kinda-newbie clue request - adding a new(er) head unit and speakers. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

driad_98 · #1 03-24-2004, 11:01 PM

Hey there, here's the nitgrit:

When I installed the switches for my SVO conversion, I managed to remove/bury the fader in my 1980 300D (W123). Now the rear speakers don't work, and I'm in the process of installing a new head unit and speakers. Should I just run new speaker wires to all 4 corners? Maybe just the rears, since the fronts are getting signal? Is there a way to bypass the fader to let the JVC's on-board fader do the task?

Also, the new stereo doesn't appear to have an 'antennae' wire. Any work around other than wiring it to switched or accessory power? Just crossing my i's and dotting my t's. Thanks for any help!

Can hardly wait for some (admittedly low, hehe, 160W compared to 48W) power and good (? Polk 5.25") speakers.

Cheers!
Ash

anthonyb · #2 03-27-2004, 12:25 PM

I would just rewire the speakers, although if you are going to rewire the rears, rewire all of them. The wiring going to/from the fader is kind of unusual, and you might get some weird sound effects if half are on the stock circuit and half are not. Also, be prepared to switch the polarity of some of the speakers until you are happy with the sound - in my 300E I suspect that one side is switched re: the other side, but it sounds fine to me so I never bothered to change it.

(I just connected everything in mine to the stock wiring - front channel direct to front speakers, rear channel to the fader in the middle position)

I think wiring the antenna to accessory should be okay, but you may want to check with someone else. I think the antenna lead was only a turn-on signal, not the main power source, but I could be wrong.

driad_98 · #3 03-27-2004, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the response! I did some clever cutting and pulling and managed to run new wire to the rears, clean out the old horsehair from the cushions and re-pad the rear seats with an old leaky therma-rest. Upon inspection, I managed to remove all of the old speaker wiring, save the front speaker wires. The whole fader non-sense is gone-daddy-gone. I saved the front wires because it looked like a big ass job to get at them. There was no pulling through to be done (too many turns and cable ties).

Here's another question for ya, if you please... The front speakers are tiny, and the (used) ones I picked up are a little larger. Will they sound alright if they're not fully seated into the dash? I'm certain they'll sound better than the (original) old ones, and if I'm dissatisfied, I can just slap smaller ones in... what's your guess? I'll finish it in a few hours, so I'll let you know!

Ash