Classical music speakers - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dtf · #1 12-13-2003, 07:45 PM

I am looking to upgrade the stock speakers in the '94 wagon and put in a CD changer too. Does anyone have a favorite speaker that can handle the huge range and complexity of someone like Beethoven - who's birthday is Tuesday the 16th by the way.

AustinsCE · #2 12-13-2003, 07:47 PM

I just installed me some Infinity Kappa in my car, sound pretty superb. I havent tried much classical, but they do sound good.

pj67coll · #3 12-14-2003, 01:05 AM

That's a question I've thought of for some time as I'm principally a classical music lover. I think the huge range of volume and sound complexity in classical/symphonic music makes it hard to find good speakers, or maby even just a good car stereo in general. I expect his to be a particular problem if I ever manage to buy a diesel.

- Peter.

rickg · #4 12-14-2003, 02:33 AM

I listen to alot of classical, and have Polk Audio's in the rear with a powered SAS Bazoka Tube subwoofer, and a matching slave tube in the trunk:
http://www.sasbazooka.com/productAutoAmplifiedBTsEL.asp?id=9

Sounds great to me. I love good Bach organ music, and that really shows a speakers' weaknesses. Good bass reproduction is a must

I'm still using the factory speaker up front for now. Some opera, especially a good soprano, sometimes sounds a bit thin, so I need to replace the fronts. I'm thinking i need a mid-bass too, to fill in better. Just need to figure out where to put it. Don't want all the bass in the rear.

bjcsc · #5 12-14-2003, 09:02 AM

All recorded music, even classical, is compressed to within standard frequencies when it is recorded. All good speakers (infinity, polk, etc.) are designed to excel in those frequencies. Any would suffice.

However, if you are truly interested in hearing it as it was heard by those who wrote it, keep your old speakers and buy this instead:

Interesting Alternative

Kuan · #6 12-14-2003, 09:03 AM

Don't expect to hear nuances below the noise floor of your listening environment. Don't think you're gonna hear the cannons in 1812 at 140db either.

Probably the best resolution you're going to get is with a ribbon tweeter. I have yet to listen to a car stereo which even comes have as close to my kid's stereo, but you can try.

Lebenz · #7 12-14-2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kuan
Don't expect to hear nuances below the noise floor of your listening environment.

That reminds me, I recently had the driver’s door cover off the 400 and found there is a coating of sound insulating felt mounted between the vapor barrier and the inside door panel. I don’t remember my 300 having this felt. Does anyone know if this felt is on all 124 chassis?

Anyway, the reason I mention it is that by lowering the background noise, you’ll go a long way to improving the sound quality inside the cabin.

This said, I thought MB Quart was the preferred speaker???

AustinsCE · #8 12-14-2003, 04:19 PM

I think my CE had something like that. I had to take everything out tho, i got speakers 1" too big.

dtf · #9 12-14-2003, 05:06 PM

I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to audio technology. What is a 'ribbon tweeter'? Thanks for the input everybody. I've learned a lot just from these replies. The major reason I want to get a CD changer is so my 2 kids, 3 and 5 years old (who are always in the car with me) can listen and read along with CD/books. The 3 year old is deaf but she has a little residual hearing and can follow along fairly well (for a deaf kid) with no other distractions.

Kuan · #10 12-14-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtf
What is a 'ribbon tweeter'?

A ribbon tweeter is a speaker which uses a ribbon to move the air instead of a cone. The ribbons generally are extremely low mass so they move real quick and don't impart any coloration to the sound like paper, berylium, kevlar, aluminum, or other materials used to make regular speakers.

rickg · #11 12-15-2003, 10:54 AM

My bro'-in-law had ribbon tweeters in his car many years ago. They were awesome in reproduction, but were actually a bit over powering in a car. You had to turn the treble control way down to make it sound good. But like I say, that was years ago(early 80's), and maybe there's more to choose from now. And mounting location would make a diff too. His were mounted right in the front doors, pointed right at you.
Yes, MBQuarts are good stuff!
My SD is pretty well insulated from road noise, but probably not as well as newer cars. But I'm wondering about DTF's wagon. Does it have the usual station wagon rumble? Seems every station wagon I've ridden in have more road rumble eminating from the back then a sedan.

el presidente · #12 12-15-2003, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lebenz

This said, I thought MB Quart was the preferred speaker???

I had 4 MBQuarts installed in my 300CE a couple years ago. Happy with them

I also had the subs replaced, yanked that crappy Becker radio (it needed rebuilding anyway) and installed a Clarion proaudio hi-power deck and added the six-cd changer in the trunk.

Sounds great with all kinds of music

Lebenz · #13 12-15-2003, 02:40 PM

This thread is really makin me itch for a new music do for Stella!

Dang it!

Hmmm my birthday is coming up....

:p

dtf · #14 12-15-2003, 03:47 PM

Are the stock Becker radios like in my '94 crap? The cassette deck doesn't work anymore but the station reception is good.

el presidente · #15 12-15-2003, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtf
Are the stock Becker radios like in my '94 crap? The cassette deck doesn't work anymore but the station reception is good.

Same thing happened to mine (I had the 1432). Tape player started eating all the tapes and several of the backlights had gone out.