Poll: Do you have the upgraded sound system? - Page 3

**pjgraham86** · 02-04-2008

I've been reading these posts with interest. I've had my SLK350 for two weeks and having read these posts I tried to listen to the rear centre spekers (beside the storage bin) and the small speakers beside the seat belt hooks. I can't hear any sound coming out of these on any of the CDs I've tried. I have the Comand and HK system. Is it the case, as bclark suggested, that some recordings are simply not formatted for surround sound ? Any other thoughts ?

Peter

Peter

clu1234 · 02-05-2008

I have HK, too. Quite frankly, the stereo system in my SLK ranks among worst of all auto stereos I've had. I've given up on trying to decide whether any sound comes out of the "surround" speakers at all. Worse yet, while there's no audible music coming out of them, I hear clear hissing sound. I love having built-in navigation and everything, but this HK is such a disappointment (and the navigation interface, too)... Too bad for an otherwise near-perfect car.

**smoothbnzf4n4tc** · 02-05-2008

According to worldcarfans, the facelift r171 gets a new sound system. HK Logic 7 500 watt as opposed to 380 watt for prefacelift. Now I must admit, to an ignorant like me, 500>380 meaning louder sound. Those in the know, please explain!

Torchlight · 08-19-2008

I have the HK Logic 7 System and I am very happy with it. However, I am bringing the car in to MB to have a speaker buzz issue checked out. The buzz is coming from the speakers in the middle of the dashboard over the air registers. It sounds like something is loose in there and I really hear the vibration when a DJ is talking. I have no idea how to gain access to those speakers so I am letting MB take care of it. Has anyone else ever had this problem?

Jeff

mtiede · 08-19-2008

hmm... My experience with a speaker buzz is a ripped speaker cone. Hopefully, it is something else. Maybe leaf got in there?

midget fidger · 08-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torchlight

I have the HK Logic 7 System and I am very happy with it. However, I am bringing the car in to MB to have a speaker buzz issue checked out. The buzz is coming from the speakers in the middle of the dashboard over the air registers. It sounds like something is loose in there and I really hear the vibration when a DJ is talking. I have no idea how to gain access to those speakers so I am letting MB take care of it. Has anyone else ever had this problem?

Jeff

Same thing was happening on my car and they had to replace that center speaker. I think it broke and they replaced it a second time as well.

midget fidger · 08-20-2008

Has anyone just added extra bass to the HK system? I'm thinking of doing that in the next year or two. I wonder if there's space for them to just mount the speakers in the trunk without taking up a lot of precious space. Would I need to get an amp that ties into the HK system? Circuit City had some bass tube with a built in amp, but it wasn't very powerful.

Torchlight · 08-20-2008

Thanks for the replies. My SLK is in the MB shop right now so they can determihe the problem. I am getting the feeling that those center speakers are not HKs. Is that true? I know that I did nothing to damage them. I bought the car in mid-July. Whatever the cause, it had to have been there before I made the purchase. We'll see.

Oh, when I dropped off the car this morning the service manager informed me that there was a recall item they would take care of for me. It had something to do with an idler pulley used in the serpentine belt system. Anyone who has a 2006 SLK 350 might want to check into this for themselves. Apparently it's not really a safety issue as much as it is a potential noise issue. I guess the original pulley has a tendancy to start to squeek over time. Just thought I would pass on the information.

Jeff

**etyu** · 08-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torchlight

...Oh, when I dropped off the car this morning the service manager informed me that there was a recall item they would take care of for me. It had something to do with an idler pulley used in the serpentine belt system. Anyone who has a 2006 SLK 350 might want to check into this for themselves. Apparently it's not really a safety issue as much as it is a potential noise issue. I guess the original pulley has a tendancy to start to squeek over time. Just thought I would pass on the information.

Jeff

Appreciate a TSB number when you get the service paperwork.

eatbeme · 08-21-2008

I'm into home theatre, and I get the same misconceptions regarding surround sound all the time. HK Logic 7 is a proprietary processing technique, much like Dolby Pro-Logic, that takes a stereo source and makes it into surround sound. When watching movies, the way it's meant to sound is that all dialog is anchored at the centre channel, and most sound effects come from the other front channels. The surround speakers only provide a small amount of sound to provide ambience.

There are select moments in movies where something flies behind you and you'll get a bit more from the back, but for the most part you should not even notice they are there, just that you feel immersed in the movie experience.

Things have changed a bit with the advent of Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 where the sound source has 5.1 discrete channels, but most music sources are still stereo so you can't expect that type of sound in car audio.

xpcdoojk · 08-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberdrakon

Any suggestions on music then? I've tried both Mp3s, sirius, and Cds...btw, the speakers in my SEC was SQL, not SPL...(quality vs volume). what the HK system lacks is the ability to fill the cabin equally, and the tweeters aren't 'bright' enough. Plus the b*** could be stronger... :P PS i usually listen to music with top up and windows closed...

