G55 Stereo Amplifier
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 13
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2004 G55 AMG
G55 Stereo Amplifier
I recently purchased a 2004 G55. The 6.5" HK subwoofer under the rear seat sounded blown so I replaced it with a Kicker twin voice coil 2 ohm ultra-thin (part number 40 CWRT672). While this was an improvement over the OEM twin voice coil 2 ohm sub, I've realized that the OEM HK amp is severely underpowered (10W RMS at the sub) rendering the stereo on par with something of circa 1970 GM vintage. Before I tear down further I'd like to know 3 things:
1) Where is the amp located?
2) Does the amp have an adjustable gain control?
3) Has anyone replaced the factory amp with a high quality unit?
Before dog-piling, I've searched numerous forums to find answers to these questions to no avail. Cheers,
Bryan
1) Where is the amp located?
2) Does the amp have an adjustable gain control?
3) Has anyone replaced the factory amp with a high quality unit?
Before dog-piling, I've searched numerous forums to find answers to these questions to no avail. Cheers,
Bryan
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 73
Likes: 2
2011 E550 , 2006 G500
I believe the AMP is under the drivers seat. Not sure about the gain control, but you might want to make sure your amp isnt driven off of the fiber optic loop(MOST) before going out and buying a new aftermarket unit.
Ive replaced my head unit with a dynavin unit, and the factory amp still works leading me to believe my '06 didnt have an amp that used the MOST fiber optic loop. The stock head unit is supposed to be the master in the MOST system that controls the other parts in the optic loop (bluetooth phone puck, cd changer, etc.) so if my amp was part of that it would no longer be working.
Ive replaced my head unit with a dynavin unit, and the factory amp still works leading me to believe my '06 didnt have an amp that used the MOST fiber optic loop. The stock head unit is supposed to be the master in the MOST system that controls the other parts in the optic loop (bluetooth phone puck, cd changer, etc.) so if my amp was part of that it would no longer be working.
Last edited by kotton; Feb 11, 2016 at 07:37 PM.
Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 5
'13 CLS550, '17 Q7, '11 G550
On my 2011 G550 the amp is under the drivers seat but there is no adjustments to it. Mine has the MOST interface going into the amp from the headunit, so the only way to put in a real amp is to get a summing interface after the factory amp (basically combines all the output back into 1 signal vs some goes the the sub, tweeters, mid etc). From there you can get a real amp and then push that signal back out to the speakers (I replaced my speakers and subs as well). Here is a link to the summing interface I used, but I'm sure there are others out there as well...
http://www.kicker.com/10ZXSUM8
http://www.kicker.com/10ZXSUM8
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
2004 G55 AMG
Thanks, this's exactly what I needed. It sounds like the summing interface is the way to go.
I'm not overly disappointed with the factory sound above about 200 Hz, but the system has almost no response in the low (
I'm not overly disappointed with the factory sound above about 200 Hz, but the system has almost no response in the low (
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
S550
On my 2011 G550 the amp is under the drivers seat but there is no adjustments to it. Mine has the MOST interface going into the amp from the headunit, so the only way to put in a real amp is to get a summing interface after the factory amp (basically combines all the output back into 1 signal vs some goes the the sub, tweeters, mid etc). From there you can get a real amp and then push that signal back out to the speakers (I replaced my speakers and subs as well). Here is a link to the summing interface I used, but I'm sure there are others out there as well...
http://www.kicker.com/10ZXSUM8
http://www.kicker.com/10ZXSUM8
