Mike5215

Nice! That's the coolest looking stock 221 I've seen. I'd love to hear the B&O audio system. It's a very rare option.

vantage78

Thanks!! I'm no audiophile, but the B&O sounds amazing. The only other end comparison point would be my wife's Mark Levinson in her GS300;it's no contest. My main input source is Spotify's premium service via bluetooth (extreme setting, 320kbit/s) through a Tune2Air. I've heard lossless (ALAC, FLAC, etc) files are even better, but I haven't tested it out yet.

I will also say that watching movies in the back seat with the audio piped through the B&O is like a mini theater.

skeelo

That's a great color! I also have the B&O system. It was actually one of my requirements when looking for the right s550. It has a fantastic sound stage from every seat. The only weak point I would say is on very low end. It doesn't really keep up if you turn it up. I've pretty much always ripped out oem systems and replaced them with high end equipment (ie brax amps, or butler audio tube amps) but I have not thought about it for a second with this setup.

I also have the Tune2Air, but I don't feel the sound quality is as good as using the AUX cable connected to the headphone jack on my phone. It's too bad because I was really hoping to have a seamless connection and not have to deal with unsightly wires but the loss of sound quality was not worth it to me. I would suggest trying both to see if you can tell the difference in sound because I sure can. The B&O really shines when you play a high quality recording through it.

I feel that the command console is a bit lacking in terms of integration with pandora/spotify and bluetooth vs other cars of similar years. I guess that's because most of these cars are out of the price range of most enthusiasts and it's just a different consumer that generally may not be driving the car themselves or are at the age when they don't really care about such things....

Mike5215

I have a hi-res portable player and some stuff in hi res ALAC (192khtz/24 bit) which has a bitrate of 9400kbs and I actually prefer my 256kbs AAC files in the car. That may have something to do with the stock system, which leaves a lot to be desired.

Here's what I deal with to end up at an audio quality level I can live with:

IPod -> HRT Istreamer Outboard DAC-> Clarion 7 Band EQ-> Fiio Headphone Amp-> Aux In.

You, meanwhile, apparently need only push "Play" and you're in business.

skeelo

Does the Fio amp make a difference? I have one but I never thought about trying it in the car.

Mike5215

Had I known there was such a thing as an upgraded stereo for the 221 back when I was shopping I would have made finding a B&O car a priority.

As for the lack of BT audio it's the strangest thing. If you drive any other current MB product you get a terrific streaming BT audio and integrated COMAND set up. Word was that the designers of the 221 (back in 04 and 05 while it was being developed) did not want to risk the possibility of interference with the car's multiple internal communication systems.

Mike5215

Yeah, it does. It's a little E5, although I tested the larger, more powerful units and didn't care for them as much. It adds just enough gain and has a nice little bass boost function that fills out the bottom perfectly.

But the best bang for the buck by far is the Istreamer DAC. Holy crap! stuff sounds amazing through it versus the device's internal DAC. Can't imagine how good it would sound on a B&O car. But I guess I'll have to imagine because. again, I had no f'ing idea there was a factory audio upgrade on a 221.

skeelo

Do you know of an android equivalent DAC?

Mike5215

This would work:




It would be better if it could simultaneously charge the phone while performing as a DAC but I couldn't find any that do that for Android. This one does have a "power bank" function which toggles between phone charging and DAC function. I would wire it hot (pick up unswitched 12v power from the passenger side dash fuse block) so it remains in a fully charged state and toggle "power bank" off so it's a dedicated DAC, but it would require that your phone is charged independently.

I'll keep looking.

vantage78

Thanks Atcpup!

vantage78

Thanks Skeelo! I'll try to play different sources to see if I can tell a difference.

With regards to the Tune2Air, I've noticed that it doesn't display the correct title in the COMMAND unless you've manually changed the song to the next one. If I just let it play my playlist sequentially, it just has the song where it last picked up on the COMMAND display. Am I missing something here? Song media on my iPhone 5s play and display just fine via the Tune2Air, so maybe it's just Spotify?

On a side note, I can pipe the audio of a video (internet based or iPhone based) through the Tune2Air just fine, but I can't see anything on the COMMAND screen. I wonder if that's the video in motion blocking it? I'm also curious if I can pipe that video to my rear screens if VIM is an issue.....so much tech to play with!

skeelo

Mike5215, whats your thought on the sound quality difference in this scenario:

1. Playing music from a USB disk plugged into the USB port in the glove box and therefore using the built in DAC from the command system

or

2. Playing the exact same music file from a phone or some other device connected to an external DAC (ie FiiO E18) and fed in through AUX

I guess, is the DAC built into the stock system high quality?

