R129 and bass sound/speakers
 

Hi all,

Anyone knows how to get decent bass sound in a R129. I have an Alpine IVA-D300 installed, but the bass sound is lacking using the original door mounted speakers. I did see in a previous post that there is a 2 vs. 4ohms issue, but really couldn’t figure out how to handle this or if it would help in any way. Unfortunately my 500SL didn’t come with the Bose sub.

According to the following web page: http://www.bose.eu/EU/en/Images/Mercedes-Benz%20SL_Model%20Year%201993-1999_EN_tcm42-6225.pdf, it is possible to install two 6,5cm speakers in the back. But I suspect that you won’t get much bass sound from such small speaker.
Another way could be to install some of these small “under seat” active subwoofers, from Alpine, Clarion or Blaupunkt etc. But I have no idea how much space there is under the seat. The height of these units are between 2.87 – 3.5” or 9 – 10cm plus a little extra space so the speaker don’t touch the seat.

Any experience...?

CR

I own a 1991 SL. I cut holes in the lids of the two rear storage compartments for 8 inch speakers. Yes, it does make you inelligible for concourse, but it adds lots of base. Be sure to select a raw speaker for about 1 to 1.5 cubic feet sealed box. Fill the compartments with speaker acoustic fiberglass. The low freq original drivers in the front of my car are 2 ohms. I rebuilt the internal MB crossovers so that the front door woofs aren't driven much below 60Hz and and mid's cross at about 3kHZ. I left the tweeters alone. If your car is newer (1995 ^ ), you may not have this option.

Space already taken... Alpine is more than a dashboard unit
 

Thank you tecqboy,

I have thought about doing so; but since the Alpine IVA-D300 consist of an additional DVD drive for video and navigation and a separate tuner and power amp, the storage compartment is already filled with these components. The unit in the dashboard is only a 7” lcd screen and a cd drive. By the way, I don’t think I have to change the crossover, since the speakers in the door is not really giving any bass sound in the first place.

So back to square one – any experience with the flat active sub for under the seat placement, and also any idea if is room enough under the seat…?

I have a 94 SL320 and replaced my front speakers with some Panasonics from Circuit City that I found using their online configurator. It thumps pretty well now!

The area under both seats is already filled to the max with many of the electronic components of the vehicle as well as the seat motor mechanisms. It's easy to pull out the cushion and have a look around. I've been there. Your only choice would seem to be some kind of after martket sub which could lay across / on top of the the storage compartments. Be sure to lash it down well.

With those that have the SL Bose how does it sound? Especially that sub...any good? Looks pretty unique.

I have the Bose in my SL600 and it sounds like crap! I'm in the process of having it changed over. The video system is installed, now working on the audio.

I have listened to the Bose extensively in a friend's SL and although it doesn't sound awful to me, I prefer a quality after market set-up. The Bose seems "artificial" and "colored". It's not irritating, but sounds over equalized in an effort to get the electronics to compensate for speakers which are either too small or badly positioned. Granted, it is a convertable with no rear deck or trunk to install large speakers in. We should also remember that any system will sound much different when the top is off. In the end, it's all a matter of personal acoustical taste.

"All highs, no lows, must be Bose"

I have some Diamond Audio speakers in the doors, left the Bose bass unit behind the drivers seat there. I have an Eclipse cd/radio in the dash and an Eclipse amp in the trunk behind the windscreen cover. This is a tremendous improvement over the stock radio and speakers, and didn't take up valuable real estate. I mainly listen to jazz, and r&b vocals, old school. I think some setups may be overkill for these size cars, and with the top down you'll lose a lot of sound anyway.

New door speaker may do the job...
 

Wow… thank you for so many great responses.

I’m an “old” man, so I’m sure a fortune spent on high powered speakers isn’t worth it. I have a brought taste in music, but when driving, I mainly listen to the old stuff like Led Zeppelin, Santana, Stones, and Fleetwood Mac. Sometime it’s opera and easy listening. My car is not a concert hall, just a mood extension. Anyway… a little bass would be great.

Powerpig, if you’re seriously consider removing your Bose sub… any change for a good deal…? The sound spectrum is fully adjustable with the Alpine – except when the speakers to carry the sound isn’t there – so I’m sure I will be able to make the Bose sound okay. The Alpine can be adjusted in so many ways, even change the delay in each individual speaker, so you get perfect surround sound picture when watching a movie while driving… :)

I will remove the passenger seat tonight to see if there’s room enough, if it doesn’t snow too much. But I guess you’re right, too little space available. Also to consider, that all the motors and mechanics for the seat, moves as you adjust the seats positions.

Haven’t tried the top down yet… looking very much forward to do so, when spring arrives sometime mid April. Still safe under the hardtop. But I’m sure music won’t be the most important thing when “topless” driving:silly:

If they can't do anything with the Bose sub, I'll be pulling it out. I'll let you know.

Tecqboy

Got the seat out last night… you’re right, no space available. Mainly because there is a plastic cover protecting the different components that takes up a lot of space from dust and dirt etc..

So now I’m back to either the Bose, if I can get it from somewhere cheap. Saw the following by the way at eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Bose-Premium-OEM-R129-bass-subwoofer-enclosure_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38646QQihZ017QQitemZ270082393428QQrdZ1

Or reorganize the Alpine units and do my own build-in cabinet in the back, or just replace the door speaker with some better speakers.

Thank you again for all the good advices.

Rud

tunes
 

Funny ,maybe is because I'm older now, but I think the Bose Acoustimass system that came in my SL is more than adequate, crystal clear without distortion, the bass speaker behind the driver seat thumps my seat enough and the other six speaker distributes the sound evenly around the cabin with or without the top. I don't care to rattle the windows on the car next to mine at the red light, I drive a Mercedes, if I decide to let the rest of the world hear what I'm listening to, I'll get a rice burner and stuffed full of amps and speakers so it'll sound like an old Tarzan movie going down the street

Guys

A topic close to my heart, as I'm looking to extend the poor bass response also. Where is this Bose enclosure placed? Beneath the rear seats?

Lea