C63 stereo upgrade

[NorthernBoy]

I picked up my C63 today, and in the end had to take one without the HK system. I'm happy to spend a bit of money improving what's in there, as long as it's done properly, and is not in the thousands of pounds, is there any decent halfway house between standard and HK, or any reasonably priced aftermarket HK fitment?

[ecain63]

Had you asked for HK?

[NorthernBoy]

I was picking from pre-specced cars, and had to end up choosing between the exact colur I wanted, and having the HK stereo, if I wanted the deal at the right price, but also to get a car this year (first build slot for my choice of spec would have been next year sometime). Unfortunately this meant taking a car with the base model stereo.

[rassi]

I have done this installation in my C220 and current C300, replacing the front speakers and tweeters with the Harmon Kardon items - the rear door speaker replacement is much more involved but a very worthwhile upgrade IMHO.

Took me about an hour.

Good write-up of how to remove the door panel here:

http://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w204/325611-diy-...

And a thread (photos no longer available), with part numbers and how-to here:

http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/304662-fron...

[Twincharge]

rassi said:

I have done this installation in my C220 and current C300, replacing the front speakers and tweeters with the Harmon Kardon items - the rear door speaker replacement is much more involved but a very worthwhile upgrade IMHO.

Took me about an hour.

Good write-up of how to remove the door panel here:

http://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w204/325611-diy-...

And a thread (photos no longer available), with part numbers and how-to here:

http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/304662-fron...

What a fantastic write-up - thanks (can you fix pics though?).

Seriously though, has anyone actually compared the stock Audio system to the HK system? I ask because my Merc dealer swore there was very little between them.

I too had to settle for the stock Audio system, not because I did not want the HK system though. I had specced it, then two weeks before I was supposed to take delivery of my C63 the dealer rang me to tell me that they had a mix up and the email asking for HK was never picked up.

It was either cancel, re-order and wait another 4 months, or take the vehicle without HK. A no brainer for me, I needed the car.

I was dissapointed with the stock Audio system though, especially after coming from a BOSE system in my Porsche.

Edited by Twincharge on Monday 7th October 13:56

Edited by Twincharge on Monday 7th October 22:11

[NorthernBoy]

Twincharge said:

I was dissapointed with the stock Audio system though, especially after coming from a BOSE system in my Porsche.

Edited by Twincharge on Monday 7th October 13:56

I had Bose in my 911, and the upgraded stereo (bose too?) in my RS4. Maybe I'm just being over-influenced by others on the web, but if I can get better quality for a few hundred pounds, without mauling the car's interior, then I'd like to give it a try. Well, I'd actually like to pay a competent and conscientious priofessional to do more than have a try. Speakers aren't expensive on their own, and if this is where the biggest difference comes from (loudness is not a big factor), then I'll try this way first.

[NorthernBoy]

rassi said:

I have done this installation in my C220 and current C300, replacing the front speakers and tweeters with the Harmon Kardon items - the rear door speaker replacement is much more involved but a very worthwhile upgrade IMHO.

Took me about an hour.

Good write-up of how to remove the door panel here:

http://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w204/325611-diy-...

And a thread (photos no longer available), with part numbers and how-to here:

http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/304662-fron...

Thanks very much. I'll not try it mysellf, as there's bound to be someone out there who's done this 50 times, knows where to press, and how hard, and who will do it better than I can in half the time.

I just need to find them...

[marky1]

I took the standard audio system on mine, honestly I think it's fine. This was in Europe as well where everything is basically an option and I had about 15,000 of options. Just can't see the point in the HK, don't think there is so much of a difference? I'd see how you get on before you do anything.

[Twincharge]

marky1 said:

I took the standard audio system on mine, honestly I think it's fine. This was in Europe as well where everything is basically an option and I had about 15,000 of options. Just can't see the point in the HK, don't think there is so much of a difference? I'd see how you get on before you do anything.

This is what I am hearing, that there is not much difference between the stock and HK systems.

There are plenty of posts here where others have voiced disappointment in the HK system in a W204.

Maybe I need to give it time to run the speakers in, time will tell.

[Twincharge]

I've done some reading up thanks to Vic, and it would seem the weak point in the Audio 20 stock system is the poor quality speakers.

Apparently installing the HK/Aftermarket speakers pays dividends.

[rassi]

Twincharge said:

I've done some reading up thanks to Vic, and it would seem the weak point in the Audio 20 stock system is the poor quality speakers.

Apparently installing the HK/Aftermarket speakers pays dividends.

If you compare the standard speakers and tweeters to the HK items, you will notice that the latter are much more substantial.

As said before, it really is very easy to do, following the instructions I posted earlier. The only tool necessary is a rivet gun and it would be easier to do with a trim removal tool but a wrapped wedge can be used too, to take off the door panels.

The tweeters are a 5 minute job, no tools necessary, and that alone improves treble quite a lot.

