Stereo is not too impressive.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
Stereo is not too impressive.
Any recommendations to increase the power, bass and clarity of the stereo without radical modifications?
Thanks....
Thanks....
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
A Few
Hey Doc,
I hear you on the sound issue.
I have a '05 CLK500 that has an awful sound system and the CLS doesn't sound that much better.
For under $1000 you could add a 12" Woofer in the trunk and a 1 channel MONOBLOCK class D amplifier and some dynomat to kill all of the vibrations our cars have.
One of the big problems with our cars is that they rattle and vibrate everywhere (speakers, knobs and switches, etc...)
Adding some more bass would definitely make it sound better, for about another thousand you could replace all the speakers with MB Quarts or the like, and another 5 channel amplifier only for the speakers.
Always power the sub and speakers individually, it will always sound cleaner.
A final step you can take is to add a capacitor directly connected to the battery, this way your power will be a continuos stream to your audio...
Hope this helps...
I hear you on the sound issue.
I have a '05 CLK500 that has an awful sound system and the CLS doesn't sound that much better.
For under $1000 you could add a 12" Woofer in the trunk and a 1 channel MONOBLOCK class D amplifier and some dynomat to kill all of the vibrations our cars have.
One of the big problems with our cars is that they rattle and vibrate everywhere (speakers, knobs and switches, etc...)
Adding some more bass would definitely make it sound better, for about another thousand you could replace all the speakers with MB Quarts or the like, and another 5 channel amplifier only for the speakers.
Always power the sub and speakers individually, it will always sound cleaner.
A final step you can take is to add a capacitor directly connected to the battery, this way your power will be a continuos stream to your audio...
Hope this helps...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
Thanks
Originally Posted by dakrisht
Hey Doc,
I hear you on the sound issue.
I have a '05 CLK500 that has an awful sound system and the CLS doesn't sound that much better.
For under $1000 you could add a 12" Woofer in the trunk and a 1 channel MONOBLOCK class D amplifier and some dynomat to kill all of the vibrations our cars have.
One of the big problems with our cars is that they rattle and vibrate everywhere (speakers, knobs and switches, etc...)
Adding some more bass would definitely make it sound better, for about another thousand you could replace all the speakers with MB Quarts or the like, and another 5 channel amplifier only for the speakers.
Always power the sub and speakers individually, it will always sound cleaner.
A final step you can take is to add a capacitor directly connected to the battery, this way your power will be a continuos stream to your audio...
Hope this helps...
I hear you on the sound issue.
I have a '05 CLK500 that has an awful sound system and the CLS doesn't sound that much better.
For under $1000 you could add a 12" Woofer in the trunk and a 1 channel MONOBLOCK class D amplifier and some dynomat to kill all of the vibrations our cars have.
One of the big problems with our cars is that they rattle and vibrate everywhere (speakers, knobs and switches, etc...)
Adding some more bass would definitely make it sound better, for about another thousand you could replace all the speakers with MB Quarts or the like, and another 5 channel amplifier only for the speakers.
Always power the sub and speakers individually, it will always sound cleaner.
A final step you can take is to add a capacitor directly connected to the battery, this way your power will be a continuos stream to your audio...
Hope this helps...
Guess I will have to bite the bullet. Life is too short to have a mediocre sound system.
I have tried this one on all 3 settings and it is just not very powerful. Am I missing any potential adjustments?
Thank you....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 1
From: Santa Clarita/Northridge CA
E350
Originally Posted by traumadoc
I modified my 04 Range Rover stereo similarly. Got a 12" sub and its own amp and changed the speakers in all 4 doors including the tweeters and a dedicated amplifier for these. Used Rockford fosgate components. Not state of the art but much better!
Guess I will have to bite the bullet. Life is too short to have a mediocre sound system.
I have tried this one on all 3 settings and it is just not very powerful. Am I missing any potential adjustments?
Thank you....
Guess I will have to bite the bullet. Life is too short to have a mediocre sound system.
I have tried this one on all 3 settings and it is just not very powerful. Am I missing any potential adjustments?
Thank you....
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
That explains why.....
Originally Posted by DancingBenzos
i find the problem to be that the system is a Surround sound system, designed not for bassy songs but for classical, and soft rock.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
So sad Kubazzz
Originally Posted by Kubazzz
Traumadoc - what is the exact code/name for the audio option that you have ?
Isn't there possibility to order HK audio ?
Isn't there possibility to order HK audio ?
It IS the Harmon Kardon.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Freehold, NJ
2005 Chrysler 300c and 2004 Range Rover hse
Originally Posted by traumadoc
I modified my 04 Range Rover stereo similarly. Got a 12" sub and its own amp and changed the speakers in all 4 doors including the tweeters and a dedicated amplifier for these. Used Rockford fosgate components. Not state of the art but much better!
Guess I will have to bite the bullet. Life is too short to have a mediocre sound system.
I have tried this one on all 3 settings and it is just not very powerful. Am I missing any potential adjustments?
Thank you....
Guess I will have to bite the bullet. Life is too short to have a mediocre sound system.
I have tried this one on all 3 settings and it is just not very powerful. Am I missing any potential adjustments?
Thank you....
Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Freehold, NJ
2005 Chrysler 300c and 2004 Range Rover hse
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
Nah, HK is the 'premium' option.
Dynomat the car first, see if you like it, then move onto swapping out speakers.
Dynomat the car first, see if you like it, then move onto swapping out speakers.
Yeah parents are Indian :p
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Miami
06 CLS55
Zepp
Hey Doc,
Are you a big Zepp fan? I was telling my friends that the HK in my car doesn't really sound good with Hip-Hop to much rattle, but sounds great when I play my Zepp it could be a little louder but no complaints here.
