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  #31  
Old 04-18-2000, 11:30 AM
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If someone will send me a write-up and some digital pics, we'll publish it.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

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  #32  
Old 04-18-2000, 06:35 PM
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As I expect this install to be finished up by the weekend, I'll oblige with some photos...I'm rather proud of it, so I'd be happy to offer up a few pics...since I couldn't have done it without MercedesShop!!!

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'92 500E
'88 300TE
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  #33  
Old 04-25-2000, 11:10 PM
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Done! Finito! Man, that took a S?!#LOAD of work! MBZ doesn't make it easy...

New NHT arrived and was bolted in. Compared to the temporary 10" sealed box that I had in service, I can only say NO comparison. This is one helluva way to get accurate, tight bass into a W124! Of course, 400+ honest watts to the sub through Gods-Own sub processor likely don't hurt.

Drought is The Man! Never should have doubted ya, bud. That sub Kicks, and the AMAZING thing (to me, anyway) is the relative quiet outside the car whilst running 130+dB inside the car. Trunk Star rattles slightly, otherwise pretty quiet. Gonna finish Dynamatting everything else in the boot tomorrow...any suggestions from anyone on how to silence trunk springs? Likely have to spray 'em, but as they say, in for a penny, in for a pound. What else haven't I done on this project?!?

Alpine PXA-H600 digital Phase Processor/Parametric EQ/Time Alignment/Eliminator of Resonances thingy really does quite the job if you take the time to set it up. My particular MBQuarts, in my particular application, sounded frankly pretty crappy before fiddling with the EQ. All vocals were simply searing...I was tempted to spend the countless hours ripping them out, selling my Wagon (my 500E...Never!) and installing DynAudios (WebMaster Bill, if you're reading this does anyone make servo speakers for cars? Brian? j/k).

Vocals are spot-on now...in fact everything is. Those amps have Huge guts...I swear I never heard anything that sounded so good at 110 MPH with the windows & roof open!

The accuracy & detail of this system is beyond belief at astonishingly low AND high/ridiculous volumes. I'll look forward to sharing it with any comers to the Second Running of the Benzes, coming your way hopefully early summer. (I made the amps & sub easy to de-install for weight savings, Gary!)

Time to go get gas, or milk & bread, or...

Thanks everyone for your input.


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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

[This message has been edited by Michael (edited 04-26-2000).]
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  #34  
Old 04-26-2000, 06:17 AM
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Glad you like the NHT! I love mine and wouldnt swap it for the world. Deep, tight, rib crushing bass, no?

Silencing the trunk springs is eeeeeeeasy. Take some pipe insulation foam and put it round the spring... works like a charm.

Your joke question about servo speakers?
www.velodyne.com check out the DF12. One serious speaker... only thing is... the volume and extension is crappy compared to the NHT.


The PXA600 really is the most underated toy in the car world..theres no other way to get the 'perfect' in car sound.

Just glad that after all the sweat and tears you are happy with the system.

In a few weeks you might need to EQ it once the sub beds in (it'll be waaaaay to loud) and the tweeters bed in (they'll get smoother)

Take care!

Bri



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  #35  
Old 10-18-2001, 12:40 PM
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So Michael, when are you going to post those pictures?

:-) neil
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  #36  
Old 10-24-2001, 12:20 AM
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Hey Mike. Guido here. Heres the latest with my sounds.
I went to a stereo place here in southern calif guy made me a great deal for a 600 watt system. im running a precision power amp 5 channel. changed out all the speaker to JL audio components. I'm having installed 2 inch tweeters in front grills.
Doors are getting a 6.5 midbass, rear hatshelf are is getting a
coaxial 5 1/4. For the subs two 8 inch JL audio subs. Having a nice clean box being built underneath the hatshelf area in the trunk.With an electronic EQ also by precision. Can't wait to hear that thing. Total parts and labor installed $1500.00. Which I think is pretty damn good. considering there dynamating the trunk liners areas. I'm going to take some digital pictures of it tommorow
I hope to post them for you to see.
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  #37  
Old 10-24-2001, 07:26 AM
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Sounds like a Plan! While you're at it, maybe have them Dynamat the trunklid & rear fenders-every little bit helps!
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  #38  
Old 10-24-2001, 09:17 AM
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Thanks for the info Mike, you encouraged me after all the madness you did on yours. I'll take some pics today and post then tonight.




See ya

Did you see run exe is back. He always has some good
Stories ha ha.:p
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  #39  
Old 10-25-2001, 10:50 PM
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sound system continues

Hey Mike here's some recent pics I took at the installation shop.
Its sounds incredible with just 2 speaks hooked up. I was there
yesterday.







