[derkunstler]

After dealing with popping audio I finally decided to upgrade the forward speakers. I chose a pair of kenwoods, rated to 100 watts with a max of 300. I got them from crutchfield. Installation was straight forward and fairly easy. Though you do have to mod the adaptors a little. The sound quality is better now.

 

[focus805]

Those speakers look like a good alternative, reasonably priced. What do you mean by modding the adapters? Thanks --

 

[derkunstler]

Those speakers look like a good alternative, reasonably priced. What do you mean by modding the adapters? Thanks --

They are quite nice. They were on sale and the quality is excellent. Well Anything is better than the OEM Merc speakers. Good Gawd. In regards to the modding, the adapters that come included with the speakers from Crutchfield are universal fit for euro autos. However, there are three tabs that need to be snipped in order the speaker to sit flush within the adapter. A small hole will also need to be drilled in the side of the adapter to allow for the connection cable to fit through. The OEM speakers feature a top mounted cable slot. On the Kenwood, it will be necessary to run the cable from the inside of the speaker and out through the hole to the connector. All in all it took me about an hour to install the speakers. The most time was consumed taking the door cards off. The kenwood would be a good fit for the rear cabin speaker too. At some point I may add a woofer but that is a lot of work and I am not sure if I want to go through all of that right now. Though I assume that the Aux battery could be used as opposed to hooking crap up to the engine bay. The Kenwoods allow you to crank the bass up at least a little bit versus the popping and cracking from the OEM Merc speakers. Which if course will only blow out after a few plays. SPEAKER LINK: Kenwood Speakers


I have gone through 4 OEM mercedes speakers. All of them blew out after playing some Mcrad.

 

[focus805]

They are quite nice. They were on sale and the quality is excellent. Well Anything is better than the OEM Merc speakers. Good Gawd. In regards to the modding, the adapters that come included with the speakers from Crutchfield are universal fit for euro autos. However, there are three tabs that need to be snipped in order the speaker to sit flush within the adapter. A small hole will also need to be drilled in the side of the adapter to allow for the connection cable to fit through. The OEM speakers feature a top mounted cable slot. On the Kenwood, it will be necessary to run the cable from the inside of the speaker and out through the hole to the connector. All in all it took me about an hour to install the speakers. The most time was consumed taking the door cards off. The kenwood would be a good fit for the rear cabin speaker too. At some point I may add a woofer but that is a lot of work and I am not sure if I want to go through all of that right now. Though I assume that the Aux battery could be used as opposed to hooking crap up to the engine bay. The Kenwoods allow you to crank the bass up at least a little bit versus the popping and cracking from the OEM Merc speakers. Which if course will only blow out after a few plays. SPEAKER LINK: Kenwood Speakers


I have gone through 4 OEM mercedes speakers. All of them blew out after playing some Mcrad.

Many thanks

 

[BlauBlitzen2016]

It is my opinion as an audiophile that the Metris is too noisy a space for improved speakers to really be worth the cost. How is the detail? Are they more punchy or sparkly? Any improvement in soundstage? I feel the Metris’s is far too narrow as a default, but I think that is the result of speaker placement.

 

[derkunstler]

It is my opinion as an audiophile that the Metris is too noisy a space for improved speakers to really be worth the cost. How is the detail? Are they more punchy or sparkly? Any improvement in soundstage? I feel the Metris’s is far too narrow as a default, but I think that is the result of speaker placement.

I am no audio expert but they sound fine to me. The bass is good and the sound is clear/clean and much better than the stock speakers. The speakers fit without any issue at all. The lower frequency has been improved a bit. On the old speakers the lower tons were just washed out or arrived as pops. These speakers don't do any of that. They were not crazy expensive. Only $99 at the moment on Crutchfield, and they come with adapters.

 

[KEM]

I've always been happy with the sound from the factory speakers, but the left side is already blown out so I'll be needing to replace those. Thanks for sharing. Did you have to replace any clips from the door panel?

 

[focus805]

I've always been happy with the sound from the factory speakers, but the left side is already blown out so I'll be needing to replace those. Thanks for sharing. Did you have to replace any clips from the door panel?

