It's looking like I'll order a 2017 C at this point. I like to keep my builds as simple as possible. The P2 package has a lot of stuff I personally don't want to pay for. I'd be buying it for the Burmester. I know the Burmester is great, but I'm wondering if someone can make a different comparison regarding the base audio system.

I've spent a lot of time in a W124, W202, and a W203. Can any forum members comment on how the base audio in the W205 compares to the base audio systems in those three cars? Obviously memory can be tricky, but for example, I recall the W124 sounding just fine and the W203 sounding pretty bad.

 

Just gotta go audition one of each. It's the only way to know.

 

Do not whatever you do get the base audio in the W205, it sounds dreadful with only 5 speakers compared to the W203 7 speakers, W202 6 speakers and the W124 6 speakers. The Burmester has 13 speakers which sounds excellent, plus add noise cancellation it's really worth the extra money. I was at the dealership the other day and listened to the base audio in the W205, there was hardly any bass , no midbass and the treble was a joke. Talk radio would sound fine but for any general listening I really do suggest the Burmester.

 

Great to know. I did listen to the radio on my test drive, but it was hard to tell from that because music on the radio is so compressed anyway. 5 speakers is not enough for good sound, especially if they're cheap little laptop speakers like what's in my girlfriend's Honda Accord.

 

I created this thread that garnered a lot of comments. You may find an answer and more there!

 

Gold mine! Thank you

 

No problem!

 

Neither system is quite there, but the Burmester is way closer. I did a write up here:

Www.w205audio.wordpress.com

 

Great write-up. My W211 has Logic7 which is ok for my listening. I think the best stock factory systems come from Audi, there base audio systems sound far better than BMW or Mercedes.

 

Unless you are a sadist and enjoy living with regret don't do it. The base system is perhaps the worst speaker system I've heard on a modern car. The base system in my mother's 2016 Honda CRV is 100x better than the crap they put in the W205. Go Burmester or don't even bother getting anything is my opinion.

 

It just depends on the amount of money and space the manufacturer is willing to allocate to audio in the car. The best base systems are usually in cars that don't have a "premium" option. If there's a system that they want to upsell you on, the base system will be pretty bad.

Don't get me started on Logic 7...

Www.w221audio.wordpress.com

 

I bought my Malibu new in 2011 and as mine is the 2LT it had the option to add the Bose as the premium package along with the Sunroof. $2200 later and I am really regretting it, I have had to replace the HU, right rear speaker, driver side speaker, subwoofer x2 and the amplifier and I don't blast it either so there is really no reason for all of that. I would definitely rather get a base audio system in a cheap car like the Malibu and get the upgraded one in a MB or BMW.

 

standard system is ****!! I installed a 10sub to make up for some of the **** sound