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I have the basic sound system in my Mercedes, the amp appears to be in the boot (there's a thing that looks like an amp). I fancy installing a subwoofer just to make the sound a bit more rounded, NOT to rattle the windows or annoy the neighbours - I'm a 50 year old IT consultant and I don't wear a cap never mind backwards.
The premium system on some cars came with a sub that was shaped to fit the gap under the boot floor, so I think that would make a nice option for an invisible install. These are available on eBay, and they have a connector with four pins in it - I assume this means it's just a speaker. There is also what appears to be a dedicated amplifier for it also on eBay. If I'm right, then all I'd need to do would be somehow access the audio feed from the amp, wire in a crossover and connect that to the sub amp.
- Am I over-simplifying things?
- I think it would be the same if I wanted to install any sub, wouldn't it? Only there'd be one component instead of two.
- Or is it likely that the OEM sub amp is somehow integrated with the head unit so it won't work?
- If not, then would I be better off with a generic sub amp wired into the correctly-shaped speaker unit?
you'll need to look deeper into your model of car
my 2002 BMW had a dumb headunit essentially, which drove a radio module in the boot.. it had to have a custom out fitted to drive the sub from the radio module
my mate runs a a well known car audio installer, high end stuff, and was the first to do custom merc work on a setup which was all digital a few years back on a brand new model...
OEM systems are more difficult to add too compared to knowledge from back in the day (6x9s on the parcel shelf etc).
Recent experience was adding a powered sub all-in-one unit into my current van. OEM system was more basic than your Mercedes sounds, I had no external amps to worry about. Easiest option for me was taking a split from the speaker feed wire, creating a high-level output that then feeds the signal to the amp for the sub. I used this: https://caraudiocentre.co.uk/products/in-phase-usw300 . Not blow your socks off bass, just enough to add much needed low end. Small enough to position under the front passenger seat in many cars.
Nice. That might be easier because chances are the Merc amp has an ECU and a canbus connection and might need coding somewhere.
Here it is, complete with 12-pin connector..
OEM MERCEDES CLS W218 C218 HARMAN AUTOMOTIVE SUBWOOFER AMPLIFIER A2188201100 | eBay UK
so maybe just the speaker unit is best.
I don't know if I want something under the seat since there's not a lot of room there, but maybe behind one of the rear wheel arches. But it might need a grille? I dunno. TBH it could easily go in the same boot space as the Merc speaker goes.
Ignore, brain fart moment
Ignore, brain fart moment
Well, they had a B grade version of that sub for £65 so I bought it. Now just need to work out how to wire it in.
My XC90 from back in 2002 had a MOST (fibre optic) system - it wouldn't surprise me if your Merc had similar in which case it would might be a 'mare to add bits to.
Now just need to work out how to wire it in.
I see a "are you bored enough to watch me fit this sub" video in your future 😉
Hehehe. I was thinking of a side hustle, perhaps this is it. Watch me plumb the depths of despair as I work on my car, or do DIY.
Thinking about it - what I need is to find the input to the amp (if it's analogue), fit a line level crossover there and send the low frequencies to the sub there. That would be best, if it's possible.
I've got the full H&K system in my car, if there's anything I can do to help give me a shout.
If your head unit has an RCA sub out, that's advantageous.
What does the back of your head unit look like?
Well, they had a B grade version of that sub for £65 so I bought it. Now just need to work out how to wire it in.
It's not a brand I was familiar with but I'm bloody impressed. Front has a grill on it so should be fine at side of boot.
Using RCA from rear of headunit would indeed be best but less likely to find them on a OEM headunit. Plus bugger tearing a dash apart with modern integrated headunits. Was so much easier BITD.
Bonus on mine is Mrs a11y doesn't even know it's there and that I 'wasted' money on pimping the van's stereo 😀
Would better speakers not have been an easier (I know you rarely take the easier) option? I've always been impressed with the sound I get in my 15 plate Octy, especially compared to the Golf I have from 18 months before that has a far worse sound system comparatively.
No, not really. The point of a sub is that it gives you frequencies you just can't get from normal speakers. Even a cheap sub has much lower frequency range than high quality speakers. It's different for home hi-fi, but in a car I think this really helps overcome the road noise. At least, that's what I've read. Plus I have two speakers in each door (which is fairly common) and the little tweeter units aren't usually a standard fit so there's endless faffing about and I'd have to do it four times.
Plus bugger tearing a dash apart with modern integrated headunits.
Yeah. That's why I want to put everything in the boot. There's a battery back there for the power, and the amp is there so I should be able to do it all via the side panels and not disturb the actual dash.
I’m looking into various options for my mini at the moment so this is quite interesting.
When you say there is a speaker in the boot is it already some kind of subwoofer? If so could you not just take the input to that to go into the new powered sub you’ve bought (effectively just the sound signal)? Then you’ll most likely need to route a standalone power cable from the car battery to the powered sub and also a ground wire.
The point of a sub is that it gives you frequencies you just can't get from normal speakers.
This is true, but shit speakers (I have no idea what your current ones are like ... they may be good) will still be shit after you've fitted a sub. I have a boat that has a decent little amp in it and I've been through a couple of upgrades on the speakers as the existing ones have died* - each time the sound has got better and I'm now pretty happy with the JL Audio speakers that in there.
* An easy job on a boat thankfully as boats left on the water for 5 months of the year are a killing field for exposed speakers.
in my opinion, not quite true
with a sub you can usually take the bass out of the midrange speakers and they will behave a lot nicer than before
Plus bugger tearing a dash apart with modern integrated headunits. Was so much easier BITD.
You’re not wrong there. My EcoSport has the standard Ford unit as fitted to Fiesta, Focus, Puma, etc, and which sounds ok for 6Music and playing music from my phone. Even the bass is reasonable, but I had considered an add-on sub, and that one ☝🏼 would be just the ticket, except I don’t have the first idea how to go about fitting it! 🥴
There used to be loads of car audio specialists around, including one in town, but the nearest now is Westbury, if they’re still going, and then there’s fitting costs to consider… 🤷🏼♂️
When you say there is a speaker in the boot is it already some kind of subwoofer?
The amp is in the boot, there's no speaker.
This is true, but shit speakers (I have no idea what your current ones are like ... they may be good) will still be shit after you've fitted a sub.
Maybe, but mine aren't shit as such - and like I said, upgrading speakers is a lot more money and effort.