13 speaker Burmester system?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
The base Burmester stereo is significantly better than the Mark Levinson on the RX350. In fact its probably the cleanest sounding sound systems in any car. Don't confuse a bunch of tweeters with necessarily better sound quality. Essentially what you get in the optional 4000 dollar Burmester is additional surround modes. So.... base Burmester most definitely worth it, optional Burmester I guess is worth if you consider yourself a music mogul, otherwise, definitely not. The system is not very loud but its remarkably clear for a car system. Sometimes its surprises me how well it can reproduce deep clean base. One enigma I haven't solved yet is why the Burmester on my E sounds significantly better than the one on my previous C class. Maybe the front bass system is better, or they have simply improved it in the latest version? The Eclass does have the interior quietness advantage. As far as I know the rest of the system is the same.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 827
Likes: 202
From: Florida (727)
I have the 13 speaker Burmester system in my E. Comparing it to my loaner C class which has the standard speakers, the Burmester speakers are definitely worth the cost (I think it was about 800 or so when I got my E, it was a "forced" option with P1). The sound is incredible compared to the standard speakers and blow them away.
Also with the Burmester speakers they come with the aluminum face plates so they make the interior of the car look much better. The standard speakers have the black face plate and they look cheap.
Also with the Burmester speakers they come with the aluminum face plates so they make the interior of the car look much better. The standard speakers have the black face plate and they look cheap.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,559
Likes: 751
From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
I have the 13 speaker Burmester system in my E. Comparing it to my loaner C class which has the standard speakers, the Burmester speakers are definitely worth the cost (I think it was about 800 or so when I got my E, it was a "forced" option with P1). The sound is incredible compared to the standard speakers and blow them away.
Also with the Burmester speakers they come with the aluminum face plates so they make the interior of the car look much better. The standard speakers have the black face plate and they look cheap.
Also with the Burmester speakers they come with the aluminum face plates so they make the interior of the car look much better. The standard speakers have the black face plate and they look cheap.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
E43 AMG
The base Burmester stereo is significantly better than the Mark Levinson on the RX350. In fact its probably the cleanest sounding sound systems in any car. Don't confuse a bunch of tweeters with necessarily better sound quality. Essentially what you get in the optional 4000 dollar Burmester is additional surround modes. So.... base Burmester most definitely worth it, optional Burmester I guess is worth if you consider yourself a music mogul, otherwise, definitely not. The system is not very loud but its remarkably clear for a car system. Sometimes its surprises me how well it can reproduce deep clean base. One enigma I haven't solved yet is why the Burmester on my E sounds significantly better than the one on my previous C class. Maybe the front bass system is better, or they have simply improved it in the latest version? The Eclass does have the interior quietness advantage. As far as I know the rest of the system is the same.
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 22
E class, C class
I noticed the exact same thing... My friend has a 2016 C300 Coupe, and I ordered the E43 AMG. The burmester system in the E was WORLDS better than the one in the C. I think it has to do with the size of the cabin and placement of hte speakers, but i also think there is something different about the bass system set up in the E vs the C. I was preparing myself to be disappointed in the burmester system after riding in my friends C300 but was pleasantly surprised in the E.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 272
From: Sweden
S213
Same speakers in some cases, amp not the same, the E Class Burmester system was not rushed in development as in the C
Also there is no rear subwoofer, the Burmester uses two woofers under the dash for the low frequencies
Also there is no rear subwoofer, the Burmester uses two woofers under the dash for the low frequencies
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
In fact voice is an avg of 1 kHz. Regardless, frequency is not the issue given that essentially all audio systems can reproduce the audible spectrum. More impotant is the dynamic range that can be reproduced by the system without distortion. Audiophiles dont buy insanely powerful amps to play louder they buy them to increase "headroom" and to drive speakers that often trade efficiency for transparency. Utrafangled tweeters like BW diamonds are not made for people that can hear at 30kHz, they are simply extend the frequency range so that any distortion up there doesn't "color" aka distort the frequencies you do hear. You will rarely see an audio nut worry about how loud a system can play but rather how clear it is.
Last edited by c4004matic; Mar 10, 2018 at 02:16 PM.
Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 174
Likes: 48
From: Central NJ
2018 E400 4Matic
When I have people over to listen to music, the first thing I usually put on is a simple, awesomely recorded album like Jeff Tweedy's "Together At Last". Just voice, guitar and harmonica. Twenty seconds in I get this OMG look. It's like he's in the room with you. That is imaging, clarity, realistic reproduction. High frequency hearing loss might affect a little bit of it, but not much (I'm no spring chicken either). As C4004matic says, no power involved there either.
Tight, dynamic, tuneful bass might be what people pick on when that music is played. You could be practically deaf and hear how good it is.
Whether a person cares enough about this to pay $5 grand is an entirely different question. But don't write off your ability to enjoy music like everyone else.
Tight, dynamic, tuneful bass might be what people pick on when that music is played. You could be practically deaf and hear how good it is.
