Car Stereo advice

[desrobinson]

Are there any recommendations to replace my orginally fitted '95 Nreg Merc Stereo. Can be Merc brand or other.

I'm looking for one that has a removable facia, play CD (not CD changer in the boot), MP3 capable, DAB capable and can deliver a substantial bass-line.

Will I need to get new speaker too?

 

[cubicincubi]

Will I need to get new speaker too?

perhaps, for lots of bass.

a local auto electricians will fit a decent front lift off cd player for about £175.

£125 for cd player and £50 fitting.

all depends how much you want to spend on the head unit really.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Check out the Blaupunkt range. I had a face off unit in my 300TE for a couple of years. The CD loading feature via motorised revolving panel is worth the money in itself.

Good quality units MB option for years.

 

[Bolide]

Blaupunkt Nashville

Checkout the Blaupunkt Nashville:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4481

Install one of these and you'll discover just how monumentally carp the original speakers are. Depending on what your car is you can get drop-in replacement speakers (Blaupunkt from a dealer, Rainbow, MAC Audio, etc) or go a bit mad & fit something better. But this will require some work...

You'll never get anything resembling bass out of standard speakers. A decent subwoofer in the boot firing up through the speaker holes in the parcel shelf will do the trick, assuming you have a saloon

Do a search of the Forum for more options or try this link
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/search.php?searchid=115434


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[desrobinson]

Cheers chaps,

I have a look and let you know how I get on.

 

[angus falconer]

You can now get sub-woofers that fit under front seats. They are active ie have their own amp built in. Can't recall the manufacturer but they look great. Unfortunately not enough clearance under my C43 seats :-( Instead I am going for a Bazooka bas tube in the boot. It's only secured by velcro straps so you can remove if needed. (for space or if you change cars).

 

[orville]

Checkout the Blaupunkt Nashville:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4481

hope it dont just play country and western.
i personally dislike all the fancy lighting on these radios. plain and simple cd player :grin: for me if i can get one

 

[desrobinson]

I haven't yet made a choice about what stereo to install.

One of the things I like about the current stereo is that the volume automatically increase as the noise in the cabin increases as I'm driving along and the volume automatically decreases as the cabin noise subsides. This saves me adjusting the volume as I increase and decrease speed.
Can aftermarket head units do the same thing or do I need to get a special device fitted so I still get the same functionality?

 

[clive williams]

Checkout the Blaupunkt Nashville:

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

I have had two Blaupunkts and I can honestly say that they have been the worst of the bunch of car radios I have had over 35 yrs of motoring. The 'Sydney' I've got in the 500E has been seriously unreliable both the head unit and the CD changer. The quality of the CD changer was noticeably poorer than the standard Grundig I had in my (departed) Senator. The security card system they used has a flimsy carriage and has been repaired for the third time in 6 years - I have NEVER had to repair any other car radio security system. My master security card failed at 2 yrs and I have been using the slave card for the remaining period - I'm waiting for that to go down and having to get it all fixed yet again.
The ONLY up side of ownership has been that the style of this particular unit was the very best and suited the vehicle perfectly; all other units (including Blaupunkt) had inappropriate Japanese bling and glitz.
From my experiences I will never buy another Blaupunkt car radio.
The only reason I changed from the Becker that the car came with was that I wanted a compatible CD player and that was not avilable for the Becker, which I've still got BTW.

Clive

500E
E320CD

 

[74merc]

I have a Becker Mexico which I would recommend for it's sound quality alone. The styling suits the dashboard too. Another thing to consider is the crap mounting brackets for speakers in the front doors of the C Class. They're too flimsy to mount a decent speaker on and chances are have probably broken anyway. I made some out of 12mm MDF which improved the sound quality no end.

 

[desrobinson]

One of the things I like about the current stereo is that the volume automatically increase as the noise in the cabin increases as I'm driving along and the volume automatically decreases as the cabin noise subsides. This saves me adjusting the volume as I increase and decrease speed.
Can aftermarket head units do the same thing or do I need to get a special device fitted so I still get the same functionality?

Any advice on the above?

 

[Bolide]

Gala

Most modern stereos have GALA to increase the volume with increasing speed. The Blaupunkts and the Beckers will have it

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[desrobinson]

One of the things I like about the current stereo is that the volume automatically increase as the noise in the cabin increases as I'm driving along and the volume automatically decreases as the cabin noise subsides. This saves me adjusting the volume as I increase and decrease speed.
Can aftermarket head units do the same thing or do I need to get a special device fitted so I still get the same functionality?

Any views on the above?

 

[desrobinson]

Thanks Nick.

 

[desrobinson]

Hi 74Merc,

I'm interested in the Becker Mexico. I've had a look at it on the caraudiodirect web site and there's at least three to choose from and the only difference I can see between them is the colour of the facia. The site only provides limited information though. As you've got/had one of these unit perhaps you can help me out.

