Mercedes W203 2005 Sound System
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C230 Kompressor 2005 Sedan
Mercedes W203 2005 Sound System
Hi all, i'm a new member and i'll be buying a mercedes C230 kompressor 2005 within 2 weeks. after many research on the web i've noticed that the rear deck on this car don't have any speakers and that the car does have 6 speakers
i do like soo much the H/K sound system it gives exceptional bass and because when you turn the volume so loud in this car it makes some distortions in the C230 2004 i'll ask you if i could add 2 H/K speakers to the rear decks and 1 to the center one so it could give richer and louder sound in the car
and one more question the stock amp does support these changes ?
thank you for your support and i'm very happy to join this forum and to own (in the near future) a mercedes-benz
i do like soo much the H/K sound system it gives exceptional bass and because when you turn the volume so loud in this car it makes some distortions in the C230 2004 i'll ask you if i could add 2 H/K speakers to the rear decks and 1 to the center one so it could give richer and louder sound in the car
and one more question the stock amp does support these changes ?
thank you for your support and i'm very happy to join this forum and to own (in the near future) a mercedes-benz
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w203
In my experience with hifi, more speakers doesn't mean better sound. When it comes to high fidelity audio, the speakers should disappear and the sound should come from the front stage with high clarity. To make it louder, I usually upgrade the speakers and subs to higher watts (while retaining the stock locations) and adding some bigger amps. In the case of H/K system, the whole system needs to be replaced since it's fiber optic. Just my 2 cents...
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C230 Kompressor 2005 Sedan
do you have an idea on how many watts the stock sound system generates ?
and if i want to change the speakers and amplifier and the sub do i need to change the audio command and will i loose my steering wheel controls ?
thank you for your support
and if i want to change the speakers and amplifier and the sub do i need to change the audio command and will i loose my steering wheel controls ?
thank you for your support
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w203
IMHO, if you just want to be loud you could just add a processor to the command (like a Bit Ten), multi channel amp, replace all speakers, and add a pair of subs. But if you demand hifi, then a head unit replacement is in order. Regarding the steering wheel control, that problem has been solved a while ago with an aftermarket one such as on this thread : https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...d-usefull.html
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 938
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From: Montreal, Canada
2005 C240 2011 R350
I agree with hanson7. I know this sound system well
The HU is pretty respectable and has the same power and general qualites of most mid priced afermarket head units. (about 20-25 watts per channel at 10% THD) The 6 speakers are Front door woofers and sail tweeters, plus rear doors fullrange. You dont want rear deck speakers.
In order of increasing audio quality this is what I suggest
1- replace front speakers with components in the $200 plus range per pair or higher
2- replace rear speakers as well and add a 4 channel amp using the speaker level inputs
3- add a subwoofer, and then you can high pass the cabin speakers. This model probably has a rear deck cutout where the factory sub goes. I put my sub there, firing into the cabin, not just booming in the trunk. Much work.
4- add a processor such as JBL MS8. This has 8 channels of amplification that you can then use to run the tweeters with active crossovers. Plus it has the surround 7 system that the HK system has.. Sweet sounding. Have fun finding room in the trunk!
The HU is pretty respectable and has the same power and general qualites of most mid priced afermarket head units. (about 20-25 watts per channel at 10% THD) The 6 speakers are Front door woofers and sail tweeters, plus rear doors fullrange. You dont want rear deck speakers.
In order of increasing audio quality this is what I suggest
1- replace front speakers with components in the $200 plus range per pair or higher
2- replace rear speakers as well and add a 4 channel amp using the speaker level inputs
3- add a subwoofer, and then you can high pass the cabin speakers. This model probably has a rear deck cutout where the factory sub goes. I put my sub there, firing into the cabin, not just booming in the trunk. Much work.
4- add a processor such as JBL MS8. This has 8 channels of amplification that you can then use to run the tweeters with active crossovers. Plus it has the surround 7 system that the HK system has.. Sweet sounding. Have fun finding room in the trunk!
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
I am not sure what market you are in Charbile, but most 2005 cars have a sub on the rear deck. It is very thin because the magnet is inverted.
It is not true that you need to change the headunit because of fiber optics. Cars with the standard sound system have a four channel Amp in the headunit and copper wire carries the signal to the speakers. The premium sound system does carry line level program material from the headunit to the external amp on the wheel well by fiber optics. Coming out of the amp the signal is back on copper wires to the speakers.
It is not true that you need to change the headunit because of fiber optics. Cars with the standard sound system have a four channel Amp in the headunit and copper wire carries the signal to the speakers. The premium sound system does carry line level program material from the headunit to the external amp on the wheel well by fiber optics. Coming out of the amp the signal is back on copper wires to the speakers.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
The standard audio system in the facelift cars has 6 speakers, one in each door and two high mounted tweeters. Nothing on the rear deck at all.
The older, pre-facelift standard audio system did have a rear deck mounted sub.
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C230 Kompressor 2005 Sedan
big thanks for you all, i'm glad that i've joined this forum
as for efzauner i'll take your idea into consideration but i'd prefer to adjust the audio level of the speakers without having the distortion i'd prefer not to replace the speakers for now any other solution ?
and if my car hasn't the sub in the rear deck i still could add it without the need to change the amp right or changing the amp is needed to eliminate any distortion ?
thanks in advance
as for efzauner i'll take your idea into consideration but i'd prefer to adjust the audio level of the speakers without having the distortion i'd prefer not to replace the speakers for now any other solution ?
and if my car hasn't the sub in the rear deck i still could add it without the need to change the amp right or changing the amp is needed to eliminate any distortion ?
thanks in advance
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 938
Likes: 53
From: Montreal, Canada
2005 C240 2011 R350
big thanks for you all, i'm glad that i've joined this forum
as for efzauner i'll take your idea into consideration but i'd prefer to adjust the audio level of the speakers without having the distortion i'd prefer not to replace the speakers for now any other solution ?
and if my car hasn't the sub in the rear deck i still could add it without the need to change the amp right or changing the amp is needed to eliminate any distortion ?
thanks in advance
as for efzauner i'll take your idea into consideration but i'd prefer to adjust the audio level of the speakers without having the distortion i'd prefer not to replace the speakers for now any other solution ?
and if my car hasn't the sub in the rear deck i still could add it without the need to change the amp right or changing the amp is needed to eliminate any distortion ?
thanks in advance
If you have skype or any instant messaging with voice or if you want to pay the phone bill I would be happy to go thru the pros and cons and various options.
However there is no easy cheap way to get to low level inputs.
But you dont necessarily need to do that to add as sub. Many sub amps have high level imputs and if not a converter is cheap. The benz HU amps are quite clean and have output limiting to avoid distortion. The amps have way less distortion than a sub anyway. It is realitively easy to get behind the head unit and tap into the front left and right speaker lines in order to add a sub.
The whole purpose of processors such as the JBL MS8 or others is to use the speaker level inputs. It does work well.. you seem to be new to car audio and therefore I suggest baby steps untill you iknow exactly what you want. I have a very high end system that is probably overkill. I would redo it differenly a second time around... the key thing is that the processor made all the difference.
Last edited by efzauner; Sep 3, 2012 at 06:46 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 938
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From: Montreal, Canada
2005 C240 2011 R350
I am on yahoo or hotmail instant messaging with voice and also on skype. Up to you to do what you need to make it easy for me to help you. All are free and easy to setup and you can delete your account afterwards.
send me a private message if you want more help.
