Are you located in Florida by any chance? Not having much luck with the Orlando Best Buy. Would be great if anyone could recommend a Florida BB that has successfully installed an amp in their SL.

 

I finally fixed my radio yesterday!!! By trading the SL63.

I had been meaning to take it in and get the amp done for 2 years now, but never found a Saturday with so little to do that it rose to a priority. Made a few appointments here and there, but ended up cancelling them. Really in the end, I just couldn't come to accept a car where I would have to go to Best Buy to install a $150 amp just to get a $5000 premium sound system to actually operate all the speakers!! I just couldn't come to accept $400 oil changes, $1000 windshields, $2500 bumper covers, and other abusive dealership practices.

So I traded out of the car before the warranty ran down to the end. Even though I had intended to keep it "forever". Even though I still love love love the car and probably will never own another car I love more. I still traded out of it because I just couldn't find any way to accept MB and MB dealership practices as anything but toxic and I just can't bring myself to deal with them.

I won't ever own another MB again. And not even due any actual horror story with my own car. It's just the general principle of it all.

So goodbye guys. The AMG affair has been fun, but has also ended.

 

But, but, but it’s a Mercedes! It is like anything else in life and at least we have choices. You can buy a 10k Rolex at a jewelry store or a $8 watch at Walmart and they both keep accurate time.

 

Hey man, please tell us what you traded INTO!

 

To be fair, I don't wear expensive watches, we have no "real" jewelry, and the only ostentatious personal asset we have is our house. I have slowly built a sizeable portfolio of lower middle class rental properties, and the SL really became undriveable as it was just embarassing to be sashaying around in the AMG when my tenants and contractors and their workers are struggling to scrape together rent every month.

I traded it for a Charcoal Trackhawk Jeep (with the tow package, red leather, premium audio, sunroof, and black wheels) which will be much more usable when on real estate errands (which is well over half my driving). Yeah it doesn't drive like the SL and I don't love it like the SL. But it is also 4WD, has *** kicking engine, handles really well for how big it is and will be my daily driver instead of a garage queen. AND THE JEEP STEREO IS AMAZING. It actually uses all 18 speakers.

 

Well, that’s a big move. Wishing you the very best of luck with your choice and hope you have tons of fun in your new ride. Based on your stated use, it sounds like you made a good choice. I guess if it were me, I might have bought an old pick-up for tenant visits and left the MB in the garage, but I’m sure you did what you thought was best. As for watches, I wear a 20 year old, $135.00 Seiko.

 

I have long lusted after Rolexes and just cannot justify the price. After too many years of changing batteries in the $800 Tag Heuer "Professional" quartz diving watch my lovely wife bought me, I upgraded to a Tag Aquaracer Automatic for $1500. For me, the perfect compromise....

 

From what I've been told, Rolexes keep notoriously bad time. But they look nice, so..........

 

As long as we are on watches, 23 years ago I bought an Omega Seamaster. Great time piece, but I still have my black and gold Heuer, prior to the TAG Heuer line. Like them both.

 

My thing, is that I like a thinner, smaller watch. Today, guys are wearing GRANDFATHER CLOCKS on their wrists. Automatics, in most all cases, are way thicker than I want. I guess if I ever found a moderately expensive watch that I really liked, I might buy it. Until then, my Seiko quartz keeps good enough time and if there is ever a question, I’ll consult my iPhone! Watches are just not my thing. Cars? Well, that’s another story.

 

As time goes on, I have heard the younger crowd ask, "what's that" or "what's that do" when seeing something that isn't in common use anymore. Examples being the LP record (or 45), or car related - the choke knob on the dash. Quite soon it will be the stick shift lever and then the internal combustion engine.

As for me, I recently stopped wearing a watch after many decades of use; now I just check my phone for the time.

 

After years of admiring and reading about their history I bought a Rolex. I was actually embarrassed wearing it to work and kept pulling my sleve down to cover it. I did not buy it to show off but for their quality. I finally let it sit in its box for 20 years or so and then gave it to my nephew. I still like them but will never buy another. Call it a garage queen.

 

All right first of all, I need to pay closer attention to directions! I should go back and delete my photo comments above, because I wasn't looking in the right place. Unfortunately even after getting in there and enabling "Balance and Fader" I agree with others that the rear speakers don't deliver much sound; they're like the rear surround speakers in any home theater.








Once back listening to music my sound options are now Bass, Treble, Balance/Fader, and Surround On/Off:






I did however see a lot of other settings in Engineering Mode I am quite curious about. "Map Horizon Data?





DS Side Seat Pad and Shoulder Pad "off"? PS Thickness, Side Seat Pad and Shoulder Pad "off"?







Clock View?




and Remote Control???

 

Hi Eddie,

I believe others have commented as I have that the newer model SLs (I believe around 2016 and on) do NOT allow the owner to access the "engineering menue" using the sequence you have found usable for your MY.