[goldblum]

Speakers (e.g. JL) and an amp (e.g. Genesis) professionally fitted would cost about 1k. Sound would be excellent. Want more? Fit a sound processor (e.g. Audison), cost about £600 more.

[NorthernBoy]

Thanks. Can anyone recommend a company that will do the work well (i.e. no chance of tool marks or skew-whiff refitments afterwards) in London?

I don't mind paying a bit above normal for someone that I know will treat the car well.

[findtomdotcom]

Can't recommend these guys enough: http://www.comand.co.uk/

When I looked into upgrading my woeful speakers I rang lots of companies. Command do a few packages that offer either just a speaker upgrade or an amp and speakers.

Anyone who likes music will want to change the speakers in a C63. Both the HK and the Std system I are appalling. HK is better but still needs a better amp.

But that's just my opinion, and don't forget in the end I sold my car and went back to Porsche (Bose ).

[NorthernBoy]

I asked for a quote from them for fitting upgraded speakers, but unfortunately their response was to suggest a £3,000 speaker, amp, and wiring upgrade.

I''ll give that a miss.

[897sma]

I have the command with std stereo in mine and can't fault it. Better than the A4 I had before with Bose and my brothers A7 also with Bose or the Discovery I currently have with Harmon Kardon. Better too than the premium Linn system I had in my DB9. Most of those who knock the std system in the C63 have either never had one or not set it up properly.

[findtomdotcom]

897sma said:

I have the command with std stereo in mine and can't fault it. Better than the A4 I had before with Bose and my brothers A7 also with Bose or the Discovery I currently have with Harmon Kardon. Better too than the premium Linn system I had in my DB9. Most of those who knock the std system in the C63 have either never had one or not set it up properly.

Well, I have both owned one (mini review on speedmonkey right now), and understand quite a bit about set up of audio equipment. Frankly, how anyone with ears could think that the std stereo or the "upgraded" version from Mercedes rates as any kind of stereo is beyond me. It is hands down the worst sound I have ever, in 20 years of buying cars, ever had the misfortune to hear. The sound is so harsh it hurt my ears. That and the total lack of any detail, was inexcusable in a high end car.

Buy a better system built by experts, that is the only answer to a C63. Well, that and buying a different car...

[897sma]

findtomdotcom said:

Frankly, how anyone with ears could think that the std stereo or the "upgraded" version from Mercedes rates as any kind of stereo is beyond me. It is hands down the worst sound I have ever, in 20 years of buying cars, ever had the misfortune to hear. The sound is so harsh it hurt my ears.

Really!? Can I politely suggest that your hearing has lost some of its range and clarity over the past 20 years. If you truly believe that any 1990's manufacturers stereo was anywhere those currently fitted then I would (once again politely) suggest that you get checked by an audiologist, especially as you are experiencing ear pain.

[NorthernBoy]

897sma said:

Really!? Can I politely suggest that your hearing has lost some of its range and clarity over the past 20 years.

A good point, well made.

He seems to have something of a bee in his bonnet about Mercedes at the moment. As someone who was grateful as hell to see the back of a 911 for a C63, his cast iron certainty about going the other way is quite amusing.

Edited by NorthernBoy on Thursday 10th October 22:02

[Twincharge]

findtomdotcom said:

Well, I have both owned one (mini review on speedmonkey right now), and understand quite a bit about set up of audio equipment. Frankly, how anyone with ears could think that the std stereo or the "upgraded" version from Mercedes rates as any kind of stereo is beyond me. It is hands down the worst sound I have ever, in 20 years of buying cars, ever had the misfortune to hear. The sound is so harsh it hurt my ears. That and the total lack of any detail, was inexcusable in a high end car.

I have to agree with you, I am experiencing the same thing with my Audio 20 system, the music sounds terrible and does hurt my ears after a while and I have to switch it off. It's just so harsh sounding. The thing is, I'm not even a fussy person when it comes to a sound system. I would be perfectly happy with a budget BUT well balanced sound system in a car.

I used to build custom multi speaker/amp sound systems in cars in my young years, I was the first on the block to install a bass tube before boxes became popular. Remember the Bazooka and Pyle tubes?

However, that does mean that 897sma is wrong either. No two cars are the same, fact.

I remember reading a thread on another forum where a dude swapped out all his Audio 20 speakers to Infinity Kappa 60.9cs components. He was disappointed with the results and said it did not sound much different. It was only when he accessed the 'engineers' hidden menu that he discovered the digital equaliser and had a play. The results according to him was 'massive', and he wondered if he could have got away with just tweaking the digital equaliser and leaving the original speakers in place.

Maybe not all Audio 20 systems have been tweaked correctly? I for one will try to access mine and find out, worth the try.

I'm sticking with my C63 though no matter what, no great factory audio system could persuade me to look at another car.

Edited by Twincharge on Thursday 10th October 22:07