Jason Arnold

so I was looking for the best solution for bringing my music to My 09 s550 as I do not have Bluetooth for that. so I do have the pcmcia port, iPod aux and A/V aux in the car and also the 6 disk DVD payer. so my first problem was that my DVD player does not read the disk. it gives me a error that the unrecognized format and that's with non-bootleg disk. I hear that an expensive fix and who uses disk anymore. next I thought about the iPod connector and my first thought was an old iPod classic that I would need to purchase because I don't have any apple products. I would have do that but the problem with this is that you really don't have full control/Access of the iPod within command. so next I found this Bovee 1000 Wireless Bluetooth Music interface. basically what it does is plugs into the 30 pin iPod cable and trick the command to think its an iPod. however the only way you have control over this with the command is to have an apple Bluetooth cable product and I hear it works great if you do have an iPhone but Siri is a bit glichy and you need to unpair the unit to use Siri. I have read of other issues with this unit but none that was a deal breaker if I had an iPhone,and you can get it used on eBay for about $75. this is not useless with android but there definitely better option if you are on android.

so here is what I decided to go with and not because its the cheapest, its just the best all around way to put music in the s-class. what I speak of is the pcmcia port under the cd changer. the adapter to make that an SD card is $40 on eBay and that comes with the 32gb SD card. I have read other that have some issues with this way and I have found why. first when it comes to the s-class all pcmcia adapters are not alike. you need an adapter that first is for the s-class of cars. that not to say you cant roll in to a local store and buy one and it wont work, but you do roll dice with this. once you have the right adapter make sure it supports sdhc. now like me you may be temped to run out and buy a 100 gig sdhc card, refrain yourself because the command does have a limit not on SD card size but on song count. I have heard it is 4000 songs. let me tell you, a 32gb card is over kill for this sys. but that is what I would recommend. also try to avoid using micro SD cards with adapters. just get a regular size SD to use in your s-class only. the micros will work however bear in mind that the bigger the card the faster and smoother they work. I read where people said they had lets just say 1000 songs on the card but command only would see 800. keep in mind that the only format command will read is mp3. no other formats will show. you will see the folder but not the music. I found on a torrent site a great and fast converter if you have music in other formats. what I did was put the music on the SD card then went and converted on the ones that were in the wrong format. but the nice thing about this program is it will let you go to better quality as well. this makes it where you have total control over your music, it sounds great as its not stepped down by Bluetooth. and let say you pick a song from an album, you can easily change to the next track with the command wheel, without going back to the folder. this works flawless and 4000 songs is a lot. I have about 60 albums on mine and I'm at about 6gb. at the bottom will be links to everything I spoke about. I make absolutely nothing from these items. this is for information purpose only. also piracy is illegal, myself and the owners and admin take no responsibility for your choices and or actions.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bovee-Viseeo...4AAOSwhvFZC~-d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181916807940...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

https://thepiratebay.org/torrent/763...0.8.1___Crack_[ChattChitto_RG]

Mike5215

The advantage of using the IPod cable and a BT audio adapter is the ability to stream music from Spotify, etc, as well as your local library which greatly expands your listening choices. But the main reason is the ability to run your music through an EQ app, which allows you to compensate for the terrible factory EQ in the HK system. Bluetooth Audio has a very high 327kbs compression rate. You're unlikely to hear any degradation vs a wired connection for MP3 files, even those encoded at 320kbs.

But if all you listen to are your local files and you're happy with the way the system sounds, the SD card is fine.

With respect to converting audio file formats, unless you're a very experienced user I'd avoid illegal sharing sites like Pirate Bay. Legality aside theres a lot of garbage and malware on there.

I'd recommend downloading the trial version of MediaMonkey.

Www.mediamonkey.com

It includes 30 days of unlimited file conversions and will also perform batch volume leveling, so there's no need to adjust volume between tracks.

No audio conversion program can increase file quality to a higher bitrate from a lower one. The data simply isn't there. While you could, for example, re-encode a 128kbs MP3 at 256 or 320, aside from creating a much larger file size there is zero improvement in actual audio quality. So whenever possible try to match the source file's bit rate.

jaysarnold

so I do agree with you all the way, everything you said is correct, the Bluetooth mod is very nice but I prefer to control things thru command and with android I cant do that. if I was wanting a iPhone I would defiantly went that way but I don't want a iPhone. if the classic iPod would have worked thru command as far as its every control. I would have went that way even though it is more expensive. but the iPod is limited on the controls, especially In command. I really wish they could make a Bluetooth module that would give the same great controls IPhone users get, however I don't think you can control apps like Spotify and Pandora even with the iPhone thru command. so even if I used those apps, that would be the deal breaker for me. my point is that I was looking for a solution that was fully integrated into the command. the pcmcia port was the best way to do that. as far as the converter program. I do understand the issues with file sharing but it is nice to not get programs on trail. I would never offer anyone anything that would cost them or that would harm them. if I say it, I used it first.

jaysarnold

I am going to read about the sound sys post you have for the w221

Mike5215

I've used Tor/Pirate Bay myself as well but it's risky and there are so many free, safe alternatives out there for audio conversion.

