CLK55 AMG, CLK63 AMG (W208, W209) 2000 - 2010 (Two Generations)

2004 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG Arc Audio build

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 02-24-2017, 01:52 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
2004 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG Arc Audio build

Hey guys this is a build I did for a local customer. They wanted improve their current audio system SQ and output. The rockford fosgate audio system consisting of a 4 ch amplifier powering 2 sets of components. The system is basically Rockfords entry level equipment (Prime line). First step was picking better equipment to replace the Rockford but stay within their budget to get the best possible SQ and output. We felt the Arc Audio Arc series components, subs and XDI amplifier would fit the bill. Since they wanted to stay passive instead of active system to help stay within their budget. They were able to put more budget towards the trunk Build out.

Equipment that was removed

-Prime R165-S is a 6.5" 2-way component system 2 sets front and rear
-Prime R400-4D 4channel Amplifier 75x4


Equipment upgrade

- Arc 6.2 components front stage
- Arc 602 coaxials in rear of doors
- Arc 10 subwoofers
- Arc XDi 1200.6 Amplifier












Old 02-24-2017, 01:59 AM
  #2  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
First was to remove the old equipment from the doors.






Rockfordfosgate mid bass driver



Arc Audio 6.2 mid bass speaker mounted in oem Bose speaker adapter.



Up closse of the Arc Audio 6.2 mid bass speaker mounted in oem Bose speaker adapter.



Arc audio rear 6.5" coaxial speakers installed in rear of front door
Old 02-24-2017, 02:09 AM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Next Arc tweeters are mounted in the OEM sails




Arc Audio 28mm tweeters



Arc 28mm tweeter mounted to door sails.



With a factory OEM look but upgraded sound.
Old 02-24-2017, 02:15 AM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
On to the trunk build. I Built a sealed enclosure to house the 2 Arc audio 10" subs. For the trim panel I design shapes of the panel grill off the front door Speaker grill design. Since this is an AMG we decided to use birch plywood to save on weight vs the standard MDF.

Then enclosure



Sealed subwoofer enclosure for a pair of 10"Arc Series subwoofers



Trim panel for the enclosure router out and ready for shaping.







Old 02-24-2017, 02:50 AM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Next, lots of sanding and bodywork.






Old 02-24-2017, 02:53 AM
  #6  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Then I made to press grills for the panel openings.













Grill was cut and trimmed and attached to the panel. then the insert trim fit over the grill



Old 02-24-2017, 02:56 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Then light weight filler added and more sanding.










Old 02-24-2017, 02:59 AM
  #8  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Thread nuts were added to mounting holes for the subs.






Added multi LEDS



LEDS test.
Old 02-24-2017, 03:03 AM
  #9  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Next I made amp rack and trim cover for the amp. Also rack mount and bracket.










Amp rack test fit.





Amp test fitted in the amprack.
Old 02-24-2017, 03:06 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
All wiring was wrapped in Tesa tape and zip tied.











LEDS and wiring tested in the car.
Old 02-24-2017, 03:13 AM
  #11  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
For wrapping the trim panels for the amp rack and the enclosure I used black vinyl on the panels. Used perforated black vinyl for the grill and logo inserts to match the leather seat design.

Amp rack trim panel


















Old 02-24-2017, 03:18 AM
  #12  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Finally the completed setup install. customer was very happy with the improved SQ and output of the system. Loved the look of the setup, above what they expected to get. All in all great little trunk build.


















The following users liked this post:
joliett (02-17-2020)
Old 02-24-2017, 01:54 PM
  #13  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
ROLLNNN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: So Cal... In between LA and OC
Posts: 3,595
Received 18 Likes on 15 Posts
2005 CLK320 Vert & 2005 CLK55 AMG
pretty clean work! looks great..
Old 02-24-2017, 03:50 PM
  #14  
Member
 
gofisch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 215
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
2005 C55 AMG
That, my man, is beautiful.
Old 02-24-2017, 09:27 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Thanks guys!
Old 02-26-2017, 12:12 PM
  #16  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
GatorMB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,425
Received 98 Likes on 88 Posts
2002 CLK 55 AMG cabriolet Eurocharged
Nice Work, Very professional.

