Burmester vs Basic Audio
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 130
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From: Dubai, UAE
2015 C200, Petrol RWD
Burmester vs Basic Audio
I will most likely be getting my C200 in less than a week and I would like to know whether it is worth waiting 5 months to get place an order to get the Burmester audio sound system. It is $3080 extra in my country just for the Burmester.
Could someone please give me feedback regarding the basic audio?
Could someone please give me feedback regarding the basic audio?
Last edited by c200amgline; Aug 23, 2014 at 08:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 130
Likes: 9
From: Dubai, UAE
2015 C200, Petrol RWD
Yes I do. How bad is it though? So bad? I'm already paying way too much for the car compared to the US, $58k for C200 AMG line with all the options. Is it really worth paying $3k more and waiting 5 months?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I have not listened to a standard system in the W205. All the cars I have driven & everything on the floor at my dealer has Burmester fitted. It sounds pretty damn good & I'm a high end audio nut. Cars are a hostile environment for good, accurate sound.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 312
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From: Norway
2015 C 180 AMG Sportline W205
Drove a A class hire car a few days back. it had basic speakers.
The same songs i listen to in my C, the speakers in the A couldn't handle. the bass reaches its limits very fast, and the sound is not as crisp and clear than in my C.
If you listen to a lot of music, get the Burmester sound system.
The same songs i listen to in my C, the speakers in the A couldn't handle. the bass reaches its limits very fast, and the sound is not as crisp and clear than in my C.
If you listen to a lot of music, get the Burmester sound system.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 302
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From: BC
2022 G11 750i, 2016 W166 GLE350d, 2015 W166 ML550, 2012 W221 S63
The new standard system is a huge downgrade compared to the outgoing standard system int he W204; new system only has 5 speakers - 4 mids and 1 sub, while the outgoing car had 8 speakers - 4 midwoofers and 4 tweeters and that was a pretty bad system. I wouldn't count on the new standard system being any better than the outgoing standard system.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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GLB 2023
That's pretty sad...no tweeters. The standard system should've been the HK. It looks like 90% of the cars at dealers should have premium packages, which includes the burmester, thank god. If it was a standalone option it would be rare at the dealers.
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From: Sweden
S213
After listening to the standard audio in one of our cars inthe showroom I requested a change to my order and got the Burmester soundsystem added,
the standard sound in the W205 is much worse than the standard W204 sound system.
the standard sound in the W205 is much worse than the standard W204 sound system.
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Joined: Aug 2014
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mercedes w205
While Burmester definitely sounds better, the basic audio did not sound bad in my opinion. Coming from a BMW 118D (F20).
My dealer demonstrated the Basic audio and even told me that this specific audio set (Beckers?) was rebranded as Bose in for example an Audi.... Haven't read anything on this though, so I am not sure whethe rthis is true.... Basic audio also has some possibilities to adjust bass for instance.
My dealer demonstrated the Basic audio and even told me that this specific audio set (Beckers?) was rebranded as Bose in for example an Audi.... Haven't read anything on this though, so I am not sure whethe rthis is true.... Basic audio also has some possibilities to adjust bass for instance.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 312
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From: Norway
2015 C 180 AMG Sportline W205
I had Bose in my 210, Harman in the 211, and then the standard system in the W212. Drove down to Steve@MbenzNl and got the Harman system retrofitted. I listen to a lot of music, and the standard system is not clean enough..
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I have the HK Logic 7 in my CLK that was highly considered by some. I think it's OK.
But the Burmester is a big step up from the Logic 7.
But the Burmester is a big step up from the Logic 7.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 302
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From: BC
2022 G11 750i, 2016 W166 GLE350d, 2015 W166 ML550, 2012 W221 S63
In my opinion, the standard system in the ML and GL is superior to the HK system in the W204 C-Class; the W204's door woofers are much smaller than those in the ML and GL. While the HK system does add a subwoofer, the system lacks the the range below the mids and above the bass line of the sub, leaving a somewhat lacking sonic range.
However, the HK system in the ML and GL is probably the best sounding HK systems they offer, besting the HK in the W221 S-Class, but I honestly have no idea why - perhaps the added open volume in the trunk?
Spec wise, I believe the Burmester system in the W205 is the same system as the standard Burmester system in the W222.
However, the HK system in the ML and GL is probably the best sounding HK systems they offer, besting the HK in the W221 S-Class, but I honestly have no idea why - perhaps the added open volume in the trunk?
