S550 Sound System (Bose or Harman Kardon)
#76
ah so its 6 in the rear doors, i thought it was the same 8 incher or even a 6.5. anyhoo great info. but unfortunately to get my custom JL Audio 13tw5 in the trunk...that rear deck doohickey had to go. so i no longer have that or the side 4 inchers either.
Florida huh...cool, i'm originally from Orlando...been here in Houston a minute now.
Florida huh...cool, i'm originally from Orlando...been here in Houston a minute now.
#77
Wait...they are 6.5. Had to double check the box in the garage. So now with the rear deck speakers gone I'm thinking the Cleansweep might work out. You'd come off the high (speaker) side of the OEM amp for four channels...LF, RF, LR, RR to the CS, out from the CS into a decent trunk mount EQ/Crossover, then into a 4 channel amp and out to the door arrays. Either cut the center channel out or let the OEM amp continue to drive it.
Might need 4 line level converters if the CS doesn't already have that capability. Not expensive.
Build up the front door module to accept an 8" woofer and you'd be in business.
Might need 4 line level converters if the CS doesn't already have that capability. Not expensive.
Build up the front door module to accept an 8" woofer and you'd be in business.
#78
what do you think about these in doors to replace the door subs?
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...nd-SWS-8X.html
or these
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...ount/TS-SW841D
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...nd-SWS-8X.html
or these
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...ount/TS-SW841D
#79
The Pioneers are too deep, but the other ones look like they'd pretty much drop in. They seem a little power hungry, so maybe do a separate two channel amp just for them and let the 4 channel run the 4" two ways in the front doors and the 6.5" two ways in the rear doors.
#81
Chris is a modding genius. He gets an S and guts the interior down to the bare steel. I don't think it's a drop in swap. That module for the rear deck probably is, and the door modules are. I know the B pillars get a set of those focal lense tweeters where there are no speakers in the B pillars now. Not sure about the amp, minimally it has different DSP (surround etc) capabilities. The COMAND interface is different too, not sure if that's a hardware upgrade or just different firmware. I'm thinking you'd need all of the speaker modules, B pillars, the amp and the HU from a B&O car to make it work.
#82
Hello Mike
Being reading the comments so far on the sound system in the S550. Mine is a 2011 S550 with B&O speaker but I'm not impressed with the subs at all. The low's are absent at low volumes and I usually play my music softly but like to hear the low's.
Is there any advice you can offer or do I just have to get some after market subwoofer installed?
Thanks for your help.
Being reading the comments so far on the sound system in the S550. Mine is a 2011 S550 with B&O speaker but I'm not impressed with the subs at all. The low's are absent at low volumes and I usually play my music softly but like to hear the low's.
Is there any advice you can offer or do I just have to get some after market subwoofer installed?
Thanks for your help.
#83
Hello Mike
Being reading the comments so far on the sound system in the S550. Mine is a 2011 S550 with B&O speaker but I'm not impressed with the subs at all. The low's are absent at low volumes and I usually play my music softly but like to hear the low's.
Is there any advice you can offer or do I just have to get some after market subwoofer installed?
Thanks for your help.
Being reading the comments so far on the sound system in the S550. Mine is a 2011 S550 with B&O speaker but I'm not impressed with the subs at all. The low's are absent at low volumes and I usually play my music softly but like to hear the low's.
Is there any advice you can offer or do I just have to get some after market subwoofer installed?
Thanks for your help.
#84
It depends a lot on what source you use. If it's an external mobile device (IPhone, iPod, Android etc) and your music is local on the device the quick fix is an EQ app. On the Iphone I like the AudioForge EQ ($2.99). That will let you dial in and emphasize that sweet spot in the low end that gives you the percussive "hit" you're looking for, while controlling any boominess. If that's an option let me know and I'll give you some specifics as far as tuning goes.
If the B&O is factory equalized anything like the H/K, there's quite a bit of untapped bass performance waiting to be woken up. I don't think a sub is necessary and the 221 trunk is so airtight it's a challenge to get enough signal in there to affect the cabin.
Let me know what you listen to source-wise, and if your music files are local or streaming if you're on a mobile device.
If the B&O is factory equalized anything like the H/K, there's quite a bit of untapped bass performance waiting to be woken up. I don't think a sub is necessary and the 221 trunk is so airtight it's a challenge to get enough signal in there to affect the cabin.
Let me know what you listen to source-wise, and if your music files are local or streaming if you're on a mobile device.
#85
Thanks
#86
It depends a lot on what source you use. If it's an external mobile device (IPhone, iPod, Android etc) and your music is local on the device the quick fix is an EQ app. On the Iphone I like the AudioForge EQ ($2.99). That will let you dial in and emphasize that sweet spot in the low end that gives you the percussive "hit" you're looking for, while controlling any boominess. If that's an option let me know and I'll give you some specifics as far as tuning goes.
If the B&O is factory equalized anything like the H/K, there's quite a bit of untapped bass performance waiting to be woken up. I don't think a sub is necessary and the 221 trunk is so airtight it's a challenge to get enough signal in there to affect the cabin.
Let me know what you listen to source-wise, and if your music files are local or streaming if you're on a mobile device.
If the B&O is factory equalized anything like the H/K, there's quite a bit of untapped bass performance waiting to be woken up. I don't think a sub is necessary and the 221 trunk is so airtight it's a challenge to get enough signal in there to affect the cabin.
Let me know what you listen to source-wise, and if your music files are local or streaming if you're on a mobile device.
Thanks
#87
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 32
From: Germantown, MD
S550, R350, GL550, ML63 AMG
The Harmon Kardon in the w221 is way better than my w203 and W251 Bose configurations by Far. I think it really depends on the setup. But my brothers Panamera has a Bose in it that blows away the w221 HK and would probably blow away the B&O, it sounds so rich, clear and way more powerful.
#88
Perfect set up. I'm presuming you understand the basic functions of an EQ and how to set a curve, but if you (or anyone) needs some guidance just ask. I just discovered another Apple EQ called EQu by Elephant Candy that seems to sound more natural and open than the AudioForge app. Not as much preamp gain available as in the AudioForge but if you're getting sufficient volume out of it I think it sounds better.
Last edited by Mike5215; 04-09-2015 at 05:09 PM.
#89
The Harmon Kardon in the w221 is way better than my w203 and W251 Bose configurations by Far. I think it really depends on the setup. But my brothers Panamera has a Bose in it that blows away the w221 HK and would probably blow away the B&O, it sounds so rich, clear and way more powerful.
In fact, I just picked up a 2005 Camry as a DD with a stock JBL system (a division of Harman...go figure) and it's a much better sounding system. All subjective of course, but the general consensus on the HK in the 221 is that it's nowhere near worthy of the caliber of the car.
#90
Just had an Audison Prima 8.9 DSP Amp installed. I'm pretty sure it's the sound solution everyone here is looking for. Loud, powerful, clean, tons of low end grunt, smooth mids and sparkling highs. Complete OEM integration with no loss of any COMAND functions, features or controls. Tidy little unit, too. Pricey but worth every penny if you want great, no compromises audio in your S Class without gutting the factory system or depreciating the car.
Generic photo: Configuration and tuning preferences are set up via any Windows laptop with the included software. My W221 specific set up is available as a download on the blog
See the full write up on my W221 Audio blog (link below in my sig)!
Generic photo: Configuration and tuning preferences are set up via any Windows laptop with the included software. My W221 specific set up is available as a download on the blog
See the full write up on my W221 Audio blog (link below in my sig)!
Last edited by Mike5215; 07-09-2015 at 03:15 PM.