Never heard of ARE but Alpine was tops when I was constructing high end audio.

Keep it up!!
Old 02-26-2017, 04:29 PM
  #17  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Originally Posted by GatorMB
Nice Work, Very professional.

Never heard of ARE but Alpine was tops when I was constructing high end audio.

Keep it up!!

Yeah Alpine is still a good brand, but since I do more of SQ audio builds I use equipment that is used in SQ competitions. Arc Audio is pretty good equipment that is bullet proof. Sounds pretty awesome as well.
The following users liked this post:
GatorMB (02-26-2017)
Old 02-27-2017, 03:46 AM
  #18  
Super Member
 
Khan 55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: South Africa
Posts: 501
Received 37 Likes on 36 Posts
2004 CLK55 AMG W209
Marvellous piece of work though I aint a sound guy. But man the dedication and meticulous craftsmanship put into that sub enclosure, really worth admiring. Keep up the great work.
Old 02-27-2017, 05:39 PM
  #19  
Member
 
91ser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 217
Received 19 Likes on 16 Posts
2003 CLK500, 2003 CLK55, 2008 CLK550
Awesome job man!! What a clean build.

I love the non-face lift speaker standoffs. They are MUCH easier to mount a new speaker in. The face-lift version I ended up making my own standoffs.

And I love Arc Audio! Great choice to keep price down and performance up. I have CDT components in front and what a difference over stock.

Keep up the great work!
Old 02-27-2017, 09:44 PM
  #20  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Originally Posted by 91ser
Awesome job man!! What a clean build.

I love the non-face lift speaker standoffs. They are MUCH easier to mount a new speaker in. The face-lift version I ended up making my own standoffs.

And I love Arc Audio! Great choice to keep price down and performance up. I have CDT components in front and what a difference over stock.

Keep up the great work!
Yeah Arc Audio makes great performing equipment. I use their XDi amps the most. I use them on very high-end expensive speakers and they perform well. I normally use hybrid Audio Technologies speakers but customer had a certain budget to work with. These arc series 6.2 components worked very well. Some of the best sounding components under $500.
Old 02-28-2017, 08:48 AM
  #21  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
insame1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,541
Received 190 Likes on 169 Posts
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
ARC Audio was created in part by one of the lead engineers from Zapco. If you open up one of their higher end amps and a Zapco amp you can see the similarities.
Old 02-28-2017, 09:17 AM
  #22  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Originally Posted by insame1
ARC Audio was created in part by one of the lead engineers from Zapco. If you open up one of their higher end amps and a Zapco amp you can see the similarities.
Yes very true. SE Amps are awesome amps if you have the space and the same with the older Zapco amps. Its just these days most customers are willing to give up some SQ for more cargo room. That where these amps Robert Zeff designed are nice. They have good SQ hard to tell the difference between these and good A/B amps. The form factor wins for install. The biggest 1200.6 is 13" x 6.2" x 2.1" which is capable to run an entire system like this install.

Last edited by junbug79; 02-28-2017 at 11:37 PM.
Old 02-28-2017, 04:07 PM
  #23  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
insame1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,541
Received 190 Likes on 169 Posts
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
Yeah i am running a Zapco reference 750.2 right now and it is huge.
Old 02-28-2017, 11:39 PM
  #24  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
junbug79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
c-class
Originally Posted by insame1
Yeah i am running a Zapco reference 750.2 right now and it is huge.
Nice amplifier!
Old 02-17-2020, 06:12 PM
  #25  
Newbie
 
joliett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2008 Corvette
Wonderful work...I did my own stereo build in my corvette...using arc audio mini amps that hid within the floor.
Your woodworking skills and keeping everything to Mercedes standards was beautiful. If you lived in NY we could be friends.

Joel

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:49 AM.