Base audio system upgrade advice
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Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 11
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2006 w211 e350 station wagon
Base audio system upgrade advice
anyone have any advice or threads that contain advice for upgrading the base package sound system in w211 estate? my thoughts are this
id like to replace the head unit with a ****ty ebay head unit and removing the cd changer, once thats out i dont have any use for the navigation system behind the left trunk panel.
im wanting to upgrade the door speakers and add a decent sized sub by cutting the trunk panel and fabricating housing for a sub within that.
any advice at all is appreciated, im not experienced in anything to do with audio. thanks
id like to replace the head unit with a ****ty ebay head unit and removing the cd changer, once thats out i dont have any use for the navigation system behind the left trunk panel.
im wanting to upgrade the door speakers and add a decent sized sub by cutting the trunk panel and fabricating housing for a sub within that.
any advice at all is appreciated, im not experienced in anything to do with audio. thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 3
2008 W211 E350 4MATIC, 1985 W123 300D Turbo, 2002 C5 Allroad, 2002 B5 S4, 2008 MkV R32
My advice would be the tuning and installation of the new speakers are going to make the biggest difference in sound quality. These days, audio products from reputable companies (and even from many relatively unknown companies) are generally very good based on my thought that technology has reached a point where it costs about the same to make quality products so there is nearly no point in making crap. But if you don't know how to use it, I'd recommend just going to a quality car audio shop and let them do it for you.
If I were to do anything, I'd go with a DSP and Bluetooth enabled amplifier that you can tie into existing or new head unit and just run off your phone directly to the amp if you don't get a new head unit. Replace the speakers with components running actively from the amp, focusing on the front speakers, since those are the most important for overall sound quality/imaging (Personally, anytime I do a car audio system, I delete rear speakers other than subs since they don't add anything and usually just hurt imaging). For the subs, depending on how much bass you want/need, you can likely replace the existing rear deck speakers with dedicated subs that are around the same size or slightly larger for really good, clean and decent range (possibly even full) bass. If you need subsonic, neighborhood shaking bass, I wouldn't bother with trying to fit into the rear deck and just make a custom enclosure in the trunk with as many/big subs as you want. Again, installation and tuning will make all the difference to get it all working optimally.
If I were to do anything, I'd go with a DSP and Bluetooth enabled amplifier that you can tie into existing or new head unit and just run off your phone directly to the amp if you don't get a new head unit. Replace the speakers with components running actively from the amp, focusing on the front speakers, since those are the most important for overall sound quality/imaging (Personally, anytime I do a car audio system, I delete rear speakers other than subs since they don't add anything and usually just hurt imaging). For the subs, depending on how much bass you want/need, you can likely replace the existing rear deck speakers with dedicated subs that are around the same size or slightly larger for really good, clean and decent range (possibly even full) bass. If you need subsonic, neighborhood shaking bass, I wouldn't bother with trying to fit into the rear deck and just make a custom enclosure in the trunk with as many/big subs as you want. Again, installation and tuning will make all the difference to get it all working optimally.
