Sound System Question
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,399
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From: Bay Area, California
2015 E63s AMG, 2020 GLC 43 AMG
Sound System Question
Hey Guys,
While I enjoy the premium sound system in the 2011 e63 it does seem to fall a bit short from my 2000 E55 sound system.
First a bit of background on myself:
In my earlier carreeer I was the lead mechanical engineer for Velodyne Acoustics. An innovator in home theater speaker systems. I actually launched their first car sub woofer. My only point in revealing this is that I have a pretty good ear for solid acoustic performance.
So I believe there is an optional higher end sound system ( Bang & Olufs) available?? Not sure on this model though.
So here is the real question:
Has anybody tried augmenting their Harmon Kardon system with a sub tube or someting like that? If so, did you need cross over module or some type of mixer control? How practicle and affordable was it?
It seems like the car beggs for it with the split fold down seats and middle flap door!
Just curious.
Thanks in advance.
While I enjoy the premium sound system in the 2011 e63 it does seem to fall a bit short from my 2000 E55 sound system.
First a bit of background on myself:
In my earlier carreeer I was the lead mechanical engineer for Velodyne Acoustics. An innovator in home theater speaker systems. I actually launched their first car sub woofer. My only point in revealing this is that I have a pretty good ear for solid acoustic performance.
So I believe there is an optional higher end sound system ( Bang & Olufs) available?? Not sure on this model though.
So here is the real question:
Has anybody tried augmenting their Harmon Kardon system with a sub tube or someting like that? If so, did you need cross over module or some type of mixer control? How practicle and affordable was it?
It seems like the car beggs for it with the split fold down seats and middle flap door!
Just curious.
Thanks in advance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,834
Likes: 773
From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
I've wondered if simply replacing the subwoofer driver with a better one would do the trick as far as getting tighter bass? That is the main shortfall at least I notice with my system in the 2012, the bass is muddy and not very tight. Not even sure what size it is or for that matter where it's located in my wagon, must be under the rear compartment near the spare I'd think? On the Pontiac G8 I use to have 5 years ago somebody suggested reversing the polarity to the sub and for whatever reason it sounded so much better with it reversed, everybody who read that thread was doing it with good result, plus turning up the sub gain helped out too, it kinda transformed it from a good system to a great sounding system. I got a new VW Golf a few months ago with the Fender sound system, I'm really impressed with that, sounds like a rolling recording studio, much better than the Benz HK system.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 202
From: Bay Area, California
2015 E63s AMG, 2020 GLC 43 AMG
I've wondered if simply replacing the subwoofer driver with a better one would do the trick as far as getting tighter bass? That is the main shortfall at least I notice with my system in the 2012, the bass is muddy and not very tight. Not even sure what size it is or for that matter where it's located in my wagon, must be under the rear compartment near the spare I'd think? On the Pontiac G8 I use to have 5 years ago somebody suggested reversing the polarity to the sub and for whatever reason it sounded so much better with it reversed, everybody who read that thread was doing it with good result, plus turning up the sub gain helped out too, it kinda transformed it from a good system to a great sounding system. I got a new VW Golf a few months ago with the Fender sound system, I'm really impressed with that, sounds like a rolling recording studio, much better than the Benz HK system.
For an experiment to prove what I am saying, try reversing the wires on one speaker of your home sound system (easier for this experiment than your car). You should easily notice a drop off in volume. This is actually the premise for how noise cancelling headphones work.
Still wondering if anyone has tried either upgrading their existing w212 HK sub or adding a sub box/tube in tandem.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
Given up on a S205 and ordered a S212
Vrodman, these threads any use? Same guy I think...
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/ipb/index...lass-by-huets/
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/elect...estions-6.html
The S Klasse is just another reference point, might be useful.
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/ipb/index...lass-by-huets/
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/elect...estions-6.html
The S Klasse is just another reference point, might be useful.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 202
From: Bay Area, California
2015 E63s AMG, 2020 GLC 43 AMG
Vrodman, these threads any use? Same guy I think...
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/ipb/index...lass-by-huets/
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/elect...estions-6.html
The S Klasse is just another reference point, might be useful.
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/ipb/index...lass-by-huets/
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/elect...estions-6.html
The S Klasse is just another reference point, might be useful.
I looked over both threads and they were interesting. What I came away with is that I need get a separate amp to drive an additional sub. The sub needs to fire through the door behind the rear seat armrest and have a nice stealthy enclosure made for it.
That trunk is so huge, I really don't see any issue in losing 1 to 1-1/2 cu ft.
So next up is to find a great installer here in San Jose that can do this. I am simply too old and brittle anymore to be climbing in trunks and stuff! LOL
If I eventually get this done, I will post pics.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,834
Likes: 773
From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
You are right, someone on the G8 Forums who was a Electronics wiz proved all the cars had subs that were wired reversed from the factory and when changed the system was much louder, crazy how that could happen. I'm gonna have to look at the sub driver in my wagon and see if its a common size where I can replace it with a better speaker, that would be a good start.
If reversing the polarity on your sub made it more pronounced, then I would conclude that it was originally wired backwards. This polarity is essential for speaker performance. When you reverse the polarity, you are flipping the phase of the sound waves. If you have separate drivers that are not ALL in phase with one another, you get cancellations which presents itself as attenuated sound level.
For an experiment to prove what I am saying, try reversing the wires on one speaker of your home sound system (easier for this experiment than your car). You should easily notice a drop off in volume. This is actually the premise for how noise cancelling headphones work.
Still wondering if anyone has tried either upgrading their existing w212 HK sub or adding a sub box/tube in tandem.
For an experiment to prove what I am saying, try reversing the wires on one speaker of your home sound system (easier for this experiment than your car). You should easily notice a drop off in volume. This is actually the premise for how noise cancelling headphones work.
Still wondering if anyone has tried either upgrading their existing w212 HK sub or adding a sub box/tube in tandem.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 345
Likes: 3
2011 AMG E63
Hey Guys,
While I enjoy the premium sound system in the 2011 e63 it does seem to fall a bit short from my 2000 E55 sound system.
First a bit of background on myself:
In my earlier carreeer I was the lead mechanical engineer for Velodyne Acoustics. An innovator in home theater speaker systems. I actually launched their first car sub woofer. My only point in revealing this is that I have a pretty good ear for solid acoustic performance.
So I believe there is an optional higher end sound system ( Bang & Olufs) available?? Not sure on this model though.
So here is the real question:
Has anybody tried augmenting their Harmon Kardon system with a sub tube or someting like that? If so, did you need cross over module or some type of mixer control? How practicle and affordable was it?
It seems like the car beggs for it with the split fold down seats and middle flap door!
Just curious.
Thanks in advance.
While I enjoy the premium sound system in the 2011 e63 it does seem to fall a bit short from my 2000 E55 sound system.
First a bit of background on myself:
In my earlier carreeer I was the lead mechanical engineer for Velodyne Acoustics. An innovator in home theater speaker systems. I actually launched their first car sub woofer. My only point in revealing this is that I have a pretty good ear for solid acoustic performance.
So I believe there is an optional higher end sound system ( Bang & Olufs) available?? Not sure on this model though.
So here is the real question:
Has anybody tried augmenting their Harmon Kardon system with a sub tube or someting like that? If so, did you need cross over module or some type of mixer control? How practicle and affordable was it?
It seems like the car beggs for it with the split fold down seats and middle flap door!
Just curious.
Thanks in advance.
