A client from Damascus recently contacted the Westminster Speed and Sound team to inquire about upgrading her 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 stereo system. Like most cars, the stereo didn’t play loud enough and lacked the clarity and detail it could have. After inspecting the vehicle and discussing the client’s preference for listening to music, we developed an upgrade solution that would deliver a fantastic sound. Let’s look at the work we performed.
Mercedes-Benz Radio Integration
The first step in upgrading this audio system was to tackle the challenge of extracting a clean audio signal from the factory-installed source unit. Mercedes, BMW, and many other European vehicles use a fiber-optic digital connection system called MOST to transfer signals between the radio and the amplifier. We installed a mObridge DA.G2 Entry digital preamp in the trunk to handle this issue. The mObridge preamp provides full-bandwidth TOSLINK output, which we connected to the DSP-equipped amplifier powering the system.
Speaker Upgrade Adds Detail
This generation of Mercedes-Benz cars uses a three-way speaker system in the front. There is a set of woofers in the firewall, then midrange drivers and tweeters in the doors. We replaced the firewall woofers with a set of Ci5 S200FM 8-inch woofers and mounted them in Helix CFMK200 MB.1S adapters that are designed specifically for these applications.
Next, we upgraded the door speakers with Helix CI7M100FMS3 four-inch midrange speakers and a set of CI7T20FMS 0.75-inch tweeters. The final speaker upgrade was a set of CI3C1002FMS3 four-inch coaxial speakers for the rear locations. All the speakers bolt in place using Helix mounting adapters, so nothing needed to be modified.
DSP Amplifier Powers Mercedes-Benz Stereo System Upgrade
The heart of the new sound system is an eight-channel Helix VEIGHTDSP amplifier. The amp is mounted in the cargo area on a sheet of custom-cut expanded PVC. The amp includes a powerful digital signal processor that we used to filter the full-range audio signal to the three pairs of front speakers and the rear fill drivers. We applied signal delays and used our audio measurement microphone to compensate for the vehicle cabin’s acoustic signature. The result is a well-focused, natural-sounding audio system that sounds great with any music.
Baltimore’s Mercedes-Benz Stereo Specialists
It took us two full days to upgrade this Mercedes-Benz C300 stereo system, including the processor calibration. When the client returned to Westminster Speed and Sound, she hopped in for a listen and was immediately blown away by the clarity of the new system. She was thrilled!
If the stereo system in your Mercedes doesn’t put a smile on your face when you crank up the volume, drop by WSS and speak with a member of our award-winning team. If you can’t get to the store during regular business hours, give us a call or use our quote request form to start a conversation about upgrading your vehicle.
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