Whether a person cares enough about this to pay $5 grand is an entirely different question. But don't write off your ability to enjoy music like everyone else.
Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 199
Likes: 24
2017 mercedes GLE 43 coupe
I just know that interpreting voices,especially women & children is VERY difficult unless I'm wearing my hearing aids & have them set on 'Audibility Extender'.Without that program activated,bird noises don't exist.Oven timers can go off & i can't pick them up unless I put my ear almost on the side of it.
That program steps down the higher frequencies to a range where the cilia hearing cells for those frequencies still exist.Even then,if much background noise is going on,such as in a restaurant,it can be a lost cause.
I'm relying more & more on close-captioning when watching TV or else I's miss too much.
I think I wrecked my hearing from not wearing protection when I would be in the dog kennel,& also exposure to the sound of a dental machines' turbine.
That program steps down the higher frequencies to a range where the cilia hearing cells for those frequencies still exist.Even then,if much background noise is going on,such as in a restaurant,it can be a lost cause.
I'm relying more & more on close-captioning when watching TV or else I's miss too much.
I think I wrecked my hearing from not wearing protection when I would be in the dog kennel,& also exposure to the sound of a dental machines' turbine.
Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 199
Likes: 24
2017 mercedes GLE 43 coupe
I just know that interpreting voices,especially women & children is VERY difficult unless I'm wearing my hearing aids & have them set on 'Audibility Extender'.Without that program activated,bird noises don't exist.Oven timers can go off & i can't pick them up unless I put my ear almost on the side of it.
That program steps down the higher frequencies to a range where the cilia hearing cells for those frequencies still exist.Even then,if much background noise is going on,such as in a restaurant,it can be a lost cause.
I'm relying more & more on close-captioning when watching TV or else I's miss too much.
I think I wrecked my hearing from not wearing protection when I would be in the dog kennel,& also exposure to the sound of a dental machines' turbine.
That program steps down the higher frequencies to a range where the cilia hearing cells for those frequencies still exist.Even then,if much background noise is going on,such as in a restaurant,it can be a lost cause.
I'm relying more & more on close-captioning when watching TV or else I's miss too much.
I think I wrecked my hearing from not wearing protection when I would be in the dog kennel,& also exposure to the sound of a dental machines' turbine.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 670
Likes: 142
From: Hermosa Beach, California
2018 E400 Coupe
There are two Burmester sound systems for the 2018 E-Class Mercedes: the 13-speaker " Burmester Surround-Soundsystem" with 590 watts and the 23 speaker "High-End 3D-Surround-Soundsystem" with 1450 watts. Info here: https://www.burmester.de/en/automoti...z/e-class.html
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 322
Likes: 26
From: Northern Virginia
E400
I am thinking of adding a subwoofer. I will let you know what technician suggests.
Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 104
Likes: 14
2018 E400W4 Sedan Luxury Trim
I just upgraded from a 2015 C300 to a 2018 E400, both cars have the Burmester system (the base Burmester in the E) and the one in the E is significantly better. Don't get me wrong, the system in the C class is excellent but the one in the E is better, I don't know why, but it is. Everything is subjective but I'm impressed. If you're thinking about the 13 speaker setup I think you should try and find one to listen to before making the decision, but that might be hard I'm not aware of any in SOCAL inventory, which is a major MB market.
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 129
Likes: 15
From: Stavanger, Norway
E350e W213
I decided against getting the Burmester system in the W205 after hearing it. It was lacking the mid bass, highs were too pronounced and the lows were muffled.
But the base Burmester in the W213 is miles ahead of the W205. Sounds much, much better and is definitely acceptable for me. I won't be upgrading anything there.
But the base Burmester in the W213 is miles ahead of the W205. Sounds much, much better and is definitely acceptable for me. I won't be upgrading anything there.
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 620
Likes: 65
From: Florida
2018 E300 Luxury - P3 and more
I'm driving a C300 loaner right now w/Burmester system & upgraded stereo system. It's not as good as my E, but it's respectable. The base C-class w/o Burmester system is an embarrassment to the brand and shouldn't even be an option.
I've not run SIA SMAART or a Real Time Analyzer on the systems yet, but they're reasonably well tuned. Most of my gear's on loan to various people, but when a calibration mic & related equipment finds its way back home to me, I'll toss it in the car and post some measurements. I have all cuts on my EQ in the loaner C and I believe I have my E's EQs set flat except a +2 on the mids to open it up and a rear +2 to enhance the surround effect. I wish these cars would have a more adjustable EQ. It's all DSP at this point. They could easily put a 5-band, 13-band, or even a Parametric EQ in there. I don't care for the factory EQ center frequencies. I miss my aux-fed subs from my touring sound days.
