Radio swap
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
I'm driving a 2003 CL600 - love it.
Radio swap
I have an 03 CL600 and I'm thinking of replacing the Comand system for an aftermarket Nav, iPhone/iPod compatible, bluetooth system. My local shop suggests the eXelon Kenwood DNX9140.
Does anybody have any other suggestions?
They say that I will have to change the amplifiers, and probably the speakers as well. (This seems like MAJOR surgery.) They did not know the resistance of the speakers (Bose) and if they would work with a new amp.
Anybody have any comments?
Thanks,
Tangofrog
Does anybody have any other suggestions?
They say that I will have to change the amplifiers, and probably the speakers as well. (This seems like MAJOR surgery.) They did not know the resistance of the speakers (Bose) and if they would work with a new amp.
Anybody have any comments?
Thanks,
Tangofrog
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 26
From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
The Kenwood Excelon DNX 9140 seems like a pretty good unit, and folks who have had one installed speak highly of it.
Your audio system (including phone, CDC, voice control, radio, amp and nav) are connected with a fiber optics bus. When you remove the COMAND you lose everything on that bus; but the Kenwood unit will replace most of the functions - except if you want adequate power, you will likely need an amp.
Kenwood uses the same operating system for navigation as Garmin, which I find very user-friendly. Displays are clear, instructions are very good; the lane assist function is great, providing a photo-like display at interchanges. I like having the posted speed limit available, as well as my actual speed, side-by-side.
Your Bose speakers are 2-ohm, where most car audio is 4-ohm. The impedance mismatch can cause problems in 2 ways: Providing too little resistance for the amp, causing it to overdrive and go into clipping. Or, it can cause damage to the speakers.
Also, when you remove the COMAND you are removing the active equalization that Bose designed into it for your specific car. You may not be able to achieve a good EQ curve for your car with the original Bose speakers and the new non-Bose system.
Your audio system (including phone, CDC, voice control, radio, amp and nav) are connected with a fiber optics bus. When you remove the COMAND you lose everything on that bus; but the Kenwood unit will replace most of the functions - except if you want adequate power, you will likely need an amp.
Kenwood uses the same operating system for navigation as Garmin, which I find very user-friendly. Displays are clear, instructions are very good; the lane assist function is great, providing a photo-like display at interchanges. I like having the posted speed limit available, as well as my actual speed, side-by-side.
Your Bose speakers are 2-ohm, where most car audio is 4-ohm. The impedance mismatch can cause problems in 2 ways: Providing too little resistance for the amp, causing it to overdrive and go into clipping. Or, it can cause damage to the speakers.
Also, when you remove the COMAND you are removing the active equalization that Bose designed into it for your specific car. You may not be able to achieve a good EQ curve for your car with the original Bose speakers and the new non-Bose system.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
I'm driving a 2003 CL600 - love it.
Thanks. You are absolutely amazing! You truly have an encyclopedic knowledge of all things electronic as relates to Mercs.
How do you do it?
How do you do it?
