jturkel

hey guys

i'm considering get an aftermarket sound system. for now, i will probably keep the stock speakers in the car, but i would like to get a 10' or 12' sub and an amp.

I would like to keep the stock deck as well. I do not have Command (no navigation system) and the Bose speakers. Now i apologize because my knowledge on sound systems in negligible. I was speaking with a good friend of my who said that in order for my to keep the stock deck, i would have to have preouts. I did numerous searches on this C32 forum as well as in the general C class forum and came up with no results.

Does anyone know if the stock deck (non Command) has these preouts i need so i dont need to change out the deck?

thanks guys

-josh

calimax

You need RCA line out converters. Just buy the best quality you can. It will most likely be tapped in from the factory sub. I've been real happy with my Diamond Audio D6 sub and D6 mono block amp I think it's better than Alpine's type-X

calimax

oh, BTW you may come into some troubles with the auto sound leveling/interior mic.

alchang32

im happy with my set-up.

i have 2 10" memphis subs, and and street edge amp.

Im really pleased with the sound quailty and the amount of difference it makes with the factory bose.

DarkXerox

I put a mono amp and a single 12" sub in my spare tire well, without having to use the JL cleansweep system (Which didnt exist in 2001). Kept the stock crappy Bose speakers, but tore out the stock sub of course.

Cali I have the Diamond D7401 amp 400W @ 4ohms powering my 12" boston 12.5LF proseries sub. I still think Diamond makes some of the best amps out there. The great thing about the boston sub was that it only need a 1ft^3 enclosure, so it could fit down in the well, and wouldn't eat my trunk space.

I dunno Jturkel, if I didn't have COMAND, I would have ripped everything our and replaced it all. The BOSE system has all these stupid resistances in their speakers that have totally arbitrary numbers that make it impossible to replace them. Plus the CD changer has this dumb proprietary fiber optic linkage that makes you have to buy the alpine/mercedes one (already had to replace one of those) which costs like $800 to replace. Sure you give up the steering wheel volume function, but for like $2000 you can have a system that would blow the Blose out of the water. Heck even $1000 could do that. I miss the ADR system in my 300E, that car still sounds 10x better than the C32 does.

sales@eurocharged.com

I'm working on my install now.

I'm installing the following:

Avic Head unit with CA-R-PI.131 (allows use of stock steering wheel controls)

Focal 165v2 components for front and rear.

Alpine PDX-4.150 for components

Alpine PDX-1.600 for sub

I haven't decided on the sub yet, but I know that I don't want a box in the trunk and my spare tire well isn't empty anymore. I might go with a free air setup or something.



There are no preouts on the head unit.

DarkXerox

I can't remember but I think there is a blaupunkt headunit that allows for steering wheel control use also.

jgsx

Why not have a custom fiberglass enclosure built that sits in one of the sides of the trunk? That is the route I was going to go with until I decided just to use the spare tire well.

loudandheard

I think the main reason I didn't want to go all out with a system is that it adds weight and I'm scared that the power draw could have some sort of effect on our electrical system. I never had a problem with my w202 when I had a system in that one, but I'm assuming that it had less electrical things then does the w203. Are my concerns unwarrented?

rlee02135

I have 2 JL 12W3V3s powered by a 500/1

if you get a JL slash series amp, you don't need a line out converter, you can plug the speaker wire right in for the input (with crimped RCAs)

Biscuit

Focal's are overrated IMO. I've used CDT Audio in my last two cars and couldn't be happier. Cheaper than Focal too.

I don't mean that as a rip on what you got, don't get me wrong. Focal's are great speakers but they're so picky on the right amp.

AKnight55

go JL. one 12w6v2 and a jl 500/1 amp is all you would need. Plenty loud and good SQ(sound quality).

jturkel

so then if i want to add in just a sub and amp, i have to get an aftermarket deck too b/c the stock unit has no preouts? i apologize as, like i said, i have little to no knowledge of how this all works

rlee02135

For just a sub and an amp, you could tap the stock sub wires for a signal to feed your amp.

calimax

nope, you need to stop at one of your reputable electronics stores and ask for RCA line out converters in the car audio department. Buy the best quality ones you can. They are not that expensive, the cheap $25 ones will work, but would you put a cheap part in a Mercedes Benz? Read the simple instructions included with the converter and just tap them into the back wires of the factory sub.

sales@eurocharged.com

What they said...

sales@eurocharged.com

Can I see some pics?

jturkel

thanks for the help guys! greatly appreciated!

jgsx

It's a little confusing from the OP's post, do you have Bose or not? If you have Bose, you're going to need a Cleansweep to get preamp outputs from the Mercedes fiber optic network.

calimax

His C32 is an 2002, so it's the BLOSE. However it's not necessary to use the clean sweep in this case, unless he was wanting to retain the factory head unit and change all the speakers. for just a sub woofer, the line out converter is all thats necessary. I've installed this way on all my vehicles that had BLOSE. Nissan Maxima, Acura RL and 2 MBZ so far have all worked well with this. Only the Benz and their sound leveling system/interior mic have given me problems.

jturkel

hmm.......ok. for clarification, yes i have the 02. Yes i have the Bose. But, i DO want to keep the stock head unit (if that is the same thing as the deck with the drop down cassette and so on).

provided that, does that mean that i DO, in this case, need to use this "clean sweep" or what?

my apologies for my confusion/lack of knowledge

calimax

no worries! "Head unit" is just another term used as is "deck" It all means the same thing. I was replying to the JL Audio Clean Sweep in reference to changing all of the speakers in the car and keeping the BOSE deck/head unit. You should spend a day going to all the different retailers and see for your self whats out there, you'll learn a lot. If you ask the same questions at different places, some of the sales guys will give you different answers, just keep asking questions and do your research, and you'll be closer to finding what you want! You may get a different idea and go another rout, like I want to now. I will ditch the whole stereo system in the C32. I just don't know what I want yet.

calimax

The CD Changer is the only other fiber optic stereo component in the car, and not the speakers! Thank the Mercedes GOD for that one!!

jturkel

thanks. so all i need is those RCA lineout converters if i want to keep my stock head unit?

Adi_V

You could try doing what i did.. I disconnected the mosfet chip in the stock head unit, ran rca's to an equalizer, then to an amp powering the stock speakers and another amp for the rear aftermarket sub.. I have an eclipse sw9 ten inch.. the bass is way past overkill and is getting annoying ( level controller for the sub is broken.. after i lent the car to a freind). but i guess its what appeals to you guys in the states..
adding a seperate amp for the speakers has most def improved the sound quality... worth doing..

I have pics on my install on a previous thread..
link: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...64#post2136064