Varaxious

I was wondering about how easy it is to upgrade speakers. the wires are fiberoptic correct? so how would i put in a JL W3v2 which isnt.

MB Fanatic

I was always told and under the assumption that the cars entertainment and informations systems were all fiberoptics.

McGuireV10

The system bus is fiber optic but ultimately the speakers have to get DC. I know in my roommate's C230K the sub, at least, has a regular electrical connection. He recently yanked it and built a new box for a separately-amplified 10" as the stock sub was virtually useless.

Are the speakers self-amplified, like they are (or were) in Land Rovers and some other vehicles? In that case the connections may be fiber optic. In a Land Rover you can't simply swap a speaker, the speaker/amp assembly is a single unit (making basic stereo upgrades fairly expensive).

On the other hand, he ran a SoundAdvice car stereo shop (I believe they're called "Tweeters" elsewhere in the US) for something like 9 years and they flatly refused to work on Mercedes. It was the only car they wouldn't work on at all.

MB Fanatic

So the data or information going to the speaker is fibreoptic? So obviously the electrical has to be DC? I'm still confused,

DWP

After checking around, it seems that late-model M-Bs do use the fiberoptic network to send audio data from the head unit. The question then becomes, at what point is the optical data converted to current that a speaker can use? Speakers operate on electrons, not photons. And don't cars with the H-K audio have a power amplifier in the left rear fender to drive the subwoofer, at least? That would require conventional speaker wires between the power amp and the subwoofer under the rear window.

MB Fanatic

I am pretty sure that even my late 2001 E320 with the Bose audio had fibreoptic cables running around everywhere, since the brochures mentioned fibreoptics, the dealer literally made it a selling point (saying it would pick up minimal interference from other objects) and what not.

steph280

I believe the fiber portion is only for data. The W211 has "MOST" ring and incorporates all your gadgets such as headunit, CD changer, phone, voice comand, sat radio, tv tuner, AGW, etc. AGW is where the signal processing and amp happens.

Then from AGW (audio gateway) you have copper wires going to speakers.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong...

MB Fanatic

This sounds like an interesting topic and hopefully scorchie, or MBenzNL can give us some imput.

DWP

This thread just illustrates how difficult it can be to get information on how our very complex cars operate. M-B doesn't seem to be interested in making that kind of information public, except as they may choose to pass tidbits on to their ad agency. To give another example (and just as an example, not to hijack the thread), I had my E500 for over a year before I learned that the Airmatic suspension has steel springs in addition to the air bags; I had thought that the air bags replaced the steel springs. I don't know where I could get basic information like that if it wasn't for this forum.

Varaxious

So I was talking with my brother and he said the M-B dealers people said that if you change a speaker out, or disconnect one, the computer will show and error. M-B dealer folk aren’t very helpful when it comes to "moding" their "perfect" pieces of automotive luxury are they? So my next question... after I figure out this fiberoptic thing is how to avoid this error...


Oh and great news... the best stereo shop in my town hasn’t done anything to a W211.... if they screw it up... I hope they buy me a new car.... lol

Dema

Speaker connected to an amplifier using regular copper wires. You need just know impedance of existing speaker to keep not much difference.

W0n6_3d4n

I just added a subwoofer to my E class, no biggie. Just need some Line level converter, that's it really.

Brian_I.

What's a line level converter? Can someone tell us exactly what needs to be done to change out the sub on an H-K system?

TIA

W0n6_3d4n

Line level converter is basically a device that allow factory HU to connect to aftermarket amp, through RCA cable that is.

Aftermarket system consist of:

HU-RCA-Amp-Sub/Speaker

Since factory HU doesn't have that RCA output that's where Line level converter (LLC) take place.

Factory HU-LLC-RCA-Amp-Sub/speaker

I dunno about HK package, i'm assuming it has some sort of amplifier, but not sure about the connectivity.
I can take pics of the install and the LLC device if u want, just tell me.

Varaxious

yeah if you could post some pictures that would be cool

Brian_I.

Anyone know how one might be able to upgrade the sub in an HK setup? I know for sure there is an amp already so maybe we could just do a straight swap of the speaker itself.

W0n6_3d4n

U need to find out the impedance of the amp and the rms it put out. Have a look at phase Aliante speaker, it's SQ oriented and very thin!!! i reckon it will fit in the existing subwoofer compartment. U definetly can do straight swap out once u know your way around the amp. Besides, u don't need big rms to make subs go loud. Good luck. Let me know of the outcome.