Car Stereo advice

[television]

Don't forget that your old loudspeaker makes a perfect template, also when cutting MDF wear a mask.

Malcolm

 

[desrobinson]

Cheers chaps.

Nick, do you have contact details for Rainbow?

I've tried removing the original mid-bass units from it's adapter with no luck. I think it must be either glued in or the rust has 'welded' it in. Even if I could seperate them I wouldn't use them becuase the current adapters are splitting at one of the lugs and probably explains the occassional rattle that comes from the Left side of the car.

I was able to measure the diameter of the speaker though and got 14cm. I looked at caraudiodirect.co.uk for appropriate speaker adapters and the only one they have will accomodate 17cm speakers. Looking at the current speaker location and doing a bit of measuring I can't see that anything bigger than 14cm will fit unless I cut away some of document holder but that wouldn't look nice. Has anyone had experience with this?

Thanks Malcom, I've already made a template of the left door adapter using the cardboard from a discarded Easter Egg box (value for money at last) so I'm some of the way there.

Anyhoo, my indie currently have the motor fixing faults (electrical mainly) that have occured over the last 6 months and installing the DAB arial. You sure need deep pockets in this game.

 

[Bolide]

Rainbow

I think Rainbow is a German company but CAD will know all about them. They do have a retail shop but I don't have contact details

If you look on the CAD site there's a vehicle selector. That will lead you to brackets, mounting hardware & wiring adaptors for the specific car

This 5" 13cm unit should fit
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3855

Or, with a bit of opening up of the hole, this 17cm unit may fit
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3853

If you don't have a subwoofer you're limited in the amount & quality of bass by the front speakers. And as bigger speakers deliver more bass the 17cm units might be preferable but would be more hassle to fit

If the existing tweeters just use a capacitor as a crossover you have to splice the new crossover into the existing speaker wiring and take the tweeter feed from the x/over HP output and the mid from the LP. Personally I'd leave the existing loom intact and run new speaker cables but it is hard work disassembling & reassembling trim to run cables

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

One more thing, you can cut the metal and have a larger speaker in the door, and leave the door covers as they are, just make sure that the window will clear the magnet.

Malcolm

 

[desrobinson]

Thanks guys. Lots of good advice.

During my speakers research I continually come across component systems where a cross over unit has to be installed.

All I want to do is replace the mid-bass speaker, at the moment.

Does anyone know if MB cars have cross over units as standard if so where in the car are they?

Where should I install the new cross over units?

By the way my indie installed the DAB radio antennae, as it officially known. The difference in reception, compared to FM, is just so clear even through pirate radio black-spots. But does tend to sound very tinny I had to change the EQ to bring down the top-end frequencies then it sounds great.

 

[Bolide]

Crossover

I suspect the crossover on the factory speakers will just be a cap on the tweeters. If you want to install just mids then go ahead. They'll be getting a full range signal but there's no problem with that

If you buy a component set and want to just install the mids the same thing applies. You can use the supplied crossover and cable tie it to the door inner skin next to the speaker, hook the factory cable to the input and the mid to the LP output. Just ignore the tweeter HP output. This won't be "right" but right with audio is what your ears like, not what anyone else says

There is a generic 25mm tweeter size that's very common so your new tweeters may well fit the existing holes. Or if there's a remoeable grille over them the new ones should be easily fixed beneath the grille. A hot glue gun is the perfect tool for tweeter fixing and they cost about £5 for a cheap one

Personally I'd use the tweeter & mid from components with the supplied crossover & install the whole thing. Or buy the components and add the tweeters later if you're dissatisfied. But I don't know the speaker points in your car so can't predict how much work it would be

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[74merc]

IIRC the tweeter points in the 202 are just above the air vents. By taking off the underdash panels on either side you will have easy access to wire them. I would install the crossover here as well so you avoid the clearance and dampness issues that you would have in the door. It's been a few years since I did it, but I remember it being very easy to wire everything.

 

[television]

I do stress once again, take care with crossovers, they are intended for add on amps and not normal car radio output stages.


Malcolm

 

[desrobinson]

OK this is what I've done.

Changed the head unit to a Sony DAB/FM/MW radio, CD/MP3 player. This unit has an EQ with presets (rock, classic, reggae, club etc etc) and a custom one to let you set your own frequencies levels.

Changed speakers to 17cm Sony 2-way coaxial custom fit speakers (yes they can fit in standard location).

Made speaker pods from 18mm MDF (took me three goes to get it right) using the original speakers pods as a template. Instead of using Mastic to fill in sorrounding gaps I've used expanded polystyrene sheets cut to shape of speaker pods I built up parts of the sheet where gaps are bigger. The pods fit nice, snug and firm. I sealed and moisture proofed the MDF using 3 coats of external wood stain (the 1st coat is diluted slightly) making sure I filled in the screw access holes.

Well the sound that is reproduced is really dramatic. The bass is in spades as the cars body shell vibrates from the sound of the kick drum and the bass guitar. My mates and I went to Southport (between Blackpool and Liverpool) for the weekend which took us about 6 hours there and 5 hours back (I drove). The stereo never missed a beat and it never got as hot as my original head unit. My mates where impressed. I only have front door speakers and the guy sitting in the rear thought it sounded better from the back than when sitting in the front. I thought the mid frequencies would suffer due to level of bass but it is clear and smooth.

As you can tell I'm very pleased with the installation. It was my first and I did it myself (my indy installed the DAB arial) with lots of good advice from you chaps and my indy.

Thank you very much.