So why did you buy an SLK?

Seriously, the sound system on a roadster is almost sacreligious even having one. I have the standard system without the Navigation system. I can't really imagine watching a DVD while in the SLK (that really can't be safe driving down the highway watching videos). The sound from the 2009 SLK 300 is if anything too bass heavy. Tweaking the bass and treble and it is fine, nothing to write home about, but then again it is a two seater, and it is not like you can have 10 of your best friends over to hear your fabulous sound system, and the single friend with you in the car is probably going to be far more interested in the sun and wind than your stereo anyway. This commentary from someone who spent 80% of all of my first paychecks on sound system equipment. I used to listen to music at deafening volume with 4 500watt mono amplifiers and I used to think about buying 4 more!

jc

xpcdoojk · 08-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zut

At first I did criticize the HK system because I couldn't hear the slightest sound coming from the rear speakers. This weekend, for the first time, I really cranked up the volume while playing a high-quality recording on my i-Pod and I was pleasantly surprised. Even at an ear-splitting setting, the system did not shake, vibrate or distort. The bass were deep and rich and the higher notes were crisp and crystal clear. The sounds coming from the rear speakers were not much more noticeable but the effect surely was. These speakers help create an ambience. You are literally engulfed in sound and yet it still seems like the main audio source is in the front. I love that car a little more every day!

There is something just wrong about saying high quality and Ipod in the same sentence. You do know that with the audio compression involved in MP3/4 files that they rarely are as good as the CD they are often copied from?

jc

**smoothbnzf4n4tc** · 08-22-2008

Yeah mp3s aren't as good as CDs but cmon, unless your speakers are some magnepans, for the most part, you can hardly tell the difference between cds and mp3s. At least my ear can't, and did I mention I wasn't an audiophile? In addition, you're definitely not going to get the same quality in a car as your home stereo so frankly the iPod is more than enough in terms of audio quality for a car stereo system, IMO.

OT but what speakers have you bought and gone through?

I kind of agree with cyberdrakon, the main problem with the HK system in my car is that it doesn't sound "bright" enough. It feels just way to thumpy and bass heavy. I will let you guys know more once i fiddle with it when it comes but for the brief time I had it, this was my experience. Maybe descreasing the bass and upping the treble might help a bit.

xpcdoojk · 08-22-2008

I agree with you, that is why I wonder why people are so worried about the sound system in a car that is frequently going to have the top off.

Well in my young days in the 70s, I had 2 Klipsch Heritage speakers, that I really liked but they were too big for my college apartment, and then I bought a pair of Allison Ones. About my Junior year we started doing parties, and deejaying them playing good old American Rock and Roll and my partner and I each bought 4 Bose 901s series II. We could shake the plaster off the walls with the 4 big MONO amps. I remember one party around New Years Eve, those damned amps got so hot we had to open the windows and turn on a fan to keep them from going in circuit protection mode. Hence the desire to buy 4 more!

I got married a couple of years later, I eventually sold all of the good stuff except for two of the old amps and a pair of 901s. My wife hated that stuff. Now, I have a set of NHT Surrounds in the living room with an older Pioneer Elite receiver. Then in the main viewing room I have some tiny little Mirage speakers and a 15 inch sub and a cheap Onkyo amp. They are all more than adequate for the way I listen to TV as an adult. MP3s are fine by the way.

jc

**smoothbnzf4n4tc** · 08-23-2008

haha sweet. Nice to know someone else that likes audio equipment.

I'm no audiophile but for my small room, my b&ws are loud and the quality for me is more than adequate. Don't intend to spend any more in the near future but maybe later on I might buy a used pair of paradigms if I can find them cheap.

View Poll Results: What do you have on your SLK?
Standard Audio 20 Unit	48	34.78%
HK Logic-7 Unit	84	60.87%
Aftermarket Unit	6	4.35%
Voters: 138. You may not vote on this poll

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02-04-2008	#41 (permalink)
pjgraham86 SLK World Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Vehicle: SLK 350 Posts: 30 Country: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've been reading these posts with interest. I've had my SLK350 for two weeks and having read these posts I tried to listen to the rear centre spekers (beside the storage bin) and the small speakers beside the seat belt hooks. I can't hear any sound coming out of these on any of the CDs I've tried. I have the Comand and HK system. Is it the case, as bclark suggested, that some recordings are simply not formatted for surround sound ? Any other thoughts ? Peter Peter

02-05-2008	#42 (permalink)
clu1234 SLK World Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 43 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have HK, too. Quite frankly, the stereo system in my SLK ranks among worst of all auto stereos I've had. I've given up on trying to decide whether any sound comes out of the "surround" speakers at all. Worse yet, while there's no audible music coming out of them, I hear clear hissing sound. I love having built-in navigation and everything, but this HK is such a disappointment (and the navigation interface, too)... Too bad for an otherwise near-perfect car.