I get wanting a clean integration with COMAND. If your 221 has the factory IPod kit, a connected IOS device (either hard docked or via BT adapter) should be controllable via COMAND.

You can search by Artist, Album, Genre, or Track, and your Playlists will appear as well. Both the COMAND jog wheel and the steering wheel controls should work as well.

Might make sense to pick up a used IPod and experiment. Mercedes has been integrating Apple products into COMAND for quite a while. They only just started offering Android Auto in 2018 models.

But you're correct. COMAND will only control the native IOS music player, not other music apps, although you do retain track skip and volume control of other music apps.

DaveW68

You don't need an i-phone or i-pod to stream music from your Android phone. Just buy a Tune-to-Air or other brand Bluetooth adapter to plug into the cable in your glove box. Then you can stream from whatever Bluetooth device that you want and see the songs on your dash and change songs with your steering wheel buttons. But I don't think you can control it from COMAND.

BadaBingMan

I use the tune 2 air in my 2012 cl63 and get controls but no song names display for me with my android

jaysarnold

mike5215, I read that blog you did on the upgrade to you w221 HK sound sys, man you put that work in on that. I cant even image how good that sounds. I have so many questions, lol. I'm thinking of doing this myself with a 1500 budget, think its possible

Mike5215

Yes. Don't touch the speakers. Just do the Prima ($900) and Sub Amp ($300), leaves $300 for labor.

MercMuscle

+1 with DaveW68's advice.... $20 bucks at BestBuy and youre done!

EasyPhil

I have a 2007 S550 and applied the Telematics update and I don't have the song limit issues and I can play WMA files in addition to MP3 files.

For me the PCMCIA card is the best and easiest way to get my music into the car because I'm just copying the music from a folder on my SD card in my Lumia 950 XL phone to a compact flash card that goes in the car.

alexanderfoti

With the telematics update, there is still a limit, its just higher, 12,000 I think.

alx

Make sure your spouse is a musician. Works like a charm

fuoram

What did you purchase from Best Buy??? I'm looking for my vehicle

Mike5215

I'm guessing either the Tune2Air or the slot adapter to use SD cards. The Tune2Air requires an existing IPod integration kit. Or a small bag of weed in the Best Buy parking lot.

Jakeu

don't listen to anything this guys says, best way to get audio into car is via AUX audio input

Mike5215

2007-2009 did not have an Aux input. 2010+ did, but running from the phone's headphone jack utilizes the noisy internal amplifier, and makes the phone unable to be controlled by COMAND.

Tune2Air on a 30 Pin MMI gives you all of the functionality of a hard docked connection and bypasses the headphone amp.

If Aux in is all you have its better than nothing but barely.

Jakeu

again don't listen to anything this guys says, if you have ipod adapter you have AUX, if not you can get AUX activated.

Mike5215

2007 -2009 only got the IPod kit by special order and for a couple of years it was available as a dealer installed option for $700. Most 07-09 have neither Aux In or an IPod integration kit.

Polar Bear

Actually, my 2008 S600 has the iPod integration kit factory installed, as well as AUX for audio and video. It is listed on the data card.

It does not provide the integration the 2010+ vehicles with the MMI have but will accept an iPod/Bluetooth interface, and allow control from an iOS device to be operated using the steering wheel controls, but the there is virtually no COMAND control of the iPod - only sound settings. The 2010 enjoys the COMAND control of the iPod.

Personally, I keep an SD card full of 320k MP3 files, and the DVD Changer is usually always loaded with DVD-Audio discs with 192k/24-bit or 96k/24-bit audio files. I much prefer lossless music, which can really only be obtained from an optical disc or a digital iPod connection, and the 2007-2009 has an analog iPod connection. Obtain your music files on a pressed CD, or purchase them from hdtracks.com and create your own DVD-Audio disc. A simple program that creates DVD-Video discs can also be used to display a background image while the audio is being play, and can support bit rates up to 96k/24bit. True DVD-Audio formats are the only formats that support 192k/24bit.

When listening to these discs, particularly in DTS 5.1, sound very good for a system that generally gets sub-par reviews. DTS is actually a lossy format, but the 5.1 channels when master properly provide a very enjoyable listening experience.

As to why your changer will not read a disc, that is a good question. I assume you have tried a laser lens cleaner. If not, try that. Also, some pressed CDs implement a copy protection scheme that violates the CD-DA standard and can prevent more advanced players such as the one in the W221 from reading the disc properly. This player is more like a CD-ROM drive in a PC instead of a conventional CD player with analog outputs connected to an amplifier, and can be more sensitive to disc mastering/RedBook standards.

