How to upgrade the base sound system
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Perth Australia
E200 2017 W213
Hey everyone. Thought I would update on the progress. We'll have upgraded the front and rear of my C200 W205 with Focal K2. In the rear they managed to mount the tweeter in front of the mid and fit it all in. I also replaced the footwell base with a Focal 13 WS Be 5". Getting a nice base through the flor now. Only down side is that I have maxed out the AMP in the HU. The volume is reduced and "possibly" some of the clarity. Hmm rather than replace the HU, would would be the best, Can I install an amp behind the HU?
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
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w205
It's at the front of the passenger footwell. Maybe you can see the location better here.
The woofer is behind the black plastic cover.
To get to it you have to remove the plastic plate under the glove box, then take out the entire carpet (comes out as one piece), remove the plastic cover shown in the pic below and then move two electronic units out of the way (shown in post #153)
The woofer is behind the black plastic cover.
To get to it you have to remove the plastic plate under the glove box, then take out the entire carpet (comes out as one piece), remove the plastic cover shown in the pic below and then move two electronic units out of the way (shown in post #153)
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 129
Likes: 15
From: Stavanger, Norway
E350e W213
There's not a lot of space behind the HU, that's why I fixed mine under the glove box. Out of view and not in the way. But it only works for the small size units like the one I got.
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 129
Likes: 15
From: Stavanger, Norway
E350e W213
Made an experiment today. I bought a lossless bluetooth receiver with an optical out and connected it directly to the Match amp. The sound is much cleaner and easier to manipulate. Very little intervention needed. Sounds almost perfect. The downsides are that you can only use the phone to control the music (both volume and song switching). I'll try it for a while to see how easy it is to live with. If it's too difficult to use, I can always go back to the HU.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
Sound Depot in Gainesville. Ask for Chris Loynes. He'll know who sent ya.
http://www.sounddepotandperformance.com/
PM me if you want his direct email.
http://www.sounddepotandperformance.com/
PM me if you want his direct email.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
06 Civic Si / 14 Jeep GC SRT / 16 C63s (Dead) / 17 C63s (Ordered)
Mike,
The Fix 8.2 has 8 channel input. The Burmester has 9 channels. Is there an issue with leaving one channel out? If so, does it matter which is left out?
The Fix 8.2 has 8 channel input. The Burmester has 9 channels. Is there an issue with leaving one channel out? If so, does it matter which is left out?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
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2016 C300
I know zero about the Fix 82. The whole system was in and we were getting random boosts of bass (sounded like thunder). The shop spent 4 hours ($400) trying to find a cabin mic for the VNC to disable it and had no luck. They tracked down an installer in CA who had done a C450 Burmester and used the Fix 82 to defeat the VNC. I approved the extra cost and that was it.
I know that irrespective of the 8 input channels, what came out was flat 2 channel stereo via the optical link to the Prima. On the Prima we left out the two rear deck surrounds and the center dash and those remained on the factory amp.
Chris said he'd answer support questions about the install. I'd shoot him a message with your question. I'll pm you his email.
I know that irrespective of the 8 input channels, what came out was flat 2 channel stereo via the optical link to the Prima. On the Prima we left out the two rear deck surrounds and the center dash and those remained on the factory amp.
Chris said he'd answer support questions about the install. I'd shoot him a message with your question. I'll pm you his email.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Perth Australia
E200 2017 W213
Hi Everyone. I posted previously that I had replaced both front and rear with Focal 100KRS. I then replaced that sub in the footwell with a Focal K2. Around the same time they set up a Focal sub box in the boot of the car. It was not my sort of thing, I know in previous posts people have done this. I also previously posted that I think that I had maxed out the HU.
I really wanted to get the new Focal K2 bass happening so I had installed a clarion XC2510 AMP installed in the front foot well. It's a 4.1. It's below the bass and behind the carpet.
The sound now is fantastic and the Focal K2 is really doing its job. I would say for me now near perfect. If I really wanted to be fussy the same K2 under the back tray. There is what looks like a ported hole between the boot and the inside of the vehicle. This has also fixed the problem where (I will try and explain here) if I turned the bass up on the HU this was affecting the sound on the smaller door speakers. Apparently they are wired in together. With the amp and the bypass set the mids are doing there thing and the bass "is" the bass. Hope this helps
I really wanted to get the new Focal K2 bass happening so I had installed a clarion XC2510 AMP installed in the front foot well. It's a 4.1. It's below the bass and behind the carpet.