First thing is I can't see a slot in the facia for a CD to go into. Will I have to install a CD changer?

Second, did you have to use an adaptor to connect the Becker with your existing radio leads and what did you do with the existing arial?

Lastly, which speakers (make/model) did you install?

Thanks in advance.

Des Robinson

 

[desrobinson]

Just thought I'de keep you up-to-date.

I've gone and installed a Sony CDX-DAB6650 DAB & MP3 CD Tuner. The difference in sound quality was quite marked especially as I still have the standard speakers installed. It has a range of EQ presets for Rock, Classical, Reggae etc as well as an expanded bass feature which I just had to try, lovely. I can also create my on EQ settings. There are still the usual treble and bass controls which are called High (treble), Mid (mid-range), Low (bass).

I fit it myself which was quite straight forward once I got the original head unit out.

I'm still pondering on the speakers.

I went for the Sony because it is reasonably priced, goes with the central console ok, it has a built in digital receiver (I have a hard time with pirate radios on FM) and has lots of tricks and toys that I'm sure I won't learn about too soon plus I my experience with Sony products have always been good. My only problem is fitting the DAB arial (the FM/AM receiver already works with my powered arial) which is a length of 5 mm wire that needs to trailed up the 'A' pillar and attached along the top of the windscreen (using supplied sticky tape). As I don't have the right tools to take the glove box out and anything else that needs removing I'll have to get my local indie to do it for me (along with other minor fixes).

So far I think I've made a good choice with the head unit. My only concern is the sticky tape method for attaching the wire arial to the windscreen. How long will it last when it's been exposed to the heat of the Sun for a week or two in the airport long term carpark, for example?

I'll keep you all posted.

 

[television]

I f I were you , I would change the speakers as soon as possible, the originals are only 1-2 ohms, where as your new sony is probably 4 ohms, the effect is that this will double the rated power from the amps, and it could self destruct at high volume settings. to take your door cards off visit the site below.find your car by the VIN

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb0.asp?TP=1

Regards Malcolm

 

[desrobinson]

Thank for the heads up Malcom,

I took one of the mid-bass units out of the door (the metal frame is rusty in places) and the tweeter out the dash to have a look. I couldn't see any information apart from the parts number. I contact MB parts dept. and they couldn't tell give me any technical information.

I was only going to replace the mid-bass units. Do I have to replace the dashboard tweeters too?
That would mean that I have to buy a new crossover too right?

I've listened to a pair of mid-bass units at my local Halfords which sounded quite good considering they played it through a naff looking JVC head unit. They didn't have the right speaker adaptors in stock but they could order them which could take up to 7 days (I've heard that one before). My patience is not that long.

Does anyone know where in London I could pick up Merc speaker adaptors for after-market speakers?

Merc 74,
When you made your MDF adapters did you:-
1. Reinforce the holes used for screwing the adapters to the door, what with?
2. Did you seal the MDF with anything to combat the effects of moisture, what with?
3. How did you attach the speaker units to the MDF. Screws, clips or glue?

I've got lots of MDF but I don't think its 12mm thick but I'm pretty handy with the jigsaw.

Thanks in advance.

 

[television]

Standard car radio's do not have a cross over as such, they are too inefficient for a chip output stage, its normally a cap in serries,at a push there maybe just 1 inductor and cap, and no you do not have to change them. It will always pay you to keep to round loudspeakers, although eliptical offer a larger cone area, If they ever get any damp, the round ones will hold their shape, where as eliptical will go off center.
If you do make up adaptors, the thing to remember is that on a loudspeaker is, that the cone going forward is what makes the sound, if the chassis or frame is not held still with a good heavy fixing, the chassis will move, reducing the sound;(more so on bass) you also do not want to hear the sound of the cone going back, that's why felt is used in enclosures, to obsorb it.
Rembember that high notes only go in a straight line, mid range partially straight/diffused and bass goes everywhere
Malcolm

 

[Bolide]

Do it right...

If you're going to do this, I'd say buy a really good set of component speakers (mid with separate tweeter and a supplied crossover) from a company like Rainbow and fit them in the standard locations. You can fix an MDF ring to the door with self-tappers or bolts and fill the gaps with mastic. Then screw the speakers to the MDF with large-headed self tappers

To get the best of the setup I'd make sure the opening into the door is at least as big as the speaker and put a non-reflective foam pad on the door skin behind the speaker so you don't get obvious reflections off it. Seal the MDF & speaker to the door as effectively as possible & you'll get decent bass. Final thing would be to run some decent speaker cable - but it's hard work in many cars

There's lots of good advice and comprehensive FAQs on the TalkAudio Forum if you want to go into it in more depth

http://www.talkaudio.co.uk

The sound you're going to get will only ever be as good as the speakers can deliver. I think it's worth spending a little time picking a set of speakers you like and getting them installed just right

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk