Stereo & Speakers Upgrade - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

450sl4me · #1 07-19-2004, 02:29 PM

Alright everybody, I need your advice. I want to upgrade the stereo in my 1980 450sl. I want a decent stereo/cd player, not too flashy, not too expensive. I want to upgrade the 4" speakers in the dash. Any advice there? And last, what is a good set of speakers for the rear, and how should they be mounted as to not cut things up too much? Thanks for your advice in advance.

Richard1 · #2 07-20-2004, 12:09 PM

Nackamichi cd-40z (although the lower model, CD-35 may work fine too. Boston Accustic 4 inch round speakers fit perfectly. Good luck. I have yet to see an aftermarket install of a Cd player that looked good in an SL. If yours has a tape-deck, consider just replacing speakers and using a portable CD player adapter.

DavidSoine · #3 07-20-2004, 03:14 PM

Do the BA speakers actually sound better than stock? I'm serious. I take it you mean the FX4 speakers?

We're dying here for sound quality since we put in our rear seat (& lost our rear speakers).

best,

Dave

450sl4me · #4 07-20-2004, 03:35 PM

David,

Where and how did you have your rear speakers mounted? Also, what kind and size of speakers did you have back there?

DavidSoine · #5 07-20-2004, 03:48 PM

They were on the rear "parcel shelf," pointing up. Installed by one of the POs, basically cut two holes in the shelf (it's plywood), installed speakers and grills, and ran the wiring to the front somehow. The grills said "Sony" and they were about 8" round, I think.

There is plenty of space under the parcel shelf, FWIW.

best,

Dave

450sl4me · #6 07-20-2004, 03:56 PM

Do you think it's best to have them pointing up, or mount them on the back shelf so they can point toward the front? Was your sound quality pretty good?

DavidSoine · #7 07-20-2004, 04:42 PM

I don't see how you could point speakers toward the front without adding an enclosure of some kind.

Frankly I thought the speakers in the shelf, pointing up, worked very well. I'm "no expert", tho. The nice thing about the rear shelf is that you have plenty of space for big speakers as well as a decent enclosure, reasonably well sealed up.

best,

Dave

Richard1 · #8 07-21-2004, 12:08 PM

I should have mentioned why I recommend the Nakamichi...it has an option to come in Amber lighting that matches your dash lights on the the MB....most others come in Green.

Robert Mowbray · #9 07-21-2004, 01:26 PM

Thinking of doing the same with mine. Check out :Anyone install speakers in the rear of their 107? post on this forum. It has pix.

Richard1 · #10 07-21-2004, 01:42 PM

David, I installed a rear seat as well. There are other places you could install speakers: sub-woofers under the front seats, the doors, beween the rear seats and if you got real creative, and perhaps you could simply insert the speakers on the door side-pockets and put in discreate cut-outs.

The four-inch speakers I installed were the BA FX4s. There is a set on ebay. No, the difference wasn't dramatic (stock SL speakers were Blaupunkt, and not all that bad).

I simply do not believe it matters if your speakers are pointing up or front the SL.

DavidSoine · #11 07-21-2004, 02:17 PM

You mean the "POLK AUDIO FX4" set? Scary...

There is a set of CX4s...would they drop in?

For rear speakers someday I will install them in the side bolsters. Seems like a perfect area to package them with the seats in there.

best,

Dave

ctaylor738 · #12 07-21-2004, 07:04 PM

Here are some posts on the subject including my plans to have "removable" speakers in the back:

Yet Another Question about Rear Speakers

Anyone install speakers in the rear of their 107?

107 (SL) Rear speaker placement

bobw · #13 07-22-2004, 03:47 AM

I recently fitted a Becker Mexico radio/CD unit. The styling of it matches the rest of the dash really well, it lights up amber and it sounds good. Recommended.

--
bobw
1983 380SL
1991 BMW 735iSE

450sl4me · #14 07-22-2004, 09:51 AM

Bob,

Could you post a picture? What was the cost of the Becker unit?

450sl4me · #15 07-23-2004, 11:07 AM

Chuck's post got me to lookinbg on Crutchfield's but left me with a question:

How hard is the install of a new head unit, two 4" speakers in front, and the install of those boxes w/ a couple 6X9's? I imagine the new head unti is not too bad, the 4" speakers not too bad, but how about doing the two new speakers to the back? That seems like the hard part. I'm not the most mechanically skilled in the world! How hard a job is it?