Aftermarket Speaker and Amplifier install pictures
#1
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Aftermarket Speaker and Amplifier install pictures
http://www.systembiz.com/W211Speaker...lifierinstall/
I am making the above link available from my W211 HK Speaker Upgrade Thread to give people an immediate opportunity to view pictures without having to read all the details from the earlier thread.
Vim
I am making the above link available from my W211 HK Speaker Upgrade Thread to give people an immediate opportunity to view pictures without having to read all the details from the earlier thread.
Vim
Last edited by pinebaron; 10-25-2009 at 11:16 AM.
#3
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#5
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#6
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I wouldn't ever do it that way... looks kind of cheesy the way the RCA butt splice is in line, not knocking you, but I would never recommend anyone to do it that way ever...
#7
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RCA butt splice was used to permit insertion and easy independent removal of Crossover (attached to door panel) required for midrange and tweeter and also permit detaching from OEM speaker connector while removing door panel. It worked very well.
RCAs (especially gold plated) offer very low insertion loss while providing durable and solid connectivity. A splice of some type was required for the install. I was not keen to use female RCAs; these gold plated RCAs were easily available at Radio Shack. I always think of corrosion resistance.
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#8
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pinebaron: do you know what color wire leads to what? do you have a chart or something?
jbondox: how would you wire it up? im looking to do it in the near future so im getting all my research done first.
jbondox: how would you wire it up? im looking to do it in the near future so im getting all my research done first.
#9
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I subscribed for a day to STARTekinfo; I think it cost me $18 and I was able to make print out pdfs with the wiring diagram for my 07 320 Bluetec. Though it is possible all cars may have the same colors but it is safer and worth subscribing to STARTekinfo for a day.
#11
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You need this link http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/home.jsp
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2007 E-350, Volvo S80, Dodge Caravan
Have you heard of a pyro fuse? I read somewhere that its best to grab power off the main fuse block using the pyro fuse. The main reason so that it will ensure if there is a fault in the electrical system the pyro fuse will ensure nothing has any power. In addition the dealer ship will see an error if power is being drawn directly from battery.
While all this sounds reasonable I would think adding an amp to the fuse may just push it over the edge. Your thoughts? I am concerned about warranty since I have a few years left.
While all this sounds reasonable I would think adding an amp to the fuse may just push it over the edge. Your thoughts? I am concerned about warranty since I have a few years left.
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2007 E-350, Volvo S80, Dodge Caravan
I bought the service cd and the wires in your pictures match the schematics I have from the CD, right down to the power wire.
#14
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Have you heard of a pyro fuse? I read somewhere that its best to grab power off the main fuse block using the pyro fuse. The main reason so that it will ensure if there is a fault in the electrical system the pyro fuse will ensure nothing has any power. In addition the dealer ship will see an error if power is being drawn directly from battery.
While all this sounds reasonable I would think adding an amp to the fuse may just push it over the edge. Your thoughts? I am concerned about warranty since I have a few years left.
While all this sounds reasonable I would think adding an amp to the fuse may just push it over the edge. Your thoughts? I am concerned about warranty since I have a few years left.
I have no idea if the dealer will see an error if power is drawn directly from the battery; my car is under warranty too.
#15
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The intention was to use easily available off the shelf components.
RCA butt splice was used to permit insertion and easy independent removal of Crossover (attached to door panel) required for midrange and tweeter and also permit detaching from OEM speaker connector while removing door panel. It worked very well.
RCAs (especially gold plated) offer very low insertion loss while providing durable and solid connectivity. A splice of some type was required for the install. I was not keen to use female RCAs; these gold plated RCAs were easily available at Radio Shack. I always think of corrosion resistance.
RCA butt splice was used to permit insertion and easy independent removal of Crossover (attached to door panel) required for midrange and tweeter and also permit detaching from OEM speaker connector while removing door panel. It worked very well.