Polar Bear

They were one of the early adopters for integrating iPods into their vehicles, probably as Steve Jobs car of choice for as long as I can remember was an SL. He drove a silver SL55 for many years, leasing it and replacing it very often, for unknown reasons.

However, the integration of the iPod integration was introduced in 2005, and was really an afterthought as the COMAND system was developed years before, and installed in cars before that, so an iPod was simply not consider or thought of when the COMAND in a W211 or W209 was introduced. Due to it being an afterthought, it worked, and it functioned, but the controls used the Telephone controls on the steering wheel, and the Audio menu had to be selected to get any control of it at all. The early firmware on the integration kits also had incompatibilities with COMAND Firmware that was released years later, but apparently was not tested thoroughly. The only fix for this was to replace the iPod integration module with one with update firmware, as this module, as far as I know, is not upgradeable by conventional means (DAS, etc). Mercedes replaced most of these integration kits with newer ones that provided a gain control to adjust the volume of the iPod source into the COMAND, and solve a problem with the iPod integration kit causing data issues on the CAN network that resulted in outdated information displayed in the instrument cluster (i.e. you could change CD tracks, from Track 2 to Track 10, but Track 2 would continue to be displayed for several minutes. The same was the case for changing SDARS channels or AM/FM/WB frequencies - the data was outdated by several minutes. The MMI in the later vehicles was a much improved integration kit that provided real iPod integration with the intelligence of the COMAND and intuitive control knob.

Polar Bear

I believe one of of the limitations is the inherent limitations of the FAT32 file system, which is what is needed to format the SD card.

Polar Bear

I believe there are multiple Bluetooth Audio standards - one that is a much lower bit-rate and quality compared to the more advanced version, which must be supported by the Smartphone as well as the receiver on the vehicles end (i.e. the modules that connects to the 30-pin dock connector). Bluetooth has a rather low maximum bandwidth, which prevents in most cases lossless audio from being streamed from a Bluetooth source. I haven't looked it up in a while, but from what I recall there was a significant difference in the quality of the (I think it was the A2DP profile?) of the audio that could be streamed.

Mike5215

Right. The IPod kit was both a factory installed option and a dealer installed retrofit in 2008. Apparently yours got it in the build. (Or it's possible it was standard in the 600. Pretty much everything else was 😁).

If I recall DVD Audio discs are typically two channel stereo tracks that has been remastered into 5.1 Dolby surround. But I believe the bit depth and sampling rate remain 16/44100 (same as CD) and decoding anything higher is beyond the capacity of the DAC in COMAND.

I may be wrong. If you could cite a particular hi res DVD Audio disc title I'll check. Hi Res in my experience is always presented strictly in 2 channel stereo, and the files are massive. Probably too massive to be remastered to 5.1 channels at that bit depth/sampling rate and still fit on a DVD. A 192/24 track can run at over 8x the bitrate of a raw CD track (around 1400 kbs) depending on the complexity of the material. I have some hi res stuff that runs at 9000 kbs, although most is 3000 - 5000. It takes a DAC much more robust than you'd need for DVD playback. Since the 221's COMAND was designed in 2005-2006, which preceded even the advent of Blu Ray, it seems unlikely they anticipated the need for anything capable of hi res.

EDIT: I was wrong, DVD Audio is at 24 bit depth and a 96k sample rate

That said, DVD Audio discs do sound really good. Where normally when you play a 2 channel stereo track on a Dolby Digital multi channel surround system, the player basically "guesses" how to split the signal into 7 full range and one low frequency channels based on a matrix. (Hence the term "Logic 7")

But for a studio master that has been remastered to 7.1, the player doesn't need to "guess". The engineer puts everything exactly where they want it. A great example of this is The Nightfly Trilogy MVI discs by Donald Fagen, who personally did the 7.1 remasters. And of course 7 full range channels can support more signal than two, so it is a less lossy (but not lossless) process than 2 channel stereo.

Mike5215

The minimum default compression in BT Audio (meaning all transmitters and receivers must be capable of supporting it) is SBC (327kbs 2 channel stereo). Whatever it compresses in order to make the signal small enough to transmit its supposed to restore on the other end.

It's almost indistinguishable from 320kbs MP3,or 256kbs AAC. There is a more advanced profile than A2DP, but as you pointed out, it's not common. I know the Galaxy 8 has it, but since the car doesn't, everything falls back to SBC on A2DP.

I have an A&K portable hi res (192/24) player that can transmit over BT audio but I'm not sure why, since BT chokes on the massive signal even after the A&K's DAC has done the grunt work of creating the analog signal. It's really only useful with headphones, which for $700 is unfortunate.

It can play stuff at CD lossless smoothly over BT as long as it's encoded at 44100/16 FLAC or ALAC. Then again, so can an iPod.