The Amp setup is pretty cool too. Im going to send more pics.
This will give a good Idea what can be done on our kinda cars.
I sure would like to see some of your upgrades you've done.


Take Care Guido.
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  #40  
Old 10-26-2001, 09:08 PM
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Nice...looks like they are doing a solid job. Did they build a box on the backside of those JL woofers, or are they using the trunk as a box? In either case, Dynamat EVERYTHING! Keep it dead back there resonance-wise.

I've sent Dean pictures of my setup-I'm sure he'll host them soon
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2014 E63S Estate
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  #41  
Old 10-26-2001, 10:35 PM
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The resluts

Hi Micheal. Sounds awesome. They did build a box underneath the hatshelf trunk side. Its vwery clean didn't take up much space. It has alot of power on reserve. The 8 inch JL's crank. Please once you get yours please send thanks.






Mike I've enclosed a pic for you to look at. Give me your feedback it looks bigger than it is.



Guido
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  #42  
Old 12-21-2001, 06:01 PM
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the right stereo for the right car

The 1994 system is actually quite good and needs no mods. it is more accurate than the new Mark Levinson systems in the Lexus autos. The other systems aren't nearly as good.

If you are a bass head- then this won't apply.

I spoke with Kevin V. at Revel and also with Gayle Martin Saunders of Martin Logan- as well as a lot of other High end speaker designers. Their feelings were that the polar radiation apttern for off axis response had to match the path the driver had towards the listener for good sound.

I would tend to agree with that.

I would also say that most of the after market car audio speakers are not up to the 500E in quality. But the high end rainbow speakers might fit the bill. They are from Germany and are quite expensive. http://www.arcaudio.com/reference_line.htm

You could also try these. http://www.eminent-tech.com/lft10/carspeaker.html these are a fine planar magnetic speaker. Think of Infinity or Magnepan. These could be put in a custom install.

As for head units. The best one available in terms of sheer build quality is the TP-1200 from Nakamichi. The sound is comparable to a Wadia Cd player Costing nearly $8,000. If you want to go a step further there is a special shop unit which are only sold in Japan the TP-1200 Limited Special shop which would have to be modified for the USA tuner specs. I've got one- .....amazing. I have yet to install it.

For Cd Changers you would have to hunt for a MB-1000 or a cnc-1000.

Amplifiers.
You can do a silly thing and use this. http://www.monarchyaudio.com and put several of these great sounding mini amps in with a dc/ac converter.

Or buy a MC4000M or MC440M McIntosh unit. These are nicer than the newer ones as the signal to noise ratio is better on the orignal models.

While you are at it get a MEN 459 and MEN 456 crossover and controller. McInstoshLabs.com. You may as well pick up a MEM 4000 display unit as well.

Subs. The Audiomobile Subs. Or you culd go "free air" with some subs Derek would reccommend from the respected French speaker company FOCAL.

Installer? The same guy who did the installs for Wes Phillips at Stereophile and do many of the installs in the car audio mags. Derek Kenney at Sound In Motion in Allston MA.

Unfortunately you'd have to get me to tune it and dial in the crossovers and gain structure.

You can get control gauges from Dakota Digital. These will show your amp temperature, Amp current, voltage etc. and will match the amps display if you spec the teal color. These can be fit in the rear seat roll top unit.

I have all this stuff- and I have yet to install it. My car was totaled before I could put it an and I bought it all before I bought the car.

I felt the stereo was adequate and kept the car stock....but if anyone wants it let me know- I spent years getting it all together. I'd selll it all complete if I was offered reasonable money.

I even had custom plugs that made 65 gold connections at once and had the amps mounted on fibreglass removeable boards so you could remove the stereo- (for either theft worries or for using in a ski house).

Best of luck to you e500mercedes@yahoo.com
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  #43  
Old 12-21-2001, 06:08 PM
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Value for the dollar

Your cheapest reasonable high end system

Nakamichi Cd-45 z head unit

Used Mc440M amp

Take a pair of Spendor 3/5 speakers and have the drivers and crossovers installed in custom kick panels.

These are "near field monitors with the BBC dip and will sound balanced even if they are close to you. They roll off naturally at 70hz in a sealed enclosure so they will mate with a sub no problem.

Want more volume?

The Absolute Sound highly reccommends the Sound Dynamics RtS-3 speaker $399 a pair. Not bad but as a ported design they will be harder to integrate in the kickpanels.
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  #44  
Old 12-21-2001, 08:14 PM
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Erase-

We'll have to get together sometime-I'd very much appreciate your input as to the tuning of my system!
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2014 E63S Estate
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  #45  
Old 12-22-2001, 01:14 AM
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Always there for an 500 owner.

Let me know if I can be of any help. I'm in the Boston area.

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