I have it on Logic 7 setting... Hopefully it should be the same as my system and not worse. Will wait and see...
I use to install car alarms and car audio systems...I would definatley dynomat as much as possible, and it's something that you can do yourself if you have the time and patience.
Clos
Are you a big Zepp fan? I was telling my friends that the HK in my car doesn't really sound good with Hip-Hop to much rattle, but sounds great when I play my Zepp it could be a little louder but no complaints here.
I have it on Logic 7 setting... Hopefully it should be the same as my system and not worse. Will wait and see...
I use to install car alarms and car audio systems...I would definatley dynomat as much as possible, and it's something that you can do yourself if you have the time and patience.
Clos
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
Hk
Originally Posted by BLK 300C
Since when did they use Harmon Kardon in the Benz??? I thought it was the Bose system??
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
Dynomat?
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
Nah, HK is the 'premium' option.
Dynomat the car first, see if you like it, then move onto swapping out speakers.
Dynomat the car first, see if you like it, then move onto swapping out speakers.
Who???
Where???
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
Originally Posted by clos
Hey Doc,
Are you a big Zepp fan? I was telling my friends that the HK in my car doesn't really sound good with Hip-Hop to much rattle, but sounds great when I play my Zepp it could be a little louder but no complaints here.
I have it on Logic 7 setting... Hopefully it should be the same as my system and not worse. Will wait and see...
I use to install car alarms and car audio systems...I would definatley dynomat as much as possible, and it's something that you can do yourself if you have the time and patience.
Clos
Are you a big Zepp fan? I was telling my friends that the HK in my car doesn't really sound good with Hip-Hop to much rattle, but sounds great when I play my Zepp it could be a little louder but no complaints here.
I have it on Logic 7 setting... Hopefully it should be the same as my system and not worse. Will wait and see...
I use to install car alarms and car audio systems...I would definatley dynomat as much as possible, and it's something that you can do yourself if you have the time and patience.
Clos
Help. What is it and how do I do it? I have tried it on all 3 settings including logic and I get muddy bass and weak highs. No "umph"!
Sounds better with the CD but muted with the satellite....
BIG Zep fan......
What are you doing for New Years?
We will be there the 31st.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
Dynomat???
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
Dynomat the car in the door panels first. Then dynomat it in the trunk.
See if that helps the audio quality, then work on speakers (adding, swapping, whatever).
See if that helps the audio quality, then work on speakers (adding, swapping, whatever).
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Basically what you're getting is sound deadening material. The best way to make any sound system sound better is to add mass surrounding it to avoid rattles and what not. Usually it'll eliminate the need for getting new speakers and what not.
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...?CategoryID=50
Those are examples of some dampening material you can buy. You take off your door panel and put in the material between your door panel and door.
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128846
^-- Good link to read.
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...?CategoryID=50
Those are examples of some dampening material you can buy. You take off your door panel and put in the material between your door panel and door.
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128846
^-- Good link to read.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Miami
06 CLS55
block party
Doc,
beleive it or not, I live in a neighborhood where people still talk to each other. We had a block party last year closed of the the streets with baricades that where borrowed from the city
We had a bounce house for the kids and plenty of drinks for the adults. Since no one had to drive home we all got trashed.
I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old wife doesn't like to spend new years with out them right now.
your welcomed to join us!
Clos
beleive it or not, I live in a neighborhood where people still talk to each other. We had a block party last year closed of the the streets with baricades that where borrowed from the city
We had a bounce house for the kids and plenty of drinks for the adults. Since no one had to drive home we all got trashed.
I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old wife doesn't like to spend new years with out them right now.
your welcomed to join us!
Clos
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 880
Likes: 1
From: Encino, CA
a toy
Traumadoc, try this before you begin swapping out parts. Turn DOWN the bass all the way, and see how you like the clarity and response of the stock speakers. That will give you a clear idea if the speakers are overworking themselves to pump out some bass, but are capable of the mids/highs you are looking for.
That will also give you a better idea whether you want to just add a sub to the stock system and run all the bass from that, or to start swapping out the interior speakers as well.
+1 for Dynamat.
That will also give you a better idea whether you want to just add a sub to the stock system and run all the bass from that, or to start swapping out the interior speakers as well.
+1 for Dynamat.
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 755
Likes: 2
From: USA
LS7 powered Corvette
All of the above suggestions sound good...
Just to let you know, I recently worked on an 04 E55 with a similar setup. Had 2 JL W7 12's in the trunk, all MB quarts in the doors including the tweeters. Two JL amps, EQ's, capacitor, the whole nine. Problem is the car had 20,000 miles and had gone through three batteries and two alternators. From the looks of the install and the parts, it was a step up from a best buy job but nothing to brag about.
Just to let you know, I recently worked on an 04 E55 with a similar setup. Had 2 JL W7 12's in the trunk, all MB quarts in the doors including the tweeters. Two JL amps, EQ's, capacitor, the whole nine. Problem is the car had 20,000 miles and had gone through three batteries and two alternators. From the looks of the install and the parts, it was a step up from a best buy job but nothing to brag about.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 40
From: Pinehurst, NC
2022 AMG SL 63. 2021 APR stage 1 Audi SQ7.
Subwoofer
Originally Posted by Roupin
Traumadoc, try this before you begin swapping out parts. Turn DOWN the bass all the way, and see how you like the clarity and response of the stock speakers. That will give you a clear idea if the speakers are overworking themselves to pump out some bass, but are capable of the mids/highs you are looking for.
That will also give you a better idea whether you want to just add a sub to the stock system and run all the bass from that, or to start swapping out the interior speakers as well.
+1 for Dynamat.
That will also give you a better idea whether you want to just add a sub to the stock system and run all the bass from that, or to start swapping out the interior speakers as well.
+1 for Dynamat.
Thanks....
