Adding a center speaker
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CLK350
Adding a center speaker
Hi Everyone,
Has anyone ever tried to add a center channel speaker into a w209 CLK350 facelifted car that didn't come with one installed?
Are there mounting points there already or is it not possible?
I'm adding an amplifier, so I'll have an extra channel for the center.
Cheers.
Has anyone ever tried to add a center channel speaker into a w209 CLK350 facelifted car that didn't come with one installed?
Are there mounting points there already or is it not possible?
I'm adding an amplifier, so I'll have an extra channel for the center.
Cheers.
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
It should be quite simple, when I did my audio system I replaced the center speaker with an aftermarket speaker. Pop the center dash grill out and you see on the underside there is a speaker bracket moulded into the casing, a (if my memory serves me correctly) 3" speaker snaps right in, I modified mine a little and put in a 4".
Now, you mention that your adding an amplifier, are you retaining the OEM head unit or replacing it? If you are replacing it, does the new head unit have a center ch out? If you are retaining the OEM head unit, is your amplifier bridgable (to produce a mono signal) and if so, what is the RMS (not peak) wattage?
Now, you mention that your adding an amplifier, are you retaining the OEM head unit or replacing it? If you are replacing it, does the new head unit have a center ch out? If you are retaining the OEM head unit, is your amplifier bridgable (to produce a mono signal) and if so, what is the RMS (not peak) wattage?
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CLK350
Cool time to go 3" speaker shopping.
Oh wait.. Follow up question. My area where the center channel should be, is actually an air con vent. Is it multi purpose in the cars with a center channel?
Decided to keep the original head unit since I want to retain all the steering controls, the displays in the dash and also I think it looks nice.
Speakers in the doors have been replaced. 2 way focal 6.5" splits in the front and coaxial 6.5" in the rear port.
I went and got a 4 channel amp which gives me about 140w x 4 channel. It's bridgeable.
Put it all in now and while its a huge improvement, I'm itching to do a bit more. So I'm going to add something like a JBL MS-8 to try do the sound stage setup. I'll be able to run a center channel speaker off that since there's a built in amp in it.
Will also add a extra amp and a subwoofer next week. A Morel ultimo 12".
This is my first audio upgrade, so I've already made a few sub optimal decisions hehe, but when I'm done ill do a write up so others don't make the same goofs I have.
Oh wait.. Follow up question. My area where the center channel should be, is actually an air con vent. Is it multi purpose in the cars with a center channel?
Decided to keep the original head unit since I want to retain all the steering controls, the displays in the dash and also I think it looks nice.
Speakers in the doors have been replaced. 2 way focal 6.5" splits in the front and coaxial 6.5" in the rear port.
I went and got a 4 channel amp which gives me about 140w x 4 channel. It's bridgeable.
Put it all in now and while its a huge improvement, I'm itching to do a bit more. So I'm going to add something like a JBL MS-8 to try do the sound stage setup. I'll be able to run a center channel speaker off that since there's a built in amp in it.
Will also add a extra amp and a subwoofer next week. A Morel ultimo 12".
This is my first audio upgrade, so I've already made a few sub optimal decisions hehe, but when I'm done ill do a write up so others don't make the same goofs I have.
Last edited by mikischu; Jan 7, 2013 at 06:24 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
Very good & good luck. If you need any help along the way, let me know, I have a tad bit of car audio experience...
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2008 CLK550 Cab
You don't have a speaker under that big grill in your dash? Anyway, be careful poppoing it up if you have not yet. It's a thin alumiun piece folded over a heavy plastic frame. 6 clips - two along the edge closest to you and two on each side. Make sure you get under the platic frame to pop it up. It's about 3/8" thick.
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CLK350
Yeah my car didn't come with a speaker there. That grill acts as a big climate control air vent.
It's actually useless because it causes my windscreen to fog up like crazy if I open the vent.
Hopefully a speaker will fit in there
Thanks for the tip / warning. I'll be extra careful.
It's actually useless because it causes my windscreen to fog up like crazy if I open the vent.
Hopefully a speaker will fit in there
Thanks for the tip / warning. I'll be extra careful.
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From: Surrey, UK
CLK320 2009 (W209)
When you say interior panels, I hope you aren't referring to the large dashboard on top which is the width of the car? As for the other panels, they are already all off including the glovebox. I think maybe my attempts at routing the cable is incorrect - will try again after work.
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CLK350
Have you double checked to make sure that the air vent /speaker grill can actually hold a speaker?
When I was looking at doing this, the photos of the vents with speakers looked different from my existing one.
eBay had a few speaker compatible grills for sale, but these seem to also come with the parking sensor display bit, so it's another thing to change out.
I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to switch that part out, but just keep that in mind and good luck.
When I was looking at doing this, the photos of the vents with speakers looked different from my existing one.
eBay had a few speaker compatible grills for sale, but these seem to also come with the parking sensor display bit, so it's another thing to change out.
I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to switch that part out, but just keep that in mind and good luck.
Last edited by mikischu; Aug 13, 2014 at 11:38 PM. Reason: Typo