RCAs (especially gold plated) offer very low insertion loss while providing durable and solid connectivity. A splice of some type was required for the install. I was not keen to use female RCAs; these gold plated RCAs were easily available at Radio Shack. I always think of corrosion resistance.
wiring for the speakers:
With the RCA's, most and especially radio shack are 20-22 gauge, which is way too thin to conduct the power needed for the speakers.
using a decent 16gauge speaker wire will be better, as it is usually 90% pure copper, which is about the same as all the wires in the vehicle used by MB. so corrosion is not going to be an issue
The wires going to the door are at least 16 gauge and more than enough to handle the power coming from the RF amp and the wires originate at the gateway/amp in the trunk.
since the problem of getting the speaker wire into the door is already solved by MB for you and is decent quality and thickness, insert the passive crossover into the door, not the side that is exposed to the weather. there is plenty of room to get that xover into it. I recommend a decent velcro also so it is removable.
the plug that provides the power to the speakers needs to be cut, a single speaker wire soldered to it and it is now your feed for the crossover. speaker wire out of the crossover (midbass) goes to the factory mid location where the speaker is mounted. obviously I would reuse the OEM plug and solder the speaker input terminals of the focal speaker to the OE plug. plug the male plug into it and presto, mid is in just like OEM.
as for the tweeter, just solder a speaker wire to the tweeters end, run the wire straight to the crossover. no interuptions in between in the line. since you velcro'd the crossovers a tech can pull it off, and unscrew the connector to the tweeter if it needs to be removed for some reason
reassemble the door
also the striped wires are ground
as for the putty... no, never! go to home depot pr lowes and get the 1/2" or 1/4" foam gasket material, window aisle, one side is sticky... obvious how to put on.. and it will set you back about $5
as for the inputs into the converter, which is really a bummer that you have to use a convertor because none of the RF amps have hi-level inputs... mental note to anyone else looking into doing this.. find an amp that has hi level inputs ... Audison is what I recommend
anyways, all the little splices with quick connects is horrid, there is no reason to do it, you already bought the solder, I seen a picture of it. solder the wires (extension) into the hi level converter
since you are using the OEM speaker wire it will be cut at the gateway/amp... again striped are the negative polarity
with the output of the amp, solder some speaker wires to the wires going to the front speakers at the gateway
hope that makes sense to everyone... if the gateway needs to be removed for a problem, it can still be removed as you are making your connections on the output plug of it
#16
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#17
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and get rid of the mic... since you will be cutting wires it is the white wire with a brown, and a shield... somewhere near pins 3 and 4 I think going into the gateway
or disconnect it at the front... it is the little slit in front of the SOS button
otherwise your sound will be all over the place... was that in the write up?
or disconnect it at the front... it is the little slit in front of the SOS button
otherwise your sound will be all over the place... was that in the write up?
#18
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Some good generic advice by jbondox though mine is based on an actual install you can see
The following items (and several others) were purchased from Radio Shack
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2104018
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2102569
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062665
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2104093
Crimp on connectors are 16-14 guage and not 22 guage. 16 guage speaker wire was used for interconnections. I would not permanently solder the wires since cables are very tight at least if not removing the gateway.
What I incorrectly refered to as putty is actually modeling clay, a favourite for sealing speakers; you can purchase in an arts and craft store. If you must use foam, use Speaker Acoustic Foam.
I would not get rid of the mic and it does not mess up the sound; sound is awesome.
The following items (and several others) were purchased from Radio Shack
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2104018
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2102569
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062665
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2104093
Crimp on connectors are 16-14 guage and not 22 guage. 16 guage speaker wire was used for interconnections. I would not permanently solder the wires since cables are very tight at least if not removing the gateway.
What I incorrectly refered to as putty is actually modeling clay, a favourite for sealing speakers; you can purchase in an arts and craft store. If you must use foam, use Speaker Acoustic Foam.
I would not get rid of the mic and it does not mess up the sound; sound is awesome.