Mike5215

I think that if you have an ear that's tuned enough to refuse to compromise on BT Audio vs a wired connection then the answer would be #2, no brainer.

I have to presume that the B&O cars get the same COMAND unit with different firmware (and equalization) specific to the B&O system, and that the differences are in the amp and speakers.

In the stock system, the speakers are decent but the way the internal EQ is configured there's no way to get good results, so in the Harman Kardon system you have to let go of all the added functionality (USB input, SD card input, Music Register) for the sake of audio quality and use the Aux In, where you can add enough processing to compensate for the crappy factory EQ.

On the other hand, having never experienced the B&O that may not be the case with your cars. If you're committed to the Aux In with the loss of COMAND interface and having a cable in the cabin already, take the next step and do the DAC, and the Clarion EQ and I think it'll take the B&O to the next level.

Here's a write-up I did on the EQ. The DAC would go between the mobile device and the "Main In" on the Clarion.

https://mbworld.org/forums/5777581-post1.html

skeelo

I'll just start with the external DAC. It would be quite a shame if the stock system has a crappy DAC given how much the B&O upgrade cost....

Mike5215

I strongly suspect that the only difference in hardware is amp and speakers, and different firmware in the COMAND to change the EQ to B&O's design specs and display the B&O user interface.

Unless the B&O cars are capable of playing back HD digital media, like BluRay or high res 24 bit audio I can't see why MB would bother to put a more robust DAC chip on the COMAND board of just those cars.

The outboard DAC will improve the output of your mobile device, and is likely more advanced and powerful than what's in the COMAND simply because the COMAND hardware dates back to 2005.

The reason I suggested the EQ was your comment earlier about not getting enough punch and fullness at the low end. I can tell you as far as the H&K system goes, adding the outboard EQ made an enormous difference.

hyperion667

torontowino

here is a quick shot of mine

Mike5215

Man that CLS63 looks good! That car is tops on my list when the 2010 comes off CPO warranty. Not crazy about the look of the 222 yet. I'm usually one entire generation behind in what I think looks good in an S Class. Bought a 220 the year the 221 came out, didn't like the 221. Bought the 221 the year the 222 launched. Maybe I just don't like the look of S's I can't afford yet.

skeelo

Love the 222. Not particularly a fan of the 2 spoke steering wheel, but everything else about it is gorgeous (except for the depreciation). I'll likely grab one in 3 yrs for 1/2 MSRP with some warranty left.

Hyperion667 - how is real world gas mileage? I don't particularly care about gas prices, but it's annoying having to fill up all the time.

wilassasin

The pics look great gentleman, not overly saturated with mods nice and clean n sexy!

Rudy; love the wheels and the fact that you lowered it still looks good, I dont mind a lowered car I just hate when they have the slammed look.

Mike; Love the S63-65 wheels nice touch. In regards to the CLS as ur next car sounds great altho I think they feel way small for me inside like a C or E class. I was looking at one b4 I made my purchase and thats what killed the deal along with the small nav, but the car looks great! Also im loving that 222 in the pic those are sweet! I may ****** up a 2016 model depending on the what the reviews are in regards to reliability, also I hate runflat tires ugh I just came from a 7 series c'mon man!

Keep up the good work fellas, lets not turn this into mod station, if so keep it classy like you have been...

hyperion667

thanx man, I love my cls, but after driving the S all week it actually feels kind of cheapish......I know that's crappy to say, but it's true, the 222 is so posh
yes, depreciation will surely suck bad, but I'm also paying a price to have it first; in the sense of it being not used and possibly damaged, plus full warranty as well of course.....
gas......hmmmmmm........got almost 400 miles out of the first tank, and not that much on my second, although I have been gunning it a bit more....I'm not thinking the MPG is that great; but the trip is very comfortable on the way

skeelo

Good luck with it. Do you have the upgraded stereo?

hyperion667

yes, I'm no audio expert like some, but I am a musician that loves music
the system is nice; bass is low, treb is crisp, has several different settings, all sounding unique......thumbs up

Mike5215

The curse of the S Class owner. Nothing else comes close, not even something as stunning as an AMG CLS. I sat in a used low miles 06 Bentley Continental GT last month...started it up, played with the buttons etc. It was cool, but I wasn't blown away by it. I'd rather have a nice CL AMG car.

Popo Here

My not so new anymore 2008 4 Matic with 110,000 miles