Anyway...question:

Those who have been able to access the Eng Menue with model yrs like yours have noted no real meaningful sound.

For all concerned who have a MY like yours do you find any meaningful sound coming from the rear speakers if you go full on to "fade rear" ? If so I understand a MB mechanic who has access to the Eng Menue with the newer MY cars could maybe help those who need some rear sound? Be great if you tell all if this is possible (with more rear fade than front is there meaningful sound from the rear?

As I have advise above since my addition of the additional amp and pots I amreally pleased as the sound system is now what one would expect from a car like ours.

We all look forward to your comments as some with your MY or later with MB service getting access to the Eng Menue may give enough to please some

We await your response BUT as I have said I believe the only real way to get the performance expected is with an additional AMP.

Curious if anyone has used the "correct" CD that is supposed to give rear sound and what their experience was??? Anyone???

Steve

 

2013, standard music system here. I made this change in the EM last year and find the sound from the rear manageable, enhanced and clear, as well as uplifting the overall sound of the system. That being said, I am not a 'boomer' of music, rather enjoy it in the background most of the time, with occasional bursts of volume; mood and song dependent. So for my ear, the bass; treble; mid-range are all full sounding when I have the fade set to enhance the rear speakers. My only caveat is with some of the music that I have recorded from older LP's to MP3 files on the SD card; the range of sound is just not quite of an HD quality. But overall I am pleased, particularly with the proper CD either from the Registry or via the disc itself. One that comes to mind is Kenny Loggins, 'Live at the Redwoods', it is almost like sitting in on the session. And the HD radio stations in the area come across very well. Sound is one of those personal items, but I do believe that MB erred in the structure of the system for the SL, depending too much on using the frame structure for bass enhancement.

 

I was able to enable the "Balance and Fade" in my 2013 SL, but the Balance option is the same in the settings, no front/back fade is enabled. I think my headunit in the 2013 is NTG 4.5 instead of 4.7 (pictured above). Has anyone with a 2013 been able to get it working?

Edit: I wasn't fully rebooting the system for the changes to take effect. Working now!

 

As I faded from centered to full-rear the volume dropped significantly. I did not even attempt to turn it up, but maybe I'll turn off surround first and give that a try and report back. I think the real issue here is personal preference of where one wants to have their music coming from. I'd venture to guess that many of us came of age in the 70's or earlier, when car stereos were typically blasting from the rear, where there was more room for our aftermarket coaxial and triaxial speakers. Some happily sacrificed trunk space for a massive subwoofer. This was the only way we could come close to duplicating what we had at home, but let's not forget what that was:


I can't be the only one that tried "Quadrophonic" in the 70's, but even that original "surround sound" was weighted to the front, like where the band would be. Newer Dolby Surround systems of 5.1 and 7.1 are still weighted to the front, as they should be. I don't often turn on my Yamaha 5.1 Cinema DSP receiver any more but when I first set it up in the early 90's the biggest challenge was getting the rear levels right. Steve will remember the high end audio chain Tweeter Etc., where I worked for a short time. There, we were constantly educating people that the rear speakers should never compete with the fronts. My home theater rears are actually side-mounted to "wash" the side walls with ambient sounds, as in a movie theater. In movie audio they mostly indicate movement, like if a plane flies overhead or car speeds past. For music all they're really supposed to do is reinforce the natural echo of front-directed sound bouncing off the back of the hall. Remember the Bose 901? Wherever you stand on whether it's the greatest innovation ever or an overpriced marketing scam, even though eight of its nine 4-1/2" drivers play out of the rear of the speaker, that speaker still sits in front of you.




So, long story long, while there is no wrong way for the owner of a $100,000+/- car to enjoy its stereo, the intention of a 7.1 surround system, or of ANY stereo, is to entertain you from the front.

Now maybe someone will have an opinion on the ADAS Map Horizon Data setting....

 

A French guy on the W213 Forum has a method for the Comand NTG 5.1 HERE (post #26); might be worth a try if your steering wheel has same buttons, but I believe your SL has the same Comand NTG 4.7 as mine, updated with Apple CarPlay and other apps....earlier in the thread someone states that Eng. Mode needs to be activated with a Star tool in newer models, which would explain why you can't access it.

 

Hi Eddie/All,

Few thoughts :

Re the "Engineering Mode"....Yes on newer MYs (Hd Mech @ my dealer not sure but, thinks as of 2016 or 2017) factory changed access to only allow the Dealers Star System to make changes; this was done because owners were fooling around and really messing up a variety of settings causing many complaints and service calls.

Re FADE...I agree it's subjective and for me the only way I feel surrounded/immersed is since the fix I had done to the car; in fact as I have previously commented before the fix I was considering another car but, now I am so pleased that I plan to buy the car @ lease end as I don't want a soft top/4 seater that will likely have a better sound system.

