Polar Bear

As others have stated, you clearly have a problem with your system. It could be as simple as a software upgrade that will help it. The AGW can be software upgraded with SDS and that is known to fix various issues.

The H/K system is not the best system I have heard, but it is not nearly as bad as you have described.

If the AGW is experiencing problems, it may be setting a fault code that the dealer could read. The dealer can also upgrade your software.

This is related to the software update:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...hlight=presets

Dtv211

You can change your speakers, just be sure to find speakers with the proper wattage and ohms.

oonick

where can i obtain this CD,
why do some CD's sound better than others?
I need to do somthing to try and improve the sound of this system.
just cant take the crackling.

mike vee

it's not a great system. end of story. i could put together a system with cheap *** Jensen components from pep bys that would sound way better.

dannieboiz

You're just too stubborn and doesn't want to take advise. END OF STORY.

220S

mike vee

and what advice is THAT? that i have a loose cable? how would a loose cable cause a speaker to sound blown? it cant. if a cable was loose then the signal would be sporadic which it is not. a speaker sounds blown if it IS blown. and the speaker became blown because of the crappy crossover points for this system, mainly the center channel.. if i was the ONLY person here complaining then maybe you would be right but there's FOUR other people here saying that their sounds like crap too. seems to me like the others just don't know what a good system is. these speakers are worth like 5 bucks max. ever take a look at the sub??? the magnet is the size of a quarter and the cone is made of cheap paper. i can only imagine the other speakers are the same. so if you like that kind of thing then fine, but don't argue with me trying to say that i am insane because i think it's sub par. its you standards that are. my car has an engine that can blow away most cars and luxury to outshine 99% of cars on the road but can't ven play 5 different notes of bass without the center channel cracking or the sub popping. that's unacceptable to me and very supprising. not a huge deal, i'll replace it. whatever.

Dtv211

I would love to see you accomplish this. Clearly, Jensen components from Pepboys is the way to go, clearly.

dannieboiz

If those aren't advise, I don't know what is. You're too much of a sound engineer = listen but no action.

A loose cable will cause distortions, distortions = blown speakers. Would you like to know the physics behind it?

A defective amp can cause distortions, your head unit may be shot (most likely not). So perhaps your speakers are perfectly fine.

Again THIS IS AN ADVISE in case you didn't catch it the first time. Go listen to another w211 with an HK system, you will not find any bass down to 3hz but I'm sure you'll find that the HK system isn't that bad after all.

If that doesn't change your mind, then your standards are too high for "MOST" w211 owners less the other four that think other wise.

Kardacian

I hope I am not throwing gas on a fire here. I just purchased a 2007 E-350 which I really like except for the audio system. Now before the gas hits the fire I will explain my position. I am not an engineer or stereo expert just an average Joe.

Yes the HK Logic 7 system does sound good. I agree its probably the best stock system I have heard. However 2 years ago I replaced a stock stereo in my Volvo S80 with a Kenwood DNX7100, Kicker 400 Watt amp and a Kicker Solo Baric 8 Inch Sub. I have a great sounding system, Ipod connectivity Bluetooth for my phone, Garmin and I can watch videos.

The HK system just does not match up to that at the end of the day. Sound wise its good but the whole packge just does not cut it for someone that wants to go to the next step (sorry guys). For the average person and slightly above the HK is perfect.

So if I want to replace the HK with a Kenwood I have to junk the AGW along with the HK HU. I dont want to replace the stock speakers execpt the sub. So my question is does anybody know what the Ohms ratings are for the tweaters, woofers and center speaker so that I can get the right size amps? I have searched high and low with no luck.

All help is much appreciated.

Dtv211

2 ohms, all the way around. I was thinking of adding 4 more tweeters into my car. Two up front by the sun visors, and two in the back by the top of the glass. The L7 ss sounds good as is, I just feel that there is sound 'missing' above my head. (in L7 SS mode, that is)

mike vee

just replace the whole thing man. get a 5 channel amp. i am about to get my full system replacement in about 3 weeks! can't wait!!! Going with Polk all around.

erifly

I do agree its a good stock system. I'm not into the extreme bass but it has enough for me(But if the sub was in an enclosure instead of hanging from my rearshelf causing things to vibrate with noise every once in a while that might have been better). However the quality of sound is not good at all on songs with more higher pitched sounds. These songs do not play well on the system(sometimes sounding distorted). I have read that possibly is the weak amp that is the issue but for right now it plays pretty good for me.

Kardacian

I agree whole hardetly there are some soneg that just seem to be missing something. If I play a song with a lot of base it's ok. Otherwise it just seems to be missing something. I dont want my car to thump but, you need to have a system that can so that it has that rich sound.

So as I understand it there are 2 speakers wired together in each door in the front (tweater and mid range). The center speaker and then two mid ranges in each back door for a total of 7 speaker. Then there is the Sub woofer.

Can I get some opinnions on what I should do. I know that I want to install a highend Kenwood Exceleon (BT, Garmin, Ipod etc). In my previous car I installed a 400 Watt Kicker and an 8 inch Kicker Solobaric. I want to go with something simillar, that solution worked for me and it's not over the top.

So let me hear the suggestions.

dannieboiz

To beef up the stock system, all I did was add a JL 500.1 and a IDMax 12 in the trunk, my friends never believe me when I tell them that that's all I did to the stock system.

Mike, if you like sound, look into the mid ends of Focal speakers. They produce great SQ.

Adding an amp to just any speakers doesn't mean you'll have better sound. The same speakers will sound different from different amps even if they're the same power ratings (on the bench). You'll have to play around with it a little to have them sonically match.

mike vee

yea focals are great. they make CAR stuff???

Dtv211

Yes... everyone knows that, right?

mike vee

i only knew them as a maker of high end studio monitors...

they car stuff looks amazing but is REDICULSOULY expensive!!! 1800 for a sub? LOL

220S

fwiw, I have Focals in my Porsche from these P-car install specialists. Worth every penny.
http://www.caraudioinnovations.com/porsche.htm

Dtv211

This was already mentioned, but in case you missed it, please be aware that if you are keeping your stock speakers, keep in mind that they have an impedance of 2 ohms. Aftermarket car electronics like Kenwood make HU's and speakers in 4 ohms. This will destroy your HK speakers in time. I recently helped my younger brother replace his 4 stock speakers on an acura integra, which were all blown because of the aftermarket HU he had. The good news is, we now have 4 extra ashtrays to use while smoking in the garage.

If you can find a HU running 2 ohms, that would be the recommended choice if you plan on keeping your speakers stock. Otherwise, upgrade everything.

Good luck.

EEDavid

For what it's worth, I thought I might add a few comments to this thread.

First of all, I am here because I have a 2008 ML 350 and the HK audio system sounds terrible. It is so shrill it's like having a rat tail file pushed through your ears. However, I am convinced there is something wrong with the system. I find it hard to believe MB would sell a vehicle with a system that sounds this bad right off the lot. Nevertheless, if others are complaining, there must be some inherent deficiency in the stock system.

Also, I would like to throw out a caution about turning your music "all the way up." This is a sure-fire way to damage speakers. Here's why:

Audio amps must provide enough gain to ensure that they will be able to produce adequate output for sources of varying modulation levels. In other words, the output from one CD can be much lower than the output from another (or MP3 player, or SAT source, etc) and the amp must be able to compensate.

Consequently, for sources (CD's MP3 players, etc) of typical output, the amp will "clip" when turned all the way up. (The peaks of the waveform are "clipped off.") Clipping creates a VERY large DC (direct current) component, and that DC will eventually overheat the speaker voice coils. Amp and speaker power rating do not make a whole lot of difference under these circumstances. However, the lower the speaker the impedance, the easier it would be for this damage to happen.

So, anyway, now I have to find out what is wrong with my system. My gut feel makes me suspect the speakers. If I replace them, I won't put in 2 ohm speakers if that is what is already there.

Maybe I should point out that I am an Electronics Engineer. I put myself through college repairing audio and video equipment. I've worked on and attended seminars for everything from Sanyo to Bang & Olufsen, from consumer to professional.

If I can be of some technical help to anyone, drop me an email.

HIRABI

Thus far, no issues with mine!

**Knock on Wood**

mike vee

it's funny, mine IS definitely broken. but I FOUND THE FIX!!!!:

Maybe half of the time when I get in the car, the stereo is 4 times louder than the last time, thus clipping horribly, espicially the center channel.

The cure? You have to go into audio settings and change it from stereo, to surround, then back again....(or visa versa) when i do that the volume drops to normal level and it sounds pretty damn good.

So, as the OP, I was wrong and Please let me know if this fix works for you!!!

UsedMB

I remember there was this one time when my HK stereo sounded terrible (distorted, crackling, and no bass at all). Next time I got back into my car, it sounded perfectly fine again. I never had that problem show-up again, but if it happens again, I will try your fix.

mike vee

i have to do it every time i get in...pain in the *** but it's second nature to me now.