pablo4.2

Has anybody modified their Bose system? I'm not satisfied with it and am hearing that it is very difficult and costly to do. Has anyone replaced speakers, etc?

jeffreyy

Pablo,

I have not but am getting an SL55. I was planning on investigating. I have replaced the cheap paper drivers in the last 3 cars I have owned with great improvement. The bottom line is that high quality aftermarket speakers a) sound better and b) are more efficient than their cheap paper counterparts. You would be surprised at the caliber of car that still uses cheap paper drivers.

People tend to think that the Bose system is somehow not amenable to modification. My understanding is that the Bose systems are typically different in that the speakers are usually active meaning that the amplifiers are within the speaker module. This does not change the fact that there is an amp and a speaker. Now people may say that they are "tuned" for one another and that may be but the likelihood is again that the driver is relatively cheap and replacing it would yield improvement.

The improvement would not be as great as replacing the entire system with new speakers and amps but that might mean changing the head unit as well and yes that does get very expensive. Great sound is important to me so it is not so much the cost but the loss of the integration with factory systems that dissuades me from this route.

Again, I have had quite good results by carefully choosing the correct drivers and making subtle tweaks such as a) changing the stuffing or adding stuffing in larger bass modules or b) adding rubber isolation to the speaker mounts to keep the driver and enclosure from moving and c) adding Dynamat or equivalent to damp resonances in the enclosure since they are usually made of plastic rather than MDF.

When people get in my car, they are usually quite shocked that the system is a modified stock system.

I will let you know what I find when I get my car.

Jeff

Timster

I have!
I added a 8" sub woofer and a Alpine 250 watt amp. For me this cleans up the midrange and adds a little more base. Not allot just enough to enjoy the music.
All you need is an adaptor from the Bose system to the Amp an Sub.
It's very inexpensive, most Stereo shops can do it.
Cheers,
Tim

pablo4.2

Thanks Jeff. I just got my SL55 and would like to hear about what you do. Are you thinking MB Quart? I'm going to start looking around more and will get back to you if I come up with anything.

pablo4.2

Thanks Tim. Where did you have the subwoofer and amp placed? Where are you located?
Regards,
Pablo

mbguy

Any news on how the Bose audio system will be improved for the 2005 model year?

jeffreyy

The official word is that it now has surround sound and is digital and still has the AudioPilot which compensates for noise when the top is down.

I was thinking of the Infinity Basslink as an upgrade as well.

MB Quart or Boston Acoustics or Infinity. Depends on what size the existing speakers are. I like non-metal tweeters so, I often go with Boston Acoustics.

I'm curious Timster, where did you put the sub?

Jeff

Timster

Sorry guys, did not mean to mis lead you. I upgraded my CLK55. The stereo systems are usually the same across models. Thought my experience would be of some use. I am currently looking for a 04 SL500 and came across your posts.
Regards,
Tim

Greg Elmassian

I'm confused, my 03 sl has a subwoofer, and it's pretty strong... "add a subwoofer"? how big is the stock one?

greg

pablo4.2

I think they are 4.5" in diameter which is pretty small. I don't think that it is really a sub. It sounds as if to reproduce some of the lower range it boosts the mid bass as well and this sounds way off to me: muddy and slow. The system is good commercial grade but not high end imo. certainly not up to the standard of the rest of the car. Lexus' Mark Levinson blows it away.

jeffreyy

I agree with Pablo. The stereo at least in the 2004 and prior does not befit the car. And, I also agree that midbass is often used to give the appearance of bass "fullness."

Greg Elmassian

Hmm... my car is a 2003 launch edition, but I'm pretty sure the Bose system is like the others.. The subwooferis enough to shake the internal rearview, and I find it hard to believe it is a 4.5, but it is definitely a sub... Now, the tone controls kick up the bass as well as the sub...

I also understand the sub is up near the passenger footwell... Have not verified myself.

In terms of quality, typical bose, too much distortion in the midrange, muted highs, etc.

But I would have to be driving a Lexus SC430 to get a Mark Levinson (ugh on the car)..

Greg

pablo4.2

The lit. states it has a 4X6 woofer (note: singular not plural). Nothing about sub. In any case, the sound should be much better: deeper, not as boomy, faster and cleaner. I don't want to drive a Lexus either but it's to bad MB doesn't have an audiophile quality system. Bose blows as far as I'm concerened especially in a very expensive car. I'm going to look into doing soemthing and I'll post.

vraa

Shaking the mirrors isn't a lot, my ol' LS400 w/ Nakamichi will do that easily, and it sounds better with only half the speakers working!

SL Boy

I see the new SLK has Harman Kardon kit as an option, not Bose. I am not an expert on car stereo systems but presumably this is an improvement.

Greg Elmassian

I used the mirror shaking example to indicate that the subwoofer really had to be more than 4.5" ...

My ride is a Desino, and they did a number of small changes, so maybe the system is a bit upgraded.

It's not as good as some of the custom system I have done in the past, but good enough with the top down at 90.

Greg

pablo4.2

It's the same system with the same limitations. Designo has nothing to do with the audio.

jeffreyy

Actually, interestingly, a 6 x 9 woofer is not a bad size. it is roughly equivalent in surface area to an 8" woofer which can produce a decent amount of tight, quick bass, if driven with enough watts.

So, if there is anyway to upsize the existing woofer 4 x 6 to a 6 x 9, that might be a way to go, presuming there is enough juice behind it.

In Germany, one can buy a major stereo upgrade for $8.8K from AMG. It includes a whole bass module that is leather covered and appears to house up to two 8 or 10" woofers (can't tell just from the pics). The specs also say a 5 channel >1000W amp is included.

From the pics, it looks like it includes tweeters in the front pillars. It's a little too obvious of an upgrade for me even though doubless it sounds good. I'm more into stealth installs, personally.

Jeff

Greg Elmassian

If there is only one woofer, it must be a sub... lost in translation... or you could say the lower end of the midranges go to 100hz...

Greg

pablo4.2

The whole idea of a sub is to go down into the lower end of the bass region (around 20Hz) without rolloff or boost. The 4X6 driver that MB literature calls a woofer can in no way do that. I can tell it can't by listening. It has the mid bass boosted very heavily in an attempt to get the lower bass to play a roll. This makes for very muddy, boomy and sloppy bass performance. I wish it had an equalizer to correct this. There is lots of bass. Unfortunately the problem is not quantitative but qualitative. Are there hidden controls for the unit anyone?

jeffreyy

Pablo, even if there were, I doubt you'd be able to get much out of a 4 x 6" woofer although excursion can make up for size. Still, I doubt it would go below 45 Hz with an significant volume.

pablo4.2

Yeah, but you could get rid of the boominess from the mid bass. Better to have less than bad.

jeffreyy

That is true.

sarb

I just dropped off my SL this afternoon to upgrade the speakers.

I will be going with:

Focal 165w3
2-JL Audio 8 inch subs
2-Zapco Amps

I will keep the fill speaker. The Subs will be installed behind the seats in the lower comparments and the Amps will be in the trunk hidden away.

You may also want to check out:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=66076

I will let you know how it goes should be done by mid next week.

pablo4.2

Thanks Sarb. I'm very interested in your results and pics if you can too.