Mike5215

Automatic volume control (speed dependent) has been around awhile. I have it turned off. I think VNC uses a mic in the cabin that picks up what it perceives as ambient road noise and then boosts the low frequencies to compensate in real time.

I'm guessing it's comparing the stereo output signal to what it's actually picking up in the cabin, and any signal that varies from what it's putting out is considered noise. The problem with my install is that the output signal itself varies because the Prima is doing its thing and processing it, and of course the factory amp has no way of "knowing" what the Prima is doing. It's reading some of the stereo output it doesn't recognize as "noise" and attempting to compensate, which is causing a serious case of bass farts.

We'll dig it to it tomorrow and try to disable it.

inhartwetrust

Thank god we can turn that **** off...

Mike5215

We can turn off the automatic speed dependent volume control. Not sure yet how to disable VNC. Although if you're leaving the system stock there's no need to mess with it.

inhartwetrust

Yup, most likely it'll be left stock for me. Looks like a lease is going to be significantly cheaper...so I'm just going to lease it, drive the **** out of it for 3 years, then dump it. Only work I'll have done is to have Llumar Formula 1 Pinnacle tint added at 30%.

Mike5215

Yeah, I had mine tinted while it was in the shop. Came out darker than I was expecting. I really just wanted heat rejection. On the audio gear this will be the 2nd installation and the stuff will be 5 years old at lease turn in so I'll probably let it go with the car (less the sub).

Does sound really good though, although I can't push it super hard without triggering the VNC. It's going back in tomorrow to sort that out. Also have a fresh set of non run flats sitting at MB that I need to get mounted. Then I'm done with mods for awhile.

topsider

looking forward to hearing about the tires

Mike5215

Me too. It's killing me. Didn't expect for the audio to take up so much time. I'm shooting for Friday.

Mike5215

So the shop could find nothing on the national installer database they use regarding disabling VNC. It's a huge DB that high end installers use to share tips and tricks on specific cars, but the info on the W205 Burmester is still sparse, mainly because most people aren't retarded enough to mess with the Burmester. The shop did try to hunt down the cabin mic's that the VNC uses to measure cabin noise but no luck.

But there was one guy out in LA who had done a similar (BitOne) install on a 205 Burmester and he was able to get a clean, unmolested signal unaffected by VNC by installing a JL Fix 82 processor between the factory amp and the Prima.

It's taking the factory signal, converting it back to digital, stripping out the factory processing including VNC and then handing it off to the Prima via Toslink (fiber optic) cable as 2 Channel Stereo. So another $300 plus labor but it had to be done. The affect of going from multi channel to 2 Channel on music is nothing...music is 2 channel stereo anyway.

The head unit Surround modes still function and still change the spatial relationships in the same way. I don't play DVDs in the car typically so I don't know the effect on a Dolby Digital 5.1 signal. It'll probably down-mix it to stereo would be my guess.

Haven't had a chance to re-tune it, and the shop needed the car til tomorrow morning. As it stands now it's a very expensive mod with a lot of moving parts, and I think you might lose DVD 5.1 surround if that's important to you. (You'll still get a surround effect, but it's matrixed from 2 channel like the predecessor to DD, Dolby Pro Logic.

Given the cost I'm not sure I'd recommend it at this point. I need to see how it sounds once the tuning (levels/cross-overs/equalization/time correction) is finalized. If it's a night/day improvement, and you're really into audio, it might be worthwhile. If it's just a marginal improvement I'd say skip it. But at least we now have the 2nd 205 Burmester with a successful OEM integration install, and we know how to get around the VNC. Stay tuned.

mercedesbenzs55

You the man Mike!

Mike5215

Right now I'm The Man with $4k in aftermarket audio gear that I may or may not be able to get to perform like I want.

Mike5215

Ok, so I finally got a chance to hear it, and it sounds great. Still an issue with configuring the Prima. It's still reverting back to the analog inputs when it needs to stay in optical. The shop is working with Audison to sort it out. Frustrating.

Mike5215

Finally done. The Prima is configured and tuned by connecting to a Windows laptop. The Prima had a later firmware release than the software release on the laptop.

Anyway that solved the last issue and then a mere four hours of tuning and she was good
to go. Probably a few incremental fine tunes as I listen to more material over the next few weeks.

Sounds really nice, plenty of power, bass you can feel but not boomy, and not just coming at you from the front, very clean mids and highs overall. The soundstage has opened up quite a bit vs stock, which had a tendency to sound very localized to the front doors before.

Full write up with pics to follow...

getto

way to go Mike...waiting for pics

Mike5215

I need to get the full set from the installer. Their first W205 Burmester so it's going on their website. Here's the trunk sub. This JL ported shallow mount box with dual 8" subs happens to friction fit right up against the back seat in the 205 with no hardware. It's got quick disconnects if I need to pull it and put the seats down. Couldn't ask for a better fit and it pounds on a 300 watt amp.



The JL Fix 82 and sub amp are mounted under the factory amp in the trunk well. You can barely see the amp near the top under everything and the Fix 82 near the bottom

The Prima lives under the liner on the right quarter.

Mike5215

Mike5215

ProClips vehicle specific tool less mount and IPhone 6 drop in cradle with integrated Lightning plug...



With flash:

Attachment 328895

Mike5215

Royce118

Mike, all I gotta say is you're one crazy man when it comes down to sound. Now I'm jealous. LMAO.

Mike5215

Yeah, that's a fair appraisal. Once you've had a good system it's hard to go backwards. I had most of this gear in my 221 and it transformed the driving experience. Tomorrow the 205 is shedding the run flats for a set of BFG Comp TA Grand Touring tires. Supposed to be great riding and ultra low noise tires. Then I think I'm done for awhile.

mercedesbenzs55

Your upgrades are coming together nicely. All your missing now are spinners!

inhartwetrust

Looks awesome and glad it's producing some quality sound for you.

The ProClip looks great too, I'm definitely going to go with that myself.

Mike5215

Thanks. Tidal is my new best friend! Was just sitting in the car in the garage testing tracks like a kid in a candy store.

cleankutazn

I always thought aftermarket audio was dead because of the high-end stock systems. Now I know why it's still alive because they are just using their names and using cheap parts.

Mike5215

That pretty much sums it up. It's kind of like saying that when Western Sizzler Steak House opened up you presumed all the other high end steakhouses closed.

Manufacturers saw a demand for premium audio and they addressed it in two ways. They stopped using standard sized equipment like head units and speakers that could be easily replaced aftermarket off the shelf in favor of unique form factors, and integration with other aspects of the car, like the HVAC controls.

Then they started licensing recognized brands of home audio to give their systems some credibility, but they rarely set out to build great audio systems. Like a Bose or Harman/Kardon, the Burmester in the C uses inexpensive hardware, some EQ tricks to compensate for the inexpensive hardware, and some eye candy in the form of probably the most ornate speaker grilles ever to be attached to such a cheesy paper coned speaker in the history of audio.

Aftermarket vendors just went ahead and figured out how to bridge the gap so that folks could connect aftermarket processors, amps and speakers.

Royce118

I see where you are coming from. I didn't bother to get the H/K system when I ordered my car because I know I will definitely be swapping them out down the line. Sure enough, the prima and component was one of the first thing I have done to the car. How's the JL sub going on? I'm actually looking to get my current sub replaced with something more decent. Geez, its hard to put a stop to all these sound system.