Hello:


My vehicle is a 1986 300E.

I just installed over the last two weeks a Nakamichi cd45z head unit, 4" MB Quart in the front speakers,a and built a sealed sub cabinet in the trunk, utilizing a JL 10" subwoofer, think it is the w o series. I removed the rear speakers and placed the sub in the back of the trunk and let it fire toward the rear of the car, IE bumper.

But, I'm not all that happy with the bass response. I almost seems like the speaker opening in the deck makes it tuned now, and seems to be peaky across a fairly narrow audio range. How are the rest of you audio guys installing your subs? Cutting holes in the rear deck under the first aid kit? If so, how do you make it look decent? Just looking for some help with good sound.

Thanks a lot for any help you guys can give.



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Ron Miller
1986 300E

Hi Ron: The best discussion I have seen on speakers and subs was done about a year ago on this forum. Use the search button and type in "500E speaker upgrade". A LONG and thorough discussion on sub type, placement, and results is there! Good Luck!

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JCE
87 300E, 65k miles
Smoke Silver

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 11-24-2000).]

Haha, you beat me to it JCE! ;-)

Bri

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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
2000 A170-CDI
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

well no matter what you do with subs in the trunk, you will have to port into the cabin somehow. I also recommend you have the woofers fire up towards the rear deck, so the sound does not fill the trunk then make its way through the ports. but rather gets to the ports before the trunk is filled.

You should play with different positions of the firing to see how the sound changes and then decide which is best for you.

If you really want to be able to adjust the sound better, you should look into an EQ. a good eq can make almost any sound system sound much better.

Some people remove the rear speakers, others cut into the first aid kit, and still others actually cut holes in the deck itself.

I personally prefer the stealth install. Make it look factory without sounding factory.

I have a 10 " Ported Box that is an isobaric style I think. the woofer fires into a sealed encloser, and the port is ported from the back of the woofer.

I use a 10" Rockford Fosgate Q Series 8 ohm woofer. 8 ohm works great for me for the very reason that it doesn't consume a ton of power. I have a cheesy amp I had lying around, I think its 40x2, so bridged its hitting the woofer with maybe 80 watts. of course I'd prefer if the orion I had was still aorund, but unfortunately that amp blew and Well I didnt replace it yet.

My woofer should be able to handle much more power, so when I do upgrade, I'll probbaly throw a 200x1 or 300x1 amp that should make the woofer hit much harder.

I cut a small hole in the first aid kit box, which has allowed a bit more sound into the cabin from the sub, but not much at all.

Though personally I prefer the good ol saying, the best bass is felt, not heard.

As my system is now, alpine 35wx4 head unit hitting factory speakers, then the sub added for the bass that was lacking. yes it could be louder and cleaner, but for now it serves its purpose.

If you can forgo the first aid kit, I would use that to port through for the sub, because it can easily be hidden. I personally did not cut any metal in the car, there was a small area that allowed for me to cut the deck itself without the metal being cut.

The hole I made is roughly 2 inches by 4 inches. and allows just a bit more sub into the car. with a bigger amp on the sub, I shouldn't have to worry about it.

Alon

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'92 300CE
Metallic Black (Blue Flaked) on Parchment
Clear Corners
94-95 Tail-Lights
Debadged
Black Grille Insert
78.5k Miles

Future Upgrades:
Sportline Suspension
17" AMG Monoblocks or EVO II's
Euro Headlights
Performance Chip
AMG Exhaust

Click here to Go To My 300CE Page

[This message has been edited by Ashman (edited 11-25-2000).]

My personal favorite option is something I saw in a very customized install, done in a 124 car. The guy got a box with ports on the top, and just added a port extension that went through a 2" hole he put in the first aid kit space. Otherwise, I would take out the rear speakers/cut holes in the first aid kit space, and get a bandpass box - the reason I would choose this box is that the majority of the sound comes through the ports themselves, so if the port was under a hole you would get a lot of sound in the cabin though. Bandpass boxes are touchy though, make sure you get one that is designed for your sub (contact the sub manufacturer). OTherwise just line up a ported box's port under the hole.
If you get a loud enough sub, you will hear it well with just a hole in the first aid kit - i have two audiobahn aw1200's getting about 500watts rms each, and it absolutely slams, and even 1 12" getting 300 (on my old amp) sounded fine under the first aid kit hole. Good luck with your setup - remember that the bigger a hole you have in your rear deck, the more road noise you will get.

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81 280e
16" 8-holes
clear indicators, new exhaust/intake

stereo -
jvc head unit
6 infinity kappa coax's
aura mr675h 90x6
2 aura mr475's, 200x2 each
2 audiobahn aw1200s in a ported box
1f cap

not bad for a car older than me, huh

In the 89' 300E i have a bandpass ported through the rear deck like moyukh had said. I have a 12" rockford fostgate xlc with about 160 watts. Before I cut the holes for the ports, when sitting up front you could barely feel the bass. Now not only is it a lot louder it hits much harder. Also personally I really like the look of my rear deck with the two black 4" holes. I inserted the ports from above the rear deck so that the top of the port covers up the edges of the areas I was cuttting. IMO cutting the holes was definetly a good move, because i didnt spend a cent, except on a jigsaw blade, and the bass has improved by a lot.

hey mladen, youre from mclean too?

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81 280e
16" 8-holes
clear indicators, new exhaust/intake

stereo -
jvc head unit
6 infinity kappa coax's
aura mr675h 90x6
2 aura mr475's, 200x2 each
2 audiobahn aw1200s in a ported box
1f cap

not bad for a car older than me, huh