traumadoc

Any recommendations to increase the power, bass and clarity of the stereo without radical modifications?

Thanks....

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...

NOTKTS

What do you consider "radical"?

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....

FThornton666

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.

traumadoc

.....the Led Zeppelin does not rock so hard in the new car

Kubazzz

Traumadoc - what is the exact code/name for the audio option that you have ?
Isn't there possibility to order HK audio ?

traumadoc

It IS the Harmon Kardon.

BLK 300C

Since when did they use Harmon Kardon in the Benz??? I thought it was the Bose system??

vraa

Nah, HK is the 'premium' option.

Dynomat the car first, see if you like it, then move onto swapping out speakers.

BLK 300C

You should have done JL's in the Range instead of the Rockfords. Its a little expensive since you dont want to spend so much but its WORTH every penny IMO.

BLK 300C

Ricky you Desi???

vraa

No, Texan.

Yeah parents are Indian :p

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

traumadoc

Not certain when they started but the HK is in the E (w211) as well.

traumadoc

Who???

Where???

vraa

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).

traumadoc

Dynomat???
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.

traumadoc

Ricky... Not to sound ignorant but I am not familiar with that process.....

vraa

No worries. Let me find you a link, just give me a few minutes.

vraa

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.

clos

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

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.

csumt76

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.

traumadoc

Roupin. That is exactly what I was thinking. Help mer out here. If I run all the bass through a subwoofer, will I not be missing out on some of the mid bass or are there some subs that capture the entire range of bass. The 12" sub in my Range Rover seems to emit only the lowest frequency of bass but I may not have the amp settings done correctly....


Thanks....