12 speakers better than 6?
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12 speakers better than 6?
i ask because i've read that the harmon kardon isn't all that it's made out to be. but it comes with 12 speakers where as the stock setup in a 05' c230 only has 6. so wouldn't harmon's 12 speaker setup although not excellent still be better than an upgraded 6 speaker setup? ex. alpines. also for the stock setup is there room for 12 speakers and they only put in 6? or is it that the paneling is completely different for a car with harmon kardon in order to allow 12 speakers? thx 
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From: mars
bike
Originally Posted by blazed54
i ask because i've read that the harmon kardon isn't all that it's made out to be. but it comes with 12 speakers where as the stock setup in a 05' c230 only has 6. so wouldn't harmon's 12 speaker setup although not excellent still be better than an upgraded 6 speaker setup? ex. alpines. also for the stock setup is there room for 12 speakers and they only put in 6? or is it that the paneling is completely different for a car with harmon kardon in order to allow 12 speakers? thx
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
not absolutely sure on this, but I remember reading somewhere, that MB counts some speakers as 2 in 1. So to get the 12, some of them that have mid-range and tweeter combined actually are counted twice. That would mean that the paneling is probably the same, with the exception of the H/K badging, and there might be one or two extra speakers (including sub woofer) that the normal stock set up doesn't come with.
This needs to be verified though, so please don't take it as final. Just know that I read something like that somewhere on this forum, so the total count of speakers by MB is always a "fudged / skewed" number.
Carlos
Saprissa@aol.com
This needs to be verified though, so please don't take it as final. Just know that I read something like that somewhere on this forum, so the total count of speakers by MB is always a "fudged / skewed" number.
Carlos
Saprissa@aol.com
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From: Brisbane, Australia
C200K (w204)
How much is the HK cost anyway?? I'll waste my money on aftermarket gear and it'll yield a better result i reckon. More speaker doesn't neccesarily better sound, it'll probably be louder but not that much.
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From: Maryland
'05 C230WZ / '01 Honda VFR 800
HK System is more than fine
Unless you are some punk-*** kid who wants a "boom-car" (that rattles more than anything else) the HK System is fine. The system is clean and clear to a more than reasonable volume, it has good imaging and a fairly flat response (this is good, that means that it isn't too bright or too boomy).
And yes, I do have some idea about what I am talking about (I have had audiophile level components in my home for years).
But hey, if it is more important for you to show people outside the car that you are "Hard" because you are down with 50-Cent then go for the aftermaket system.
That said, the system from MB is a nice system for the money and it integrates very well with the NAV system. I really don't know why people would spend extra money for full power seats instead of the NAV system, but that is another story. (Oh, and for those who think the NAV is overly complicated, it isn't. Read the manual.)
And yes, I do have some idea about what I am talking about (I have had audiophile level components in my home for years).
But hey, if it is more important for you to show people outside the car that you are "Hard" because you are down with 50-Cent then go for the aftermaket system.
That said, the system from MB is a nice system for the money and it integrates very well with the NAV system. I really don't know why people would spend extra money for full power seats instead of the NAV system, but that is another story. (Oh, and for those who think the NAV is overly complicated, it isn't. Read the manual.)
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From: Brisbane, Australia
C200K (w204)
I'm not a punk kid who want just boom , i'm more into audiophile system, thus the equipment i choose, stock HK or Bose is fine, i know car environment cannot be compete with home environment. I have full set of Avantgarde speaker and audiophile equipment in my house and when i'm driving i want to enjoy my music as much as i enjoy music back home.
, i'm more into audiophile system, thus the equipment i choose, stock HK or Bose is fine, i know car environment cannot be compete with home environment. I have full set of Avantgarde speaker and audiophile equipment in my house and when i'm driving i want to enjoy my music as much as i enjoy music back home.
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The HK system is not bad at all. The true test of a system is what YOUR ears think of it. HK sells car audio under a variety of brand names like Becker, Infinity, and JBL. I personally enjoy the stock system, but I rarely listen to music. I prefer sports, news, and talk in the car. The HK system does add a subwoofer to the car, and the audio signal is routed on fiber optic cables that are immune to induced noise from the car electrical system. I don't know of any system in the after market that can couple to the MOST fiber optic ring.
The details:
320 Entertainment Package
Includes a harmon/kardon Logic 7 premium audio system with 320 watts, 12 speakers including a subwoofer, surround-sound, Digital Dynamic Volume Control and a glovebox-mounted 6-disc CD changer. US $ 970 list, $ 902 invoice.
Now that Mercedes has shed the DIN standard opening in the dash, it is a bit more complex to install after market equipment, which is exactly what the manufacturer wants.
The details:
320 Entertainment Package
Includes a harmon/kardon Logic 7 premium audio system with 320 watts, 12 speakers including a subwoofer, surround-sound, Digital Dynamic Volume Control and a glovebox-mounted 6-disc CD changer. US $ 970 list, $ 902 invoice.
Now that Mercedes has shed the DIN standard opening in the dash, it is a bit more complex to install after market equipment, which is exactly what the manufacturer wants.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
If you are the DIY type, you may want to consider going stock sound, then upgrading it yourself. I'm not familiar with the HK setup, but in the BOSE it was very difficult to upgrade due to the wiring and speaker setup (fiber optic controlled amp, then odd impedence speakers). If this is the case with the HK, then you may want to steer clear. But as Moviela pointed out, it's all what your own ears tell you. At least this way, you'll have a less expensive rebuild later.
Getting the HK system will give you better sound than stock, and you'll be able to keep your steering wheel controls. I've heard Alpine makes an adaptor, but beyond that, we don't seem to have a solution for that. If you really want a better sound than stock and you want steering controls, get the HK. Else, get stock, and change the HU. Then, if you want, change speakers. That's what I decided to do, anyway.
Getting the HK system will give you better sound than stock, and you'll be able to keep your steering wheel controls. I've heard Alpine makes an adaptor, but beyond that, we don't seem to have a solution for that. If you really want a better sound than stock and you want steering controls, get the HK. Else, get stock, and change the HU. Then, if you want, change speakers. That's what I decided to do, anyway.
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 453
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From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
Originally Posted by r3v1ls
Upgrading the stock system isn't too much fun. Cause of hte fiber optic cables you'll most likely need to re-wire the entire car for the new speakers if you plan on getting them.
Did they go fiber optic with the stock setup as well? That doesn't make much sense to me, as the stock setup isn't supposed to have an external amp, so the speakers are supposed to get powered by the HU's internal amp. The fiber optics in the upgrade are supposed to connect to the amp, which powers the speakers with conventional wire. I could be wrong, but I don't think so...
Last edited by jedcred; Aug 23, 2005 at 12:54 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 453
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From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
Originally Posted by W0n6_3d4n
Stock is definitely not fiber optic, i've changed mine so does my friend (2005 model).
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
In the Nafta (North American Free Trade Agreement) reigon stock IS fiber optic. There is no subwoofer, so there is no external amp for that speaker, but the telephone, satellite radio, teleaid, and the CD changer all connect to the HU on a MOST fiber optic ring. If you are lacking all of these tasty treats then the ring is dark.