That's my issue there is (or I think I detect) a minor buzz developing on the driver's side.

 

[KEM]

I just realized I have a new, unopened pair of Pioneer TS-G1620F 6.5" speakers that I bought maybe 3-4 years ago for a different van but never opened them. I tried checking out reviews but it's still unclear how good they might be. If they are at all better than the factory speakers then I won't have a problem. Anyone know how much power the factory head unit's put out? I couldn't find that anywhere.

 

[derkunstler]

I've always been happy with the sound from the factory speakers, but the left side is already blown out so I'll be needing to replace those. Thanks for sharing. Did you have to replace any clips from the door panel?

You’re just gonna blow them out again. definitely worth upgrading them to something a little bit better.. stock speakers are like a piece of foam and some glue. They’re terrible! Upgrade, you won’t regret it.

 

[derkunstler]

I just realized I have a new, unopened pair of Pioneer TS-G1620F 6.5" speakers that I bought maybe 3-4 years ago for a different van but never opened them. I tried checking out reviews but it's still unclear how good they might be. If they are at all better than the factory speakers then I won't have a problem. Anyone know how much power the factory head unit's put out? I couldn't find that anywhere.

I don’t know, I have no idea. I don’t know much about audio stuff.. I just upgraded the speakers because the stock ones are so bad. I would like to put I a woofer of some type in the back. i’m definitely going to change the speaker in the back out at some point.

 

[KEM]

You’re just gonna blow them out again. definitely worth upgrading them to something a little bit better.. stock speakers are like a piece of foam and some glue. They’re terrible! Upgrade, you won’t regret it.

So, I changed the right side (the good side) with the Pioneer. Huge difference, and the bad news is, the factory speakers sound MUCH better. The bass is worlds better. So, I definitely won't look for the factory speakers, but I have to find something much better than those Pioneers. So Derkunstler, how exactly do those Kenwoods sound?

 

[KEM]

I don’t know, I have no idea. I don’t know much about audio stuff.. I just upgraded the speakers because the stock ones are so bad. I would like to put I a woofer of some type in the back. i’m definitely going to change the speaker in the back out at some point.

Something else I just realized is that the door speakers are a single speaker only, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. The tweeters are already built into the pillars, which is a much better location anyway. Really I think the stock speakers have excellent sound, yet they are crappy quality. I doubt anyone makes a decent after-market single woofer that would replace this one. I'll have to research this a bit more.

 

[derkunstler]

Something else I just realized is that the door speakers are a single speaker only, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. The tweeters are already built into the pillars, which is a much better location anyway. Really I think the stock speakers have excellent sound, yet they are crappy quality. I doubt anyone makes a decent after-market single woofer that would replace this one. I'll have to research this a bit more.

OK

 

[BlauBlitzen2016]

Something else I just realized is that the door speakers are a single speaker only, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. The tweeters are already built into the pillars, which is a much better location anyway. Really I think the stock speakers have excellent sound, yet they are crappy quality. I doubt anyone makes a decent after-market single woofer that would replace this one. I'll have to research this a bit more.

While multiple drivers can help on detail and separation, if the driver is good enough multiples are not always needed. For instance, I have two units I use for personal listening: Sennheiser HD58X jubilees headphones for when I’m home, and KZ ZAS Pro IEMs for when I exercise.

The KZs use 8 drivers (7BAs and 1DD) per earbud- 16 total- and can be driven quite easily out of anything. While easier to drive than their more expensive HD600s, the Sennheisers are a relatively powerhungry single driver per ear (it takes twice the volume out of my FIIO M11 Pro’s 3.5 than the KZs do out of the 4.4).

They both sound excellent, and if I really had to pick, I’d say the Sennheisers are better, although the sound is quite different. What I like about the KZs is light weight and relatively cheap $75 price (vs the $190ish HD58X) make them ideal for sweaty exercise- if they get water logged I can buy more.

Not that this is a headphone review, but they both have interchangeable cords and are balanced output capable.

The point is, multiple drivers is not always better.

 

[LoWi Metris]

Thanks for this!
Honest opinion: it seems like the 6.5 and 6 3/4 both work for the side doors. If you had to re-purchase these, would you stick to the 6 3/4?