Our 07 E550 has the H&K system and frankly, the high end sounds distorted compared to the C32's BOSE, which IMO is still garbage. Not very promising considering this is supposed to be an "upgrade" over the old systems. However, the low end is much better on the 550, but we still think it needs the two 12" subs from our old 300E.

I need to find out what can be done and what the aftermarket options are. We are serious audiophiles and if the car came with a McIntosh option or any better system that integrated COMAND functionality, we would have jumped on it.

I mean our C32 used a friggin 2 ohm system (BLOSE indeed) and we had to throw a 12" Boston sub with 1000 watts of power from a mono amp to make it sound decent at all. But with that car you couldn't replace the stock amp powering the mids/tweeters without losing the steering wheel controls or COMAND functionality (can't even have a good aftermarket CD changer in that car due to the OEM optical connection).

So what options do we have and what has everyone done here? We want to keep control over the steering wheel buttons, COMAND, navigation, etc. Is the H&K system 2ohms just like the BOSE or did they grow up and go with a 4ohm system?

 

Heh Heh Heh. "Ve haf provided all zat you need in your car. Ven ve are done vis your car it is finished!"

 

I know! I mean when friends ride in my 300E they always ask "wtf, this car was probably $50k new or something and doesn't have a cup holder". I don't think mercedes started adding those till '96 at least. Now I could overlook the audio thing if the current cars were engineered the same way as the old ones, instead of engineered by the beancounters...

 

I find the stock stereo actually quite good. I am surprised at the clarity when turned up and the bass extension. I also like the imaging quality. It is one of the best OEM systems I have ever heard and I think it rivals many good aftermarket systems. I listened to the Mark Levinson system in the LS460 and I would say they are fairly equal...

 

Agreed. For an MB system It is VERY good. Unless you are an audiophile who has ears that can hear a butterfly's wings in motion. Its a very nice sounding system.

 

I have to say I was skeptical at first about the HK system but I have very quickly grown to love it. I find though that I have to keep the balance biased quite a bit towards the rear to make it sound balanced. Anyone else experience this? Now if only you could save preferences (fade, bass, treble, etc) by input that would be ideal!

Emilner... if only you were selling a '67 Chevelle (I'm looking). You should bring it to the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus this weekend. Over 6,000 cars 1972 and earlier and private sales happening everywhere (http://www.good-guys.com/news/newsStory.aspx?newsid=776).

 

You can do the up grade. The W211 E55 board had a group buy and it was $3500. I can look up the details if you are interested.

EDIT here is the link.
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...ighlight=royce
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...t=royce&page=2

 

The original poster has confessed to this affliction.I, too, suffer from this disease. There seems to be no cure.

 

I've been very happy with the JL Clean Sweep box as the center figure in my audio upgrades, which allows me to keep all functionality of the OEM head unit and controls. It neutralized all of the crappy factory EQ settings, and the system sounds great. Other additions are Infinity Kappa series component speakers, Alpine V Series amps for the mains and the JL 10" sub enclosure. The only downside is the remote gain/volume control that has to be mounted where the cig lighter used to be, but the steering wheel volume and other controls are left functional too.

For more :

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_c...php?page_id=94

 

I thought that the Bass & Trebel ARE memorized differently by AM/FM/SAT

 

I'm sure Reus Audio has a package for the W211.

 

Cool thanks guys, this is what I was looking for. I'll spend some time at the car audio place today then.

 

actually, Kenny, did you keep the DVD nav?

 

My car is non NAV, but I don't see why it wouldn't still work.....

 

ok cool, I'll definitely look into that. It seems like what needs help are the tweeters since all the top end stuff is distorted (voices, etc.).