Hello fellow E300 enthusiasts,

I have a question for the audiophiles out there.
What settings do you keep your audio system at for the best sound?

What are the best equalizer settings for treble, mid-range, and bass?
What are the best settings for balance and fader? (I'm assuming this in the middle for both, right?)
Surround sound in the Burmester system? (I'm assuming this should be on)
Sound focus?

I don't have the high-end 3D Burmester sound system, but others who do might be interested in knowing what you do with the VIP Seat setting and Sound Profiles.

Thanks in advance!

 

The ones you like. Really, just use your ears and play around with settings.

 

I would like to know what the recommended sound profile is as well.

 

Here it is:

1) pop in the Rolling Stones
2) turn volume to max

 

Not to be glib, but the best settings are the ones you like!
Some like bass, some do not. Some people like Metallica some only listen to Bach, there is no such thing as a best setting for audio, its a matter of taste.

 

One thing I do like on this new system is that FINALLY they thought it was a good idea to show a volume "meter". On my C class it drives me nuts that there is no visual representation of the volume level. A visual "meter" is a most obvious necessity to assure that you are not overdriving the system. Having to rely on distortion is ridiculous "sure keep cranking till the speakers blow up".

 

Each person's auditory perception is influenced by a couple of factors.
- Age - Sensitivities diminish with time.
- Physical Attributes - Ear lobe's shape, head's shape, height.
- Personal Preferences - Music genre, sound volume, more/less bass, sound stage.
Lastly, I believe MB and others are adopting active DSP, meaning noise cancellation and frequency shaping are mixed into the audio output as you listen to the music.

So, what's good for me might not be your cup of tea. With that said, here are my personal settings.

SURROUND SOUND
Think this is the most controversial setting, specially for audiophiles who believe in absolute high fidelity. I had a hard time coping with the DSP processed surround sound when I first got the E300. It defies the norm and doesn't resemble the conventional "surround sound" produced by systems such as DTS or Dolby Digital. However, on long trips, I found it's easier to have a conversation and to simply enjoy the music as the scenery drifts by with the surround sound (front focus) option enabled. I guess when I let go of the fixation on sound quality, the musics becomes more enjoyable. I still find the front & rear focus mode in the surround sound option a huge distraction.

EQUALIZER
I follow the old school belief of starting out with the flat settings then add minute adjustments to suit your taste. Due to my diminished hearing capabilities caused by age, I bumped the treble and bass settings by +2. In some of the E300 loaners I got, ALL of the EQ settings were set to maximum - The sound was horrendous!!!

BALANCE & FADE
This should be based on your seat adjustment. I find the fore/aft position changes the sound stage perception, and the height position changes the bass quality perception.

Hope this helps.

 

I can't get on with surround at all. Everything sounds washed out and on top of itself. Front focus gives great punch, clarity and strong stereo for me, gives a really nice sound stage. In every other car I've ever had I usually dial up the treble so the higher notes are clear. But in this I barely move it as the speakers are already bright. So I tend to leave bass at zero or 1, treble at 1 and mid at 2. Bass goes up to 8 or 9 when I'm in the mood and the right tracks are playing through Spotify.