Sure I remember Tweeter....wasn't it you that helped me with the EPI speakers

One thing I don't understand is why HK designed the system to give rear sound when only playing one disc format, doesn't make sense.

Question...has anyone tried to use the "correct" CD and if so have any comments???

BTW: The Burmeister system in my 2017 E is FAR superior in every way to the HK in the SL....anyone else w/both an SL and E feel the same?

Oh well...bottom line I'm happy with the new Amp and individual F & R pots to provide infinite control.

Steve

 

I agree with you that music should mainly come from the front. My issue with the HK system is that the bulk of the front sound comes blasting out of the center dash speaker. What about the front L and R speakers? What I'd like to see is a way to re-balance the entire set of speakers, but I doubt that's possible.

 

I don't know about that.....I've been feeding CDs into the HU one after another as I record them into the HD, and often I switch to the FM radio while the upload progresses, but one day I was in my driveway, engine off, uploading an old Graham Parker CD with the volume really low because I was on the phone. I thought I heard some kind of rattle or other noise and it wasn't until I turned up the volume that I realized it was guitar scratching, coming out of just one speaker on the left. I thought that was pretty impressive, given that CD was mastered for 2-channel stereo about 20 or more years ago. I know I'm in the minority here but I don't have any issues with the HK stereo.

FWIW, and I don't think it's much, but I was a nightclub DJ for many years, most recently the House Music dominated 90's. While 1500 or so people are out on the floor being assaulted by thousands of watts driven through massive bass cabinets, directed mid-range horns and ceiling-suspended tweeter arrays, I'm up in the booth trying to hear one thing through a headphone on my left ear and another through the ceiling mounted monitor aiming straight down at me. Maybe that's why at this age I find myself more inclined to listen at moderate volumes.....

 

Hi Joe,

Boy do I agree with you s the the front center speaker overpowering all except the bass !

Try this: Go to sound control and play around with more treble and bass vs the mid range. I did this before my added amp and individual pot controls and it helped mute the center front speaker some.

Even with my "great sound" from the rear I still find adjusting the treble/midrange and bass helps with the center front speaker issue.

Steve

 

For the record, I am satisfied with the Harman Kardon Logic-7 Surround Sound System at this point, and I have no interest in doing any kind of 3rd Party 'upgrade' to the system.

As SL's have no back seat, the system was designed with the front seat driver and passenger in mind, so no, there isn't that much sound coming from the rear speakers other than a bit of the 'surround effect', (low volume 'peripheral sounds'). The main thrust of sound is 'stereo effect sound' and focused towards the seating area of the car, as it was designed to be!

In my opinion, the HK Logic-7 System sounds just fine with Sirius XM Radio, (Digital Satellite Music), which is what I listen to almost exclusively now. Full Disclosure: I am not a 'Music Blaster' type of guy by any stretch of imagination!..

Of course, there are always subtle adjustments to be made to 'personalize the system', and as I said previously in Posts #109 and #124, setting the Bass and Treble output levels HIGHER makes a noticeable difference with the HK System. (I have both those levels set to +8 on my 2013 SL 550).

With the bass output level set to +8, (or higher), you'll know for sure the 231's much-touted 'built-into-the-subframe' SUBWOOFER is operating properly!

Note: While your're in 'Audio Settings', it's also a good idea to check that your Logic-7 Surround Sound is set to 'ON' as it should be...

 

I found a 7.1 channel test tone but couldn't get either MP4 or WAV file to play...

https://www2.iis.fraunhofer.de/AAC/multichannel.html

EDIT: I also converted the audio of this video to mp3 and, while it played, it did not correctly identify the rears.

 

A Mercedes-Benz-produced DVD Demo Disc called 'Mercedes-Benz Signature Sound' came with my (2013) 231. This is a DVD apparently designed to demonstrate the range and quality of MB's Audio Systems and is designed to be played ONLY on the MB Command System. This DVD contains both popular and classical music. Interestingly, this DVD Demo Disk above comes up in Command as 'Video Media', (not Audio Media), when you load it Perhaps even more interesting, this particular DVD contains an instruction to turn off HK's Logic-7 Surround Sound before playing it. That leads me to believe that Logic-7 Surround Sound is for Audio CD's and DVD's only, and is not to be used when playing this particular type of DVD (Video) Media.

In addition to the DVD mentioned above, I was also provided with a 2nd Demo Disc produced by Harman Kardon. This one is CD Audio Media and is called 'The Sounds of New York'. It contains random sounds from NY City as well as some pop and classical music. It appears to be specifically designed by Harman Kardon and was recorded in 5.1 Surround to highlight the HK Logic-7 Surround Sound System, so for this one, make sure Logic-7 is turned 'ON'.

Both these Discs were found inside the leather case that came with the 231's User Manual. I suspect later models may have come with different demo discs than mine did, but really can't say for sure! However, if you haven't already listened to whatever demo discs that came with your 231, you may want to do so sometime soon!