owned car will just have to lump it. Maybe I've missed something, but would not dealers, component manufacturers and Mercedes themselves benefit greatly from those who might like COMAND or a telephone system or a hifi upgrade?

I'll spend the weekend trying to understand the above links in greater depth and seeking out others so that I can maybe justify the technology.

 

[Thmsshaun]

If you want thoe sound as you sugest you will ned to go non oem and got to a reputabe installer,

From how you are describing your sounds and quality I dobt any OEM solution will be up to the job.

I am currently running a Pioneer XVIC-X1R DVD touch Screen Sat Nav unit with 6 Disc CD changer. Thankfully today I got my Amp back :bannana: A VIBE monobox 2800 Watt Amp driving 2*12" Subs This has alone has improved the quality as I can lower the bass on the mids and tweets and use the subs to provide the depth. I am also looking to improve my Mid and will be making a custom rear shelf, new rear and front door speakers.

What you want to do really is limited by what you want to spend. You can not ask this sort of quesion without on monetary limit.

 

[Satch]

I gave up on the upgrade path.

The Cost versus Benefit was out of proportion

 

[VBD]

My car has COMAND but not the £500 Harman Kardon Logic7 option. I spoke with Braybrooks and they tell me that this can be retrofitted and this is the only upgrade path.

If you want to keep it entirely factory then techincally yes. Otherwise using something like the JL audio Cleansweep or the Audiocontrol LC6, any aftermarket amp and speakers (or even retaining the original speakers) will do the trick and will not in any way effect the functioning of the comand. Why ditch everything when there is no need too.

Oh and £1650 will get you a kick ass upgrade(as described above) that will have the HK system whimpering for cover.

 

[gmatj]

Hi everybody
Upgrading is not cheap - but anyway in my case it was cheaper than purcasing the options when the car was bought.
I got a W211 2007 Facelift -retrofited comand APS and TV tuner - Everything works nicely now. (The TV upgrade finally costed quite a bit!! , Comand was Ok - Retrofit was performed by MB Dealer)
I also want to upgeade the sound system and I am trying to find out what is needed However 1650 sounds too much ---
Up to now I got an HK AGW (250 EUros from Ebay) and a Bass Box (100 EUro). What is also needed is front mid speaker (I am trying to find one original or equivalent ) After all is found what is needed is to change the speaker pinout on the AGW plug (When I find exactly what I have to change I will let you know)
SO where does the 1650 go ???

 

[gIzzE]

Easiest way is to buy a 3 or 5 channel amp that can take a hi-level balanced input, splice into the front and rear speakers behind the head unit and run cables to the amp and then run new cables back to it again, use bullet plugs to make life easy and make putting it back to stock easy.

Then buy some decent front speakers from Rainbow, they do an IQ line which is plug and play and slot straight in. Add a small sub driven off the sub channel on your new amp and you are good to go.

You should be able to do the lot for around £500 + fitting if you are not happy doing this yourself.
The head unit is actually not bad sounding, you can tell this as it is nice and warm when used with the L7 set up.

This will urinate all over the L7 system and you can take it out again in 15 minutes when you sell the car.

 

[PMB515161]

The problem with only upgrading the speakers is, the standard fit system has a built in EQ to make the low quality factory fit speakers sound better, when you upgrade to better quality speakers the EQ is still present making your new speakers sound rubbish. This is why you need a product like the Cleansweep, it listens to the system and levels out the EQ so you have a clean source to work with, then you can add amps and new speakers. However this is not cheap, the Cleansweep is £349.99, after you've spent that you can't really scrimp on the amps and speakers...

 

[gIzzE]

The comand head unit isn't EQ'd, only the fatcory amps are EQ'd which his car doesn't have.
Couple of people I know who have added amps have not bothered with any response correction.

Is that definite or just what some installer has told you try to sell another product?

I got all this with 3 installers while doing the same with the BMW iDrive, all insisted the standard unit was EQ'd, it's ******!

 

[aka$h]

As far as I know, if your car has COMAND< you already have an audio gateway. If this is the case, the upgrage to H\K, shouldnt bee too expensive or difficult. The wiring from the head unit to the AGW is present, as is the wiring from the AGW to all the speakers.
You will need:
H\K AGW
all the speakers

And not be scared of taking your "E" to bits.

Thankfully my current E class is very well specced, H\K is one of those.

 

[hi_flyer437]

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere; I searched to no avail. I need to replace the centre speaker in our 04 E270CDI estate as it is horribly distorted. Fortunately it's my wife's car and, as such, I don't have to put up with it that often, but it needs doing. Is it an easy job? I'm not fussed about upgrading the speaker, just replacing it with another OEM one. Thanks in advance.

 

[gIzzE]

I always disconnect the centre speaker on cars, they are always rather rubbish and ruin the soundstage I find.

Maybe an idea to unplug the connector before spending money and see what you think, you may prefer it.

 

[hi_flyer437]

OK...and now for the dulllard question...how would I get to the connector?

(I used to do all this on my older cars...but not any more!)