I can't imagine adding a 3rd party subwoofer to the base E Burmester system. I personally wish the factory system went about one octave deeper before hitting it's -3dB & -6dB frequency response roll-off curves, BUT if the recording has real bass in it, the system does indeed perform. Two songs which do show the system has more than enough bass if it's present in the original recording:
Jesse Cook - Havana -
France Gall - Baby Pop -
(yes, it's a crappy song, but acoustically it's spot-on. Nice bloom from the acoustic analog chambers at the studio)
I've not run SIA SMAART or a Real Time Analyzer on the systems yet, but they're reasonably well tuned. Most of my gear's on loan to various people, but when a calibration mic & related equipment finds its way back home to me, I'll toss it in the car and post some measurements. I have all cuts on my EQ in the loaner C and I believe I have my E's EQs set flat except a +2 on the mids to open it up and a rear +2 to enhance the surround effect. I wish these cars would have a more adjustable EQ. It's all DSP at this point. They could easily put a 5-band, 13-band, or even a Parametric EQ in there. I don't care for the factory EQ center frequencies. I miss my aux-fed subs from my touring sound days.
I can't imagine adding a 3rd party subwoofer to the base E Burmester system. I personally wish the factory system went about one octave deeper before hitting it's -3dB & -6dB frequency response roll-off curves, BUT if the recording has real bass in it, the system does indeed perform. Two songs which do show the system has more than enough bass if it's present in the original recording:
Jesse Cook - Havana -
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 322
Likes: 26
From: Northern Virginia
E400
Just for the heck of it, I listened to Havana on YouTube and you are correct, good bass. I then listened on Spotify and Pandora, good bass. So I went to allmusic.com and good bass. Downloaded the song to my iPod from iTunes. No bass! I will try it in the MB tomorrow on the way to work to see if transfers to the car.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 490
Likes: 7
From: HELL A
GLC 2026
I just upgraded from a 2015 C300 to a 2018 E400, both cars have the Burmester system (the base Burmester in the E) and the one in the E is significantly better. Don't get me wrong, the system in the C class is excellent but the one in the E is better, I don't know why, but it is. Everything is subjective but I'm impressed. If you're thinking about the 13 speaker setup I think you should try and find one to listen to before making the decision, but that might be hard I'm not aware of any in SOCAL inventory, which is a major MB market.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 2
E220d (W213)
The sound is quite stunning! I've always upgraded the sound systems in my cars (Meridian in the Range Rover and HK in a 2011 C class), but this is really something else.
If you really want to see what this system is capable of then fire up Spotify, load up the song 'I am legend' by God, Mark Holiday (or click this spotify link) and be blown away by the base drop around 54 seconds (perhaps start listening from 50s).
Warning around 1.24 there's a single F bomb (practically the only line in the song as it's mostly instrumental)
If you really want to see what this system is capable of then fire up Spotify, load up the song 'I am legend' by God, Mark Holiday (or click this spotify link) and be blown away by the base drop around 54 seconds (perhaps start listening from 50s).
Warning around 1.24 there's a single F bomb (practically the only line in the song as it's mostly instrumental)
Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 174
Likes: 48
From: Central NJ
2018 E400 4Matic
With the handle you've got you listen to Spotify?
Pretty good tune. I'm listening to it now on Tidal.
Thanks for the good words on the Burmester. Did you get the regular or 'high end 3-d' version?
Pretty good tune. I'm listening to it now on Tidal.
Thanks for the good words on the Burmester. Did you get the regular or 'high end 3-d' version?
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 2
E220d (W213)
Haha, yeah I never went down the Tidal streaming service route. Tidal's been a handle i've had since around 1996 (when I used it as an account name on a SunOS server)
I went for the regular Burmester. I just couldn't quite justify the high-end (which I think has 25 speakers), especially with around £15k of other add-ons. Really impressed with it though.
I went for the regular Burmester. I just couldn't quite justify the high-end (which I think has 25 speakers), especially with around £15k of other add-ons. Really impressed with it though.
Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 174
Likes: 48
From: Central NJ
2018 E400 4Matic
I would bet it would, at least between the S-Class and E-Class variants. Might be pretty subtle across the similar E-series variants, with the Wagon being a car unto itself.
Digital signal processing (DSP) sometimes gets a bad reputation, and I can understand how people feel this messes with the sound. I used to feel the same way until I spent serious time using Acourate (a DSP program) to optimize the sound in my music room. It makes a really positive improvement, not just in overall frequency response, but also in other ways due to time alignment improvements. You just can't get anything like this with yesterday's equalizers.
So in the case of Burmester's implementation across Mercedes and Porsche, the DSP can be used to fine tune the sound for each cabin's acoustic signature. That is also the mechanism by which you can tune optimal listening environment for each seating position.
Digital signal processing (DSP) sometimes gets a bad reputation, and I can understand how people feel this messes with the sound. I used to feel the same way until I spent serious time using Acourate (a DSP program) to optimize the sound in my music room. It makes a really positive improvement, not just in overall frequency response, but also in other ways due to time alignment improvements. You just can't get anything like this with yesterday's equalizers.
So in the case of Burmester's implementation across Mercedes and Porsche, the DSP can be used to fine tune the sound for each cabin's acoustic signature. That is also the mechanism by which you can tune optimal listening environment for each seating position.
