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So the display is pretty much gone on my radio so I just ordered a new clarion head unit with install kit from crutchfield. Is there any other improvements I could/should do. I'm not looking for that booooooming system lol, just better sound quality and maybe a little improvement in bass. I do have the OEM bose system, if that makes a difference!
So the display is pretty much gone on my radio so I just ordered a new clarion head unit with install kit from crutchfield. Is there any other improvements I could/should do. I'm not looking for that booooooming system lol, just better sound quality and maybe a little improvement in bass. I do have the OEM bose system, if that makes a difference!
Can't comment much to help, unfortunately. I prefer the stock system (they all came with Bose) by a wide margin.
Someone yanked out the stock head unit in my 98 and replaced it with some Pioneer head unit "upgrade" and it sounds like absolute garbage. My 99 has the stock system and it's miles better. I wish I could find all the parts to return my 98 to stock system
Unless you go full aftermarket head unit, amp, speakers, it will sound like poop. Stock system is not bad.
I'd find a good OEM head unit. Every time I see an aftermarket unit in a Mercedes,I think piece of **** car. Usually holds true.
I agree. If I see an aftermarket radio in a used MB, that's almost as bad as hearing "it might need a transmission fix soon." I don't know why. I cringe, immediately.
The first thing that will date a car (or the car's owner) is an aftermarket radio.
If I buy a 1969 Dodge Dart and it's got a casio tape deck in it, it says a lot about the car's history and the owner.
I've also never been in an MB with an aftermarket radio that sounded as good or better than the stock one. The only reason I bought my wife's 1998 C43 is because it was a stupid good deal. But it did have an aftermarket pioneer head unit in it. It's hideous and dated. Worst of all is it makes the speakers sound like dry paper. The stock system in my 99 blows it out of the water in every possible way.
Did they change the sound system in 98 or something? Because the 97's head unit wasn't that good at all. Next to no adjustability and had a constant hiss at low volumes. It was ok I suppose for a tape player but the double din Kenwood that's in the car now made it way better.
Did they change the sound system in 98 or something? Because the 97's head unit wasn't that good at all. Next to no adjustability and had a constant hiss at low volumes. It was ok I suppose for a tape player but the double din Kenwood that's in the car now made it way better.
There was an update to digital in 99+ cars. Everything 98 and below had analog. However, the function remained the same on both. No more adjustability on the 99+ cars. My 94 C280 had stock bose, and my 99 C43 has stock bose. The only difference I've found is the head unit, but the output is exactly the same.
On the hiss: my 94 did develop hiss about 10 years into ownership. I left my runroof in the upright position one hot day. While at work, a crazy windy rainstorm blew in and the rain was coming down at a very broad angle and my car was parked at the perfect angle to get a ton of water through the sunroof. As I walked out (not knowing it had even been raining) I could hear my car's stereo blasting. My ENTIRE dash and center console was soaked, standing water in the seats and floors... Radio turned itself on and went to max volume.
That's when the hiss developed in my 94. It never went away. The radio eventually dried out and functioned normally, but my amp's capacitors dried out and I eventually lost all sound.
i upgraded the head unit in mine only becuase the changer in the trunk didnt work any more so i had no CD capability; and who the hell wants to mess with a changer these days?!
i really hated teh fact that the new head units are mostly quite ugly unless you find one of the companies making retro styled ones but they are quite expensive. so i went with a sony head unity that wasnt terribly overdesigned and it had full color display adjustment so i could set it to match the factory amber color, so at least at night it looks perfect.
i had no noticeable difference in sound quality, but all i had to base it on was the radio previously.
the new head unit has a subwoofer output, a nice 200w 10" woofer would balance out the sound nicely, but i mostly race the car so i wont like put that in anytime soon. the factory bose sounds great at mid to high volumes, completely lacks low end at low volumes though.
And hands free calling, plus reverse camera and subwoofer control. Plus I don't think it looks dated. If anything more modern as most every nice car is touch screen. But I do understand what you mean I just think it's the level of aftermarket and the installation.
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
Originally Posted by Super B
And hands free calling, plus reverse camera and subwoofer control. Plus I don't think it looks dated. If anything more modern as most every nice car is touch screen. But I do understand what you mean I just think it's the level of aftermarket and the installation.
Thanks.. Pioneer 12 and amp sitting in closet waiting to go in.. I hate adding weight but the sound would be perfect with a sub. The stock Bose amp and speakers sound great but a little more on the bottom would really complete it.
Thanks.. Pioneer 12 and amp sitting in closet waiting to go in.. I hate adding weight but the sound would be perfect with a sub. The stock Bose amp and speakers sound great but a little more on the bottom would really complete it.
You guys have any pictures of your installs?
can i share my factory set up?
to bad it's a lousy picture, you can only see a small part of my factory stereo
Last edited by KJI3jflarryfe93; 05-06-2015 at 06:07 AM.
I’m no audiophile, but I do know what I like. Part of the problem with a HU swap is that many simply swap the HU and leave the BOSE amp in place. A BOSE amp uses a balanced differential signal, while most aftermarket audio systems use an unbalanced connection. In fact, I’ve never seen an aftermarket HU with a balanced differential signal. There may be some, but I haven’t seen them. No problem though, there are signal adapters - and they are quite inexpensive. My adapter cost all of $14 back in 2009.
Other times, people will swap the HU and the AMP, but leave one or more of the BOSE speakers in place. Like the amps, BOSE makes their own speakers and they typically have a much lower impedance than conventional 4-Ohm units. Other times people will swap a BOSE speaker for something else, but leave the BOSE amp in place. That can cause several problem – the BOSE amp typically has active equalization circuitry designed for the factory BOSE speaker driver – the BOSE driver that doesn’t exist in the aftermarket speaker.
In case someday a buyer with a hard on for cassettes and CDs come along (highly doubtful), I kept the factory HU for my car and made it a point NOT to cut a single wire during the HU swap. Everything is plug and play and the steering wheel controls work. There are ways to truly upgrade the hifi in a Mercedes, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, but it does take planning.
03-28-2015, 09:41 AM