Spec wise, I believe the Burmester system in the W205 is the same system as the standard Burmester system in the W222.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 332
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From: Las Vegas NV
Corvette/2017 E-300
MBUSA touts the Burmester with "13 high quality speakers"...they show the obvious 2 on each door. Does anyone know where the other 11 are placed? I would think a center channel...on the front dash (top)....but can't find anything that shows actual placement of these speakers...thanks!!
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Joined: Jun 2014
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2015 S205
MBUSA touts the Burmester with "13 high quality speakers"...they show the obvious 2 on each door. Does anyone know where the other 11 are placed? I would think a center channel...on the front dash (top)....but can't find anything that shows actual placement of these speakers...thanks!!
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 228
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From: UK
W205 C200 Sport Premium Plus. October 2018. 1497cc with 48 volt battery eq
one in each front doors, two in each rear doors, two rear parcel shelf, one centre top dash cannot see others but believe some are in the bulkhead
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From: Sweden
S213
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 36
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C220 AMG Saloon 2014 Premium Plus Bluetec
i have a c220 amg-line with burmester. recently it had to go to the shop to get an electrical problem fixed. i had a c200 amg-line as a replacement with standard speakers and i thought it sounded worse than my civic 06. if you are an audio-nut, you'll be glad that you went for burmester. very crisp sound for all types of music and even talk radio. and as someone mentioned above - it looks gorgeous - completes the look of the car!
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: BC
2022 G11 750i, 2016 W166 GLE350d, 2015 W166 ML550, 2012 W221 S63
I believe there are 2 frontbass speakers in the footwells, 2 tweeters in the A-pillar, 2 mids in the front doors, 2 tweeters and 2 mids in the rear doors, 1 centre speaker, and 2 surrounds in the rear parcel shelf.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 584
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From: Los Angeles
2012 C250 Sport
While Burmester definitely sounds better, the basic audio did not sound bad in my opinion. Coming from a BMW 118D (F20).
My dealer demonstrated the Basic audio and even told me that this specific audio set (Beckers?) was rebranded as Bose in for example an Audi.... Haven't read anything on this though, so I am not sure whethe rthis is true.... Basic audio also has some possibilities to adjust bass for instance.
My dealer demonstrated the Basic audio and even told me that this specific audio set (Beckers?) was rebranded as Bose in for example an Audi.... Haven't read anything on this though, so I am not sure whethe rthis is true.... Basic audio also has some possibilities to adjust bass for instance.
I *don't* consider myself a audiophile, but I have decent ears. The standard radio in the W204 is pretty poor; my 2003 Honda Accord had much better sound (far clearer). The W204 sounds VERY muddled to me.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 302
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From: BC
2022 G11 750i, 2016 W166 GLE350d, 2015 W166 ML550, 2012 W221 S63
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 584
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From: Los Angeles
2012 C250 Sport
Hard for me to say b/c I listen to undemanding stuff and b/c the number of speakers, I think, makes it sound better than it really is (which is kind of sad thought, given that doesn't sound that good already).... But I wouldn't surprised if you were right. 
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 302
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From: BC
2022 G11 750i, 2016 W166 GLE350d, 2015 W166 ML550, 2012 W221 S63
even the hk system struggles with orchestral music - the mids can't go low enough for the timpanis and the sub can't go high enough...lol don't even want to voice my opinion on the stock system on classical/orchestral.
the hk system is decent for pop though
basically, whenever I have a loaner, I turn both the treble and bass setting to +10 on C and B classes with the stock system. With the hk, i usually leave it as it and on my ML (stock system) I set it to +10 for treble and -5 for the bass. +10 really improves the clarity of the system.
the hk system is decent for pop though
basically, whenever I have a loaner, I turn both the treble and bass setting to +10 on C and B classes with the stock system. With the hk, i usually leave it as it and on my ML (stock system) I set it to +10 for treble and -5 for the bass. +10 really improves the clarity of the system.
Last edited by 5634MG; Aug 27, 2014 at 03:20 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 130
Likes: 9
From: Dubai, UAE
2015 C200, Petrol RWD
I'll just go with the current car because I'm not willing to wait 5+ months for the car to arrive versus getting it in less than a week and paying the inflated price of $3k in Dubai for the speakers. If the speakers are too bad then I will install better speakers for definitely less than $3k. I thank you all for your honest opinions regarding the stock audio.
