94' E500 Bose speakers

[Jim's500E]

What kind of speakers are in the 94' models? Is everything Bose or just the head and changer? My 92' speakers must be getting dried up after 10 years and would like to pop in something that doesn't require any mods.

Any other name brand speakers that fit in there and are compatible with the stock Becker head and changer (which still works just fine BTW).

Thanx

[Michael]

James,

The systems in '94 are completely different, and as I understand are completely incompatible with ours. I checked all this out before I did my system, begrudgingly.

You could change out all your speakers and go for 4 ohm aftermarket units, but it will play dramatically quieter (and the system didn't have enough power to begin with). Or you could try to work in a sub and amp, which would allow the rest of your system to work a lot easier.

BTW, the speakers in your car are of very high quality fabrication, so I really doubt they're gonna dry up and fail (frankly, the OE speakers had the nicest cone suspension material I've seen).

Cheapest way to make the whole thing sound better is to add a sub: low frequencies take the most power to reproduce, and are truly the anchor of any quality system (and I'm talking accurate, not thumping, Bass)...freeing your OE system from producing those frequencies would go a long way to making it all sound better.

Next step up-you could keep your head unit and install a 4 to 6 channel amp with speaker-level inputs...do any speaker you want,then, and a sub optionally if you choose. Listen to mine sometime with and without the sub, and you decide what you like
Just my 2% of a buck-good luck, and let me know if I can help

[-fad]

Hi Jim

I've heard that mark levinson speakers and custom system is available for 500e/e500...no other details

maybe ERASE or Rainmaker can provide more info?

-fad

[Jim's500E]

Thanx my friends...my speakers are actaully fine sounding still but in contrast, my 190E speakers (I know, not even close to being the same)dried up after 10 years so I figured it was time to replace while I'm shelling out the dough...maybe I'll just put new OEM back in...if it warrants it. The motor really is just music to my ears right now...I'm sure that effect will wear off sometime in the future.

I suppose if I do get the itch to have a concert hall in the cabin...I'll be calling you Michael...you've got the nicest set-up for a 500E I've ever seen. Good job...Now, if you could only unplug it all for those track days...bet you'd be a sec or two faster.

[Michael]

Jim-

Hehe-you're right...I actually designed it with the intention of being able to remove it easily. If I un-do about 6 bolts, and disconnect 3 sets of RCAs, the entire amp rack comes out. 6 screws, and the sub is out.

We'll see...

[Michael]

Jim,

BTW, the effect doesn't wear off. My next mod is definitely to replace the center resonator with the Time Valve piece...you gotta hear Hendy's car, sounds like a circle-track car with a big block under full throttle

I feel sorta like I put the stereo in the wrong car-the Diesel's a better choice, 'cuz it sounds like a John Deere when you put the boot to it (sorry Diesel dudes, but a 5-banger oil burner simply cannot compare to the noise of a V8 MBZ gas engine at WOT. Except maybe anything made by Ferrari-they're in another class altogether)

I am dying to hear these.

I was considering doing- twin 6.5 woofers in the doors- but I can't stand the idea of refabricating my E500. Besides... I just bought new door pockets- though I may use the old pockets for an experiment.

So now what I am interested is doing OEM locations for everything except the sub.

I've got lots of good gear to draw from.

Lsatly- I am completely "directionally challenged" so i really need a Alpine NAv system- but I can't stand the idea of not using my Nakamichi tp-1200 head unit. Anyone know of a way to put these in a W124?

I have heard some of Mark Levinson's (The Man- speakers at Red Rose = redrosemusic.com) and they seem to be a bit off still in terms of accuracy- though tremendously efficient.

As for Mark Levinson (The company- one of Harmon Internationals brands- headed by Sandy Berlin) I do like their speakers- but mostly the midrange from the Revel Salons- and this is not a Levinson Brand- though it is a Harmon Brand and the Revels are made to sound good and mate well with Mark Levinson Brand electronics.

But the current Mark Levinson systems that are available for the Lexus LS series- sound pretty lousy IMHO- and I don't think the system deserves the glowing Marks from Stereophile magazine.

I do wonder though if you were to take a durable- well voiced- polypropylene driver from a inexpensive home speaker and fabricated an enclosure- if it would be a bargain.

Several speakers come to mind. The simplest would be to put a AEGO2 or Aego 5 system (Better as it has time delay features) system in your car- by acounstic energy. I own one of these systems and I do like the sound- which I would consider slightly above entry level high end.

Other speakers for chopping up that make good music for low $$$ are the Spendor 3/5's a mini monitor that sounds great as a near field monitor and can be improved using about $150 of Hovland capacitors in the crossover- making it sound as good as a $2200 pair of speakers.

Also for super cheap- one could consider making an enclosure for a set of Sound Dynamics rts-3 speakers. At about $200 a pair it is a cheap experiment. For teh cash these are very hard to beat and will play very very loud.