Hello all,
I'm getting a new Mercedes GLB as my company car, to use for the next 3 years.
The car has no extras (basic version), and has the basic 110w sound system (6 speakers total - 1 tweeter and 1 woofer on each front door, and 1 woofer/full-range on the back doors).
I want to upgrade the sound quality (with a limited budget (~750USD) since the car is not mine), and three options were presented to me, by the several car audio shops I talked to:
A) Install a DSP amplifier (e.g. MATCH PP-62DSP or M5DSP MK2) and maintain the stock speakers
B) Install a "regular" amplifier (e.g. ESX QM400.4), and change only the front speakers (e.g. Morel Maximum), keeping the back speakers stock - I could also add a simple subwoofer for about ~100USD extra on my budget
C) Change all 6 speakers for a "good" set (e.g. Focal Performance) and maintain the stock amplifier - cheaper option
From what I read, the trend now is people to install DSP amplifiers.
However I feel I would get a better sound quality with option B than from option A.
Since I'm no expert, what should I go with the stock speakers and only a "new tech" DSP amplifier (option A), or put an "old tech" amplifier and new front and subwoofer speakers?
One of the shops gave me an alert about doing this hybrid solution (B), saying that the Mercedes car system would block the sound or event play it very low on the front/amplified speakers (since it would detect this power change has a "short circuit").
What do you think?
Should I go "new tech" or "old tech"? Option C? Or even a D one no one told me about?
PS: I am from Europe, I usually listen to vocals and accoustic/unplugged music (via CarPlay or USB flacs), and I usually drive alone.
I'm getting a new Mercedes GLB as my company car, to use for the next 3 years.
The car has no extras (basic version), and has the basic 110w sound system (6 speakers total - 1 tweeter and 1 woofer on each front door, and 1 woofer/full-range on the back doors).
I want to upgrade the sound quality (with a limited budget (~750USD) since the car is not mine), and three options were presented to me, by the several car audio shops I talked to:
A) Install a DSP amplifier (e.g. MATCH PP-62DSP or M5DSP MK2) and maintain the stock speakers
B) Install a "regular" amplifier (e.g. ESX QM400.4), and change only the front speakers (e.g. Morel Maximum), keeping the back speakers stock - I could also add a simple subwoofer for about ~100USD extra on my budget
C) Change all 6 speakers for a "good" set (e.g. Focal Performance) and maintain the stock amplifier - cheaper option
From what I read, the trend now is people to install DSP amplifiers.
However I feel I would get a better sound quality with option B than from option A.
Since I'm no expert, what should I go with the stock speakers and only a "new tech" DSP amplifier (option A), or put an "old tech" amplifier and new front and subwoofer speakers?
One of the shops gave me an alert about doing this hybrid solution (B), saying that the Mercedes car system would block the sound or event play it very low on the front/amplified speakers (since it would detect this power change has a "short circuit").
What do you think?
Should I go "new tech" or "old tech"? Option C? Or even a D one no one told me about?
PS: I am from Europe, I usually listen to vocals and accoustic/unplugged music (via CarPlay or USB flacs), and I usually drive alone.
Is this DIY or will you pay the shop to install the equipment?
Do you currently have any amplifiers?
Do you know how many channels the system has (do the tweeters have their own amplifier channels)?
Do you know if the signal reaching the speakers is equalized to compensate for deficiencies in the speakers/locations?
Do you know if the signal can be taken from the head unit? Some can't because they feed an external amp with fiber or some other digital signal line.
Do you currently have any amplifiers?
Do you know how many channels the system has (do the tweeters have their own amplifier channels)?
Do you know if the signal reaching the speakers is equalized to compensate for deficiencies in the speakers/locations?
Do you know if the signal can be taken from the head unit? Some can't because they feed an external amp with fiber or some other digital signal line.
Hello Perry!
Thank you for the reply.
I will pay the shop to install it 🙂
The car has the Mercedes basic sound system (with 110w head unit amplifing the 6 speakers).
I don't know if anyone has the diagram of the current A/B class Mercedes (W177 or W247) to check this head unit.
The car has a fader for front/back and left/right (so I assume it has at least 4 channels?)
I don't know if the signal reaching the speakers is equalized to compensate for deficiencies in the speakers/locations, but I assume Mercedes might have done that when designing the stock car sound system.
I don't know if the signal can be taken from the head unit, unfortunatly.
Do you know where can I get that information (e.g. wiring diagrams of something like that)?
Thank you for the help!
Thank you for the reply.
I will pay the shop to install it 🙂
The car has the Mercedes basic sound system (with 110w head unit amplifing the 6 speakers).
I don't know if anyone has the diagram of the current A/B class Mercedes (W177 or W247) to check this head unit.
The car has a fader for front/back and left/right (so I assume it has at least 4 channels?)
I don't know if the signal reaching the speakers is equalized to compensate for deficiencies in the speakers/locations, but I assume Mercedes might have done that when designing the stock car sound system.
I don't know if the signal can be taken from the head unit, unfortunatly.
Do you know where can I get that information (e.g. wiring diagrams of something like that)?
Thank you for the help!
The the12volt.com site has some. If they don't have a diagram, they have an active group of installers that may be able to help.
https://www.the12volt.com
If this isn't DIY, tell the installers what you want as an end product and let them deal with any issues.
https://www.the12volt.com
If this isn't DIY, tell the installers what you want as an end product and let them deal with any issues.