Anyone upgraded their speakers on a w211? Mines harman kardon I think. Not even sure where all of them are at. Looks like 2 on the door just above the side mirrors

 

I haven't, yet. There are a total of 10.

 

12 Speakers for the H/K set up. 4x 1" Tweeters, 4x 6.5" Midrange woofers, 3x 3.5" Surround speakers and 1x 10" Subwoofer. The speakers are located 1 midrange and tweeter per door, the sub is located on the rear deck accompanied by 2 Surround speakers and the center speaker is in the dash board. If you are looking to replace the speakers I would either go for Alpine, infinity or Focal, they are the best you can get.

If you are unsure that you have Harman Kardon just look down at your speaker grills to check for badges, alternatively look inside your trunk at the rear deck, it should have the subwoofer with the magnet pointing down into the trunk, if not you have the standard Audio 20 sound. The Audio 20 sound system is not much different from the HK. Whilst the HK has 550watts and logic 7 processing the standard has 270watts with only 10 speakers and the deletion of the rear Surround speakers.

Try vindecoderz.com, put your vin in and look for option 810 - Sound System

 

Coming from somebody who designs, builds, and sells speakers, suggesting a single brand that has MANY product lines from extremely entry to what they consider high end is not sound advice (pun intended). Of the 3 brands you listed, none are considered "the best you can get". Alpine and Infinity are considered bottom of the barrel in the high end audio world. They have some OK budget options though.

So, I ask the question: Are you wanting to replace every speaker, and what is your budget for doing so?

 

So what brands are you suggesting that don't cost as much as the car does? He's not going to be spending $4000 on the sound system when the car is only worth $5000.

 

I won't recommend a brand as a whole, for reasons I already said. I would recommend specific models based on budget. Who are you to say what he will or won't spend on it? It's not your car, it's not your money. I have a truck with more custom work done to it than the value of the truck plus greater than value in stereo without installation labor. I have a car with a paint job worth 10x more than the car PLUS a motor swap and you guessed it, a stereo worth 10x more than the car. And last but not least (pun coming) my van with a paint job worth triple the vehicle and a stereo totaling just over $20,000 without labor costs.

Moral of the story: Never assume how somebody will spend their money or what they're wants are. Additionally, you may have just insulted him because he very well could have a loaded 09 E63 with low miles worth 5x more than you say his car is worth.

 

For the general populous, spending the price of a new car on an old one is not justifiable. For some, yes but not everybody. You have got to assume from a general perspective what he wants and what he is willing to spend.

I recommended those brands as the information is limited and once he elaborates a little further on what he wants the specific models will become clear. All those brands are good for a drop in installation for the HK or Audio 20 Amplifiers. Assuming he wants to do the whole installation I am positive he would will explain a little further in depth into what he wants, plus, if he was wanting to spend $20,000 on a sound system why would he be asking for advice on a forum?

By the way, he says in his bio that he has an 04 E320 which is worth around $6k not an E63. By all means if he has the money to spend, why not?

With my old W211, I installed Focal PS 165's with tweeters in all the doors and replaced the Subwoofer with a Alpine Swr-t 10 Shallow mount. I used the factory amp and it sounded unbelievably good with only $700 spent.

 

I'm among thousands of people that routinely spend more on audio than the car is worth. I'm also in the audio business and know to ask budget before anything else, because you can't assume anything other than he wants a better than current sound. Maybe he does want to spend $20k and looking for a starting point of where to look. Maybe he's only used to see what Best Buy offers which doesn't meet his needs.

Also keep in mind, "sounds good" is subjective. Different people have different tastes, and you don't know how bad something sounds till you hear better. Knowing what he has or has had helps in figuring out a suggestion as well.

 

[QUOTE=w203ck;6992692]12 Speakers for the H/K set up. 4x 1" Tweeters, 4x 6.5" Midrange woofers, 3x 3.5" Surround speakers and 1x 10" Subwoofer. The speakers are located 1 midrange and tweeter per door, the sub is located on the rear deck accompanied by 2 Surround speakers and the center speaker is in the dash board. If you are looking to replace the speakers I would either go for Alpine, infinity or Focal, they are the best you can get.

If you are unsure that you have Harman Kardon just look down at your speaker grills to check for badges, alternatively look inside your trunk at the rear deck, it should have the subwoofer with the magnet pointing down into the trunk, if not you have the standard Audio 20 sound. The Audio 20 sound system is not much different from the HK. Whilst the HK has 550watts and logic 7 processing the standard has 270watts with only 10 speakers and the deletion of the rear Surround speakers.

Try vindecoderz.com, put your vin in and look for option 810 - Sound


Thanks will try that. Yeh I guess replace them all they just sound (blah) if makes sense. Cant get enough treble, lots of bass. Whats your thoughts on the audio system in a 04 e320 w211? Command system. Not sure if just replacing speakers is good enough. Yes moneys real tight.

 

What's your idea of "tight"? Do you know that all your speakers are actually playing? Perhaps your tweeters aren't playing at all?

 

EMF they all work. (Tight refers to money). How much a person should spend when they don't have much. Best course why not ask someone here who has done it.

 

I am aware you were speaking of money, I was asking a dollar figure. I mean, you could get 2 pair of these https://www.parts-express.com/pyle-p...ystem--267-738 for $84 but that doesn't mean they'll sound any better than what you have.

 

I installed Focal 165KRX2's component speakers in both front and rear doors. I also installed a Rockford Fosgate T600-4 and it sounds divine; output to everything else is stock. Look at my sticky in the audio section; unfortunately my web server is down hence photos are not available.

 

Your most likely right. I'm thinking about stuff I cant afford just wish I could. Thanks Much!!!!

 

Was it worth the cost? Mines a 04. I think my "limited funds" kills me in that.
In my case I think EMF's post is true for mine. Wouldn't ya have to replace
the command unit also? I guess just speakers wouldn't be all? I don't know.
I didn't include that question am sorry.

 

You still haven't answered what "limited funds" is in terms of dollars.

That being said, cost of replacing the Comand unit isn't cheap. First you have the cost of the HU itself, then the cost of the fiber optic adapter that is wildly overpriced for what it is and will cost more than the HU. OR, you can install all new amps and ditch the fiber optics all together. But, then you're in it for HU, and amps, which again isn't cheap.

Any/every part you replace it will sound better as long as you aren't replacing it with complete garbage.

 

EMF your right I know it. No way I could afford it. Thanks. Merry Christmas! I needed the truth you gave it to me.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Nope. Still have the same command and functionality; I needed more volume (mids and trebles) hence the amp and door component speakers did the trick for me. Don't go crazy like me for Focals, I paid full price though think they cost a little less now.

In very simple terms, assuming you are handy at DIY and if original speakers are not blown and all you want is more volume/sound, you could try adding a reasonablly priced (I use that term very loosely) 4-channel power amp in the trunk, splice door speakers output from the OEM amp(in the trunk) using as input to external amp (make sure the amp can take speaker input), then wire door speakers to the output from external amp. This will give you a good bang for the buck.

 

Looks like they used the whole fist and went wrist deep.

 

Yeh. That's sweet but out of my league. You were right best leave mine as is. Old guys wish list EMF.

 

Out of curiosity, what source are you listening to when you say it lacks highs?

 

Just the radio and wifes Chinese cd's. It overall sounds good. Im just used to 70's firebirds and roadrunners, 99 jeep grand Cherokee could do everything myself. This car I'm lost. Budget true don't have money to spend. You are right to keep what I have.

 

The problem may not be the speakers, it may be the source. FM is compressed and lacks bandwidth.

 

Your right have noticed that. But your right no way could afford upgrades like some can. Thanks much for your advice!! In my case your 100% right.

 

I have a 2007 W211 M156 E63 NA that I’ve spent 16 months building in total in my garage ever since I took possession in Dec. 2017. I’ve just finished building the Rear end after fixing a Rear Main Seal leak, along with most everything in between! Right now I’m in process of removing the front bumper to install new Philips D1S + 150% HID’s and Morimoto lenses (Didn’t fit as they were 3mm too small!) and I’ll swap out the halogen and outer lenses from a set of Halogen Replacement Lights (ie-non-Xenon without active curv!) that I bought from Car-Parts.com by mistake thinking I was getting a good deal until I realized otherwise. ( I ended up keeping the OEM Halogens in until they blow out, if they ever blow?) I had also made the mistake of buying a replacement rear engine cover (under sheet panel) for that arrived in a rather small box! Once I opened it up, I could see that it was folded over and, as such, was definitely NOT a solid replacement but rather a cheepo seemingly “printed” Chinese knockoff! I ended up using plastic concrete epoxy to bond those areas that were compromised on the OEM cover, so far so good.

As for the next phase of my build, I too have the HK system but my WIS\EPC catalog specifically show the 3 way harness for the 3 way speakers up front, so that would mean 14 speakers in total (4 tweets, 4 Midbase 6.5, 2 front mid range 3.5” in the kick panels, a similar Center and 2 rear “surrounds” and the Subwoofer). It occurred to me that the two 3.5’s in the kick panels may be Alarm related but that isn’t indicated in WIS\EPC? I bought some Stereo Integrity TM 65 mkiii’s and some M3 Carbon’s that are 3.5’s that I was intending on swapping into the kick panels but they were too beefy, so I ordered some Pods to mount in the A-pillars. I also have 2 Focal 6.5” 2 ways for the rear doors. I intend on using the OEM Wiring for the mid bass (F&R) and running 16 AWG wire for both the mids and tweets. I have an Audison Bit Nove that will feed into 2 Gladen A\B Amps (RC Line 1 x 4 channel and 1 x 5 Channel w\5th channel operating as a “D” class at 350 Amps to 4 Ohms and 500W to 2 Ohms!). I’ll cut the wires that would go to the Front and rear door speaker as well as the Subwoofer and terminate them male\female such that they could be connected together again, as compared to soldering directly to my Audison, but I really don’t foresee ever selling my rig any time soon!! That way the Center Channel and rear surrounds will still work as well as the steering wheel button functionality that would otherwise be lost if I were to tap into the MOST. Yeah I know the argument of how much quality sound may be lost due going this route over directly getting signal over/from MOST, but I’m giving it a shot anyway. If it sounds miserable I may try to tap into MOST with one of those 3 -way adaptors in an effort to avoid cutting out the CD Player whilst maintaining functionality of the steering wheel buttons and center channel for talk radio. But this would, as you probably know, require the purchase of a $700-900 Bit DMI or a DA-1 but hopefully it won’t come to that!!!