FAQ? COMAND equipped vehicles, how to improve sound quality?
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Mid Atlantic
'02 C240/6
FAQ? COMAND equipped vehicles, how to improve sound quality?
I have a non-Bose '02 C240 retroffitted with an Euro COMAND. Sounds much better than the original car radio, but I am still not happy with the quality of the sound. I do not want it to be any louder than it is, I just want it to sound better. Any FAQ's out there about what can be done (i.e., it is possible to do), and what improvements to expect? Thanks!
Last edited by jules; Jan 22, 2005 at 05:37 PM. Reason: spelling mistake
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 1
From: Australia
Originally Posted by jules
I have a non-Bose '02 C240 retroffitted with an Euro COMAND. Sounds much better than the original car radio, but I am still not happy with the quality of the sound. I do not want it to be any louder than it is, I just want it to sound better. Any FAQ's out there about what can be done (i.e., it is possible to do), and what improvements to expect? Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
SL500 and A-CLASS
I think Mercedes has the worst sounding radios/CD players of any car I owned. I think those Mercedes engineers are tone death. The BOSE stereo in my Yukon Denali and my Monte Carlo sounds a whole lot better.
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 1
From: Australia
Originally Posted by tiggerfink
I think Mercedes has the worst sounding radios/CD players of any car I owned. I think those Mercedes engineers are tone death. The BOSE stereo in my Yukon Denali and my Monte Carlo sounds a whole lot better.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
I believe the goal of the insulation is to filter out the outside noise from getting into the cabin, not filtering the "noise" within the cabin & kill it before it reaches your ears... otherwise you would have to speak very loudly to converse in the car.
Basically the sound systems sound poorly because either ther dont have, amps that can handle highs & lows, enough amp power to make these highs & lows louder, or crummy speakers which arent able to reproduce strong but clean highs & lows, or all three.
Think of how sound insulated, or dead a DJ's studio is, but the music he hears when he's not listening thru headphones sounds phenonmenal, as does the sound going out to your radio, where it is being chopped & murdered.
I agree, most of the MB sound systems are lousy when compared to other car audio systems. Either MB figures it has spent enough money on the car already, and their research shows that their "typical" purchaser will accept this quality sound system, or that this is a good place to save a couple of bucks on the total vehicle cost.
MY HK7 in my '04 E500 was a real surprise to me. It is pretty pleasant to listen to, but it could use more power... not license plate frame rattling loud, just a little more power. Not to mention a more sensitive volume control on the head unit. There is much to much dial rotation for the amount of volume increase given!
Basically the sound systems sound poorly because either ther dont have, amps that can handle highs & lows, enough amp power to make these highs & lows louder, or crummy speakers which arent able to reproduce strong but clean highs & lows, or all three.
Think of how sound insulated, or dead a DJ's studio is, but the music he hears when he's not listening thru headphones sounds phenonmenal, as does the sound going out to your radio, where it is being chopped & murdered.
I agree, most of the MB sound systems are lousy when compared to other car audio systems. Either MB figures it has spent enough money on the car already, and their research shows that their "typical" purchaser will accept this quality sound system, or that this is a good place to save a couple of bucks on the total vehicle cost.
MY HK7 in my '04 E500 was a real surprise to me. It is pretty pleasant to listen to, but it could use more power... not license plate frame rattling loud, just a little more power. Not to mention a more sensitive volume control on the head unit. There is much to much dial rotation for the amount of volume increase given!
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Mid Atlantic
'02 C240/6
Originally Posted by jules
I have a non-Bose '02 C240 retroffitted with an Euro COMAND. Sounds much better than the original car radio, but I am still not happy with the quality of the sound. I do not want it to be any louder than it is, I just want it to sound better. Any FAQ's out there about what can be done (i.e., it is possible to do), and what improvements to expect? Thanks!
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 1
From: Australia
Originally Posted by Barry45RPM
I believe the goal of the insulation is to filter out the outside noise from getting into the cabin, not filtering the "noise" within the cabin & kill it before it reaches your ears... otherwise you would have to speak very loudly to converse in the car.
Noise filtering is a function of transmission. Inside or outside makes no difference as the acoustic voids inside consealed spaces are largely dead. Without some resonance you get limited depth.
Trending Topics
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 1
From: Australia
Originally Posted by jules
So no one has replaced speakers, or added an amp, or anything like that to a COMAND equiped, non-Bose Mercedes sedan?
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