Last edited by pinebaron; 11-01-2009 at 05:05 PM.
#19
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I was talking actual experience, though anytime I post a reference amdeustche deletes it and then bans me for a few days. generic would be the RCA's, and as for modeling clay being a favorite... I have yet to hear that in a mobile environment, home environment and a pro audio environment... must be something new, might need to call B&W and let them know...
as for the mic, it is what causes the amp to scale back power when compared to the road noise. it compares the road noise to to what the amps output is/and signal then makes the necessary changes. DRO is what MB calls it... look it up...
as for the mic, it is what causes the amp to scale back power when compared to the road noise. it compares the road noise to to what the amps output is/and signal then makes the necessary changes. DRO is what MB calls it... look it up...
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09 E320 Bluetec
im thinking of putting a sound system in. if i tap into the stock sub wires and put RCA connectors on the side going to the aftermarket amp will i still need a LOC?
i dont think i will because the signal going to the OEM sub is already a low fq signal.
i dont think i will because the signal going to the OEM sub is already a low fq signal.
#22
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yes, frequency isn't the issue, the current/voltage potential is...
would you hook up a RCA to a speaker wire of your home theater system (5 x100 watts) then run it into the aux input of a portable MP3 player.... melt down!
the LOC is transformer based with high impedance resistors so as not to put a heavy load on the LOC, change the impedance of the factory audio system... and the transformers step down the voltage so it is usable for the amp.
If you buy a quality amp, some have speaker level inputs such as Audison
would you hook up a RCA to a speaker wire of your home theater system (5 x100 watts) then run it into the aux input of a portable MP3 player.... melt down!
the LOC is transformer based with high impedance resistors so as not to put a heavy load on the LOC, change the impedance of the factory audio system... and the transformers step down the voltage so it is usable for the amp.
If you buy a quality amp, some have speaker level inputs such as Audison
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09 E320 Bluetec
yes, frequency isn't the issue, the current/voltage potential is...
would you hook up a RCA to a speaker wire of your home theater system (5 x100 watts) then run it into the aux input of a portable MP3 player.... melt down!
the LOC is transformer based with high impedance resistors so as not to put a heavy load on the LOC, change the impedance of the factory audio system... and the transformers step down the voltage so it is usable for the amp.
If you buy a quality amp, some have speaker level inputs such as Audison
would you hook up a RCA to a speaker wire of your home theater system (5 x100 watts) then run it into the aux input of a portable MP3 player.... melt down!
the LOC is transformer based with high impedance resistors so as not to put a heavy load on the LOC, change the impedance of the factory audio system... and the transformers step down the voltage so it is usable for the amp.
If you buy a quality amp, some have speaker level inputs such as Audison
thanks
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Did you decide what you will be installing?
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2009 VW CC
Do your homework Pinebaron! JBondoX is a VERY talented, experienced and professional installer with MANY years of experience. Your install, while functional, is far from professional and "clean". While it may work properly (not with that mic, though) and suit your needs it is clearly done from an amatuer/hobbiest refrence point.
Nobody uses modeling clay & acoustic gasketing foam is the same as the stuff from Lowes. You probably read somewhere about some IASCA guys using modeling clay (non-hardening) and that is for DAMPENING the inside of kick-panels to add mass in order to reduce resonance and/or tweak net volume of the enclosure to gain the optimum frequency response.
Besides, if you really were that **** you would have built a new plastic ring from ABS stock using a CNC router as we would
If you'd like to see some pictures of how true professional installers would integrate the same system shoot me your e-mail address and I will gladly send you some photos.
So again....your install might work for you, and if it does, God bless, but it should not be refrenced as a "how-to" article.
P.S. -- NEVER, EVER use an LOC. They do nothing but mess with the signal. Use a MOTUS M.O.S.T. fiber-optic interface :-)
Last edited by BrabusMan; 11-20-2009 at 03:01 AM. Reason: typos