w126 four speaker system doesn't cut it, advice and experiences appreciated
 

I love music, sometimes a in a bit richer form than my stock 4 speaker system can provide. I'd also appreciate more substantial midrange and bass. I'm certainly not looking for a boom car or anything elaborate like that. However I'd like to hear opinions on what combinations would work well. My main idea would include four speakers (perhaps component speakers), an amp and small subwoofer. I'm leaning towards a straight forward head unit with an in dash cd player.

I forgot!
 

How have any of you overcome the limited speaker size and location options?

Thanks again

i have done this one 2 of my cars because the 3.5" or 4x6" opening just doesn't cut it. what i did is make a speaker pod that fits a 6.5" and put it on the doors. if you look under the door handel (or would these be door latches?) inside the car there is enough space there to put a speaker pod. it doesn't get in the way either. and perhaps you can get a 6 speaker hook up that way too.

my freinds......6x9's in the back shelf is the answer!

how exactly did you fabricate the pods?
 

What materials did you use? How was the sound and appearance of the final product? 6x9's seem like an intelligent and feasable choice for the rear. Did you gut your storage compartments and fabricate mounting brackets?
Thanks for the response.

Stencil was used to sketch the speaker size on the boxes and then they were cut carefully with a jigsaw a beleive and then the speakers were placed in and screwed. Took about an hour. Then I went and found speaker grills at an audio store to place over the speakers.

Stencil was used to sketch the speaker size on the boxes and then they were cut carefully with a jigsaw a beleive and then the speakers were placed in and screwed. Took about an hour. Then I went and found speaker grills at an audio store to place over the speakers.

The sound is excellent with any type of bass you want, created from the speakers. They are 120watt Pioneer speakers powered by a 50wx4 Pioneer MP3 head unit with all the bells and whistles and upgraded BOSE 4x6 dash speakers.

Not to long ago I went in a freinds 87 560 sel with the stock system and you can't compare at all.


:D

how are the 4x6's
 

To me it almos seems like the dash speakers are the weakest link with the exception of tweeter location. Like the 6x9 idea. Thanks

6x9's behind the storage pods?
 

Is it possible to make ports for mounting 6x9's behind (closer to windshield) the storage pods in the rear deck?

If this is done, is it also possible to cut a hole under the rear 4x6 pods to make bass ports from the trunk for an audible subwoofer sound from the trunk? Mind you I havent seen the under side of the 4x6's, so its just a theory at this point.

thanks for your help!

Sound improvement for the 380SE
 

I finally settled on a Kenwood powered subwoofer unit, model KSCW62RC. I fabricated a simple mount for it that sets it tight against the inside of the left rear fender in the trunk, right in the left side 'pog hole'. It has a wired remote, and produces a nice tight thumpy bass. This technology doesn't require cutting any sound ports at all. It was the lack of bass that drove me to something other than shelf speakers/subamp, and I didn't want to cut up the package shelf. I plan to add a small amp to augment the output of the head unit, which is a Blaupunkt Denver CD player.:)

I got an updated panasonic cd player headunit, blaupunkt 4x6s in the rear, stock speakers up front and an 800w amp powering my 2 12s in the trunk. It sounds great and it was very economical. It might be a little too much bass for you though.

I tried asking before and got no replies, maybe I'll have better this luck with this thread. It looks like the late model parcel shelfs take a 6 or 6 1/2'" speaker instead of the horrible 4X6 in the early cars. Will a late model shelf fit an old 126 and what year did they change. I think a pair of 6 1/2 would fill in the bottom nicely, I have a 10" sub in the trunk and I have to set the crossover higher than I would like because of the lack of bass that the 4X6's provide.

Bob H.

I am just going thru this as I just bought a 1987 SDL. I chose to put in a new Alpine head unit and replace all the speakers. I got 3.5" for the front (with an adapter) and 5" x 7" plate for the rear deck. The stock rear speakers were 6" with the funny eye socket integral adapter. This adapter compensates for the VERY shallow pocket for speakers. I used a 3/4" plywood block to raise the new plate speakers up so the depth worked. Not real pretty, but I am able to use the original grills which hides everything.

BTW, Plate speakers are just components mounted on a plate, so the woofer and tweater are seperate.

It sounds rich and clear but I am still unhappy with the level of (or lack of) bass. I am now considering a subwoofer for the trunk. What are peoples experience with this? I am trying not to do too much surgery to the car.

I still dont understand why people are putting subwoofers to acquire some bass when a pair of 6x9's neatly put in the back can give you what you need!:rolleyes:

well for some people that's not enough. :D