What speakers should I put in a 124 dash while the windscreen is out?

[WDB124066]

As the title says. Don't want to make big changes to the dash - well as little as possible really, so what type of speakers can I slip in there while the screen is out - anything that springs to mind as a must have....??

Regards to all, W.

 

[Osgee]

Do you know the size of the speakers ? Are they mids ?

 

[grober]

They are an odd size 12cms Many people seem to favour Rainbows or MB quarts. e.g.
Rainbow DL-X4,7 Dream Line Coaxial 120 mm 2 way car speakers - Rainbow DL-X4,7 Dream Line Coaxial 120 mm 2 way car speakers from Car Audio Stuff Online lots of posts on here about speakers search using "W124+ SPEAKERS"

 

[bolide]

You are really limited by depth. I'd try and get some good 10 or 13 cm mids in there and put the tweeters in the sail panels

Have a look at Focal and DLS

If you like the typical boom-tizz car stereo sound look at Japanese and American speakers like JL

That dash location is pretty demanding of speakers. Anything with a peaky midrange (ie, most cheap speakers) will sound horrible

Nick Froome

 

[WDB124066]

Anything out of this range you would pick/recommend, I am after something reasonably decent?

Universal - Focal-

Not too sure where I would mount a remote tweeter though, I really don't like the look of them...

I'm thinking ISC130's, do you think I might get away with a 5" in there...??

 

[Xarpolis]

I suggest taking a look at Polk Audio. They make some incredible mid-range speakers. What's nice about them is the tweeter is separate... not mounted in the middle the way most speakers come these days.

Another brand that sells solo midranges is the Infinity Kappa line. They have mids and tweets in the same box along with a crossover to handle the frequency responses going to each speaker.

 

[GP801]

I have the Rainbows in our estate. They are very clear and neutral sounding but lack depth. However given the location nothing is going to be great.

 

[MD5]

^ plus 1.

Have you considered putting some in the doors?

 

[Charles Morgan]

Whatever Nick recommends, do. He is both a W124 geek and a sound engineer, and the set up he put in my W124 estate was stunning. We didn't use the dash though - mid-range went into the doors, and the tweeters were in the fly panels.

I can't say I share the enthusiasm for Rainbows - I found the sound very forced.

 

[WDB124066]

I have struggled to get Rainbows here in NZL they will not ship overseas. But I've always fancied something a little better than Rainbows - maybe - but don't fancy major surgery, like to keep things looking stock I'm afraid.

Rainbows for the 124 used to be IQ230's, now it looks like they are no longer available and they are replaced by what grober posted - DL-X4,7 ??

Got in contact with the Focal agent here in NZL, they confirm they are Car Audio agents as well, they are off seeking prices - at least I can get them here.

I've always looked at the door card speakers MB did, but that requires extra amps etc and I don't know if my car will take an extra amp & if it does where??

Don't really fancy my tweeters visible, could they be mounted out of sight, or should I go for the combined set up?? I think I'll lean towards forgoing a little quality of sound in favour of not chopping the trim up too much - at this stage.

In the meantime awaiting news from Focal NZ and advice from the cognoscenti on here of course.

Thanks for the advice, very much appreciated, W.

 

[millo777]

These are what I have, and they work o.k, but I do have the factory fit front door cards with subs , and a larger sub in the rear to fill out that sound.

CLARION SE 5255 60W MERCEDES BENZ (W 124) SPECIAL FIT SPEAKERS BRAND NEW NO BOX | eBay

Is the speaker fitment different for cabs vs coupes/estates/saloons? the reason I ask, is the following ad seems to indicate the speakers are for w124, but not cabrio?

PIONEER 13cm Koax Heck Lautsprecher/Boxen für MERCEDES E-Klasse W124 - 1984-1997 | eBay

 

[WDB124066]

The front is the same throughout the range but the Cabrio rear is unique and doesn't lend itself well to any mods or aftermarket speakers without a fair bit of surgery...

 

[grober]

Front door pod mounted speakers a la R129 seem to be the best option. Jehnert's are the custom built name but many folks have built their own or got a friendly custom shop to built/fit same. Construction using the existing door pockets as mounting templates would not be too difficult.

Here's a post which a) demonstrates the US MB fitted trailing door edge SPEAKER option

and
b) how to rebuild the door panel/pocket
PeachPartsWiki: Door panel removal, map pocket fix, door check replacement


and a video on r129 door panel removal showing the possible front door speaker position.
[YOUTUBE]9iDZjI-uRfA[/YOUTUBE]

 

[WDB124066]

Thanks grober, I didn't want to go to that extent, just a better speaker up front at this point.

Thinking about it, I actually wouldn't mind trying a set of Rainbows first, they may be good enough and an easy fit...

 

[grober]

Thanks grober, I didn't want to go to that extent, just a better speaker up front at this point.

Thinking about it, I actually wouldn't mind trying a set of Rainbows first, they may be good enough and an easy fit...

Be interested to hear how you get on if you decide to go ahead with the Rainbow DL-X4,7 Co-axials

 

[WDB124066]

Yes what is the differece between those and the IQ230 that they used to promote for the 124's - do you know?

Ray Smith is difficult for me because they will not ship overseas, Grrrr, but I wouldn't mind trying them out first - they are cheap enough.

 

[bolide]

I prefer the original Blaupunkt-made Mercedes speakers to the Rainbows. They're still available from the dealer

Nick Froome

 

[scillyisles1]

WDB - I have the same car as you (1996 E320 Cab Sportline) and I have fitted the Rainbows. I personally find them very good and they fit very well. I also tried other dash speakers in an W124 E320 Estate MBQuart in this case and found them too bright. The standard Blaunpunkt speakers are pretty cheap. I have also upgraded my headunit to a Becker Cascade Pro which also helped with the sound.
The rear speakers as you note are very diffcult to upgrade in the Cabriolet without major surgery which I also don't want to do.

 

[WDB124066]

I see. May just settle with the Rainbows (if I can bl00dy well get a pair here) but I thought since I am having the windscreen removed there may have been a worthwhile number out there that needed the screen out to be fitted in properly...??

Focal came back and said stock will be in NZL in six weeks, even then I don't know if they will fit. Rainbows in the meantime I feel....

 

[grober]

Product features: DL-X4,7 Co-axials

2-way 120mm Coaxiaal System
Max. 80 Watts / RMS 40 Watt
Frequency Responce: 65-21 000 Hz
Imedence : 4 Ohm
Sensitivity: 90 dB
Mounting Depth Woofer: 48 mm

and the earlier one

would point to the older speaker having having a slightly higher power rating and slightly wider frequency range. However there is no sensitivity figure for the older unit meaning the newer speaker may be slightly easier to drive?? and the sound you get from them them may depend on the output stage of your head unit.