The sound now is fantastic and the Focal K2 is really doing its job. I would say for me now near perfect. If I really wanted to be fussy the same K2 under the back tray. There is what looks like a ported hole between the boot and the inside of the vehicle. This has also fixed the problem where (I will try and explain here) if I turned the bass up on the HU this was affecting the sound on the smaller door speakers. Apparently they are wired in together. With the amp and the bypass set the mids are doing there thing and the bass "is" the bass. Hope this helps
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 44
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06 Civic Si / 14 Jeep GC SRT / 16 C63s (Dead) / 17 C63s (Ordered)
Guys...So there have been a couple of people that have replaced the footwell subs. Which subs would fit in the footwell for a Burrmester System? Maybe replacing those would give it a pretty nice punch.
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Joined: May 2008
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2016 C300
Anything with real ***** needs more power than the factory amp provides to the footwell subs. You'd want to add a small amp as well. The factory sub enclosures are sort of oddly configured, but there are speakers that will fit with some minor modification.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 44
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06 Civic Si / 14 Jeep GC SRT / 16 C63s (Dead) / 17 C63s (Ordered)
Mike...I agree. I am just trying to see what fits in the foot well but I know an amp would be needed in order to make it sound like it is supposed to. I remember you saying that the stock footwell subs taper off quickly so I was trying to get a couple of subs that would fit in there. I'm still not sure whether it is 6.5 or 8" in a Burrmester. Maybe some people can post which ones they have used and that would help?
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 129
Likes: 15
From: Stavanger, Norway
E350e W213
It's the 6.5 in the base system. I think Burmester might be a bit bigger but it's not an 8". I managed to get an 8" inside but it was a struggle. You need something with a depth of under 75mm.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Perth Australia
E200 2017 W213
The Focal I installed is a 13WSBe is a 5". Not sure what else will fit. ""But you will need to install additional amp". Certainly in mine I tried replacing the bass only and it did not work efficiently marginally better than the original. The amp made the difference..
I might try take a photo and post it.
I might try take a photo and post it.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
06 Civic Si / 14 Jeep GC SRT / 16 C63s (Dead) / 17 C63s (Ordered)
I ran across the Earthquake SWS last night...it is my target as well. Which 8" sub did you try and what was too big? The diameter or the depth?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
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2016 C300
The OEM has a very small rare earth magnet that lets it sit in that factory housing. Stuff with a regular magnet will likely have interference problems.
The thing about the subs is that it's very easy to just add an amp and a box in the trunk for the low bass and tune the Frontbass speakers to perform like the mid bass woofers they actually are. They'll play a bit lower than a typical woofer from being ported to the resonance chamber in the firewall but they seem happiest in the solid mid bass range. With 70 watts each and DSP the standard Burmester Frontbass drivers are fine as is. Not sure I'd focus a ton of energy and resources on them, unless you absolutely can't do a box in the trunk.
For the base system though that's a different story. The single Frontbass speaker won't cut it. I'd still do two 6" woofers in there and a box in the trunk though. Otherwise there are no true woofers in the cabin at all.
The thing about the subs is that it's very easy to just add an amp and a box in the trunk for the low bass and tune the Frontbass speakers to perform like the mid bass woofers they actually are. They'll play a bit lower than a typical woofer from being ported to the resonance chamber in the firewall but they seem happiest in the solid mid bass range. With 70 watts each and DSP the standard Burmester Frontbass drivers are fine as is. Not sure I'd focus a ton of energy and resources on them, unless you absolutely can't do a box in the trunk.
For the base system though that's a different story. The single Frontbass speaker won't cut it. I'd still do two 6" woofers in there and a box in the trunk though. Otherwise there are no true woofers in the cabin at all.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
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W202 C280
I tried Retro Sound. The diameter is bigger than the mount. My newly ordered 6.5 in Earthquake arrived. The housing is too small for the woofer to sit properly in. However, adding a spacer will help. Overall the height raised is still acceptable comparing the original.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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W202 C280
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 44
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06 Civic Si / 14 Jeep GC SRT / 16 C63s (Dead) / 17 C63s (Ordered)
How hard is it to get to the foot well sub on the passenger side? I can see the one on the drivers side...I assume I have to take the accelerator pedal out but do we have to remove the seats to get to either one?
I noticed there is a small speaker right on top of the accelerator pedal on the 2017.
I noticed there is a small speaker right on top of the accelerator pedal on the 2017.