02-05-2008	#43 (permalink)
smoothbnzf4n4tc Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Vehicle: 2009 Mars Red SLK55 Posts: 170 Country: Thanks: 12 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	According to worldcarfans, the facelift r171 gets a new sound system. HK Logic 7 500 watt as opposed to 380 watt for prefacelift. Now I must admit, to an ignorant like me, 500>380 meaning louder sound. Those in the know, please explain!

08-19-2008	#44 (permalink)
Torchlight SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Beallsville, MD USA Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 (Caspian Blue w/Beige Interior) Posts: 10 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have the HK Logic 7 System and I am very happy with it. However, I am bringing the car in to MB to have a speaker buzz issue checked out. The buzz is coming from the speakers in the middle of the dashboard over the air registers. It sounds like something is loose in there and I really hear the vibration when a DJ is talking. I have no idea how to gain access to those speakers so I am letting MB take care of it. Has anyone else ever had this problem? Jeff

08-19-2008	#45 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	hmm... My experience with a speaker buzz is a ripped speaker cone. Hopefully, it is something else. Maybe leaf got in there?

08-20-2008	#47 (permalink)
midget fidger SLK World Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Baltimore/Orlando Vehicle: SLK350 Posts: 66 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Has anyone just added extra bass to the HK system? I'm thinking of doing that in the next year or two. I wonder if there's space for them to just mount the speakers in the trunk without taking up a lot of precious space. Would I need to get an amp that ties into the HK system? Circuit City had some bass tube with a built in amp, but it wasn't very powerful.

08-20-2008	#48 (permalink)
Torchlight SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Beallsville, MD USA Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 (Caspian Blue w/Beige Interior) Posts: 10 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the replies. My SLK is in the MB shop right now so they can determihe the problem. I am getting the feeling that those center speakers are not HKs. Is that true? I know that I did nothing to damage them. I bought the car in mid-July. Whatever the cause, it had to have been there before I made the purchase. We'll see. Oh, when I dropped off the car this morning the service manager informed me that there was a recall item they would take care of for me. It had something to do with an idler pulley used in the serpentine belt system. Anyone who has a 2006 SLK 350 might want to check into this for themselves. Apparently it's not really a safety issue as much as it is a potential noise issue. I guess the original pulley has a tendancy to start to squeek over time. Just thought I would pass on the information. Jeff

08-21-2008	#50 (permalink)
eatbeme SLK World Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 5 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm into home theatre, and I get the same misconceptions regarding surround sound all the time. HK Logic 7 is a proprietary processing technique, much like Dolby Pro-Logic, that takes a stereo source and makes it into surround sound. When watching movies, the way it's meant to sound is that all dialog is anchored at the centre channel, and most sound effects come from the other front channels. The surround speakers only provide a small amount of sound to provide ambience. There are select moments in movies where something flies behind you and you'll get a bit more from the back, but for the most part you should not even notice they are there, just that you feel immersed in the movie experience. Things have changed a bit with the advent of Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 where the sound source has 5.1 discrete channels, but most music sources are still stereo so you can't expect that type of sound in car audio.

08-22-2008	#53 (permalink)
smoothbnzf4n4tc Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Vehicle: 2009 Mars Red SLK55 Posts: 170 Country: Thanks: 12 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Yeah mp3s aren't as good as CDs but cmon, unless your speakers are some magnepans, for the most part, you can hardly tell the difference between cds and mp3s. At least my ear can't, and did I mention I wasn't an audiophile? In addition, you're definitely not going to get the same quality in a car as your home stereo so frankly the iPod is more than enough in terms of audio quality for a car stereo system, IMO. OT but what speakers have you bought and gone through? I kind of agree with cyberdrakon, the main problem with the HK system in my car is that it doesn't sound "bright" enough. It feels just way to thumpy and bass heavy. I will let you guys know more once i fiddle with it when it comes but for the brief time I had it, this was my experience. Maybe descreasing the bass and upping the treble might help a bit.

08-22-2008	#54 (permalink)
xpcdoojk SLK World Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Vehicle: SLK 300 Artic White with Red Leather Other Toys: MINI Cooper S Posts: 41 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 2 Posts	I agree with you, that is why I wonder why people are so worried about the sound system in a car that is frequently going to have the top off. Well in my young days in the 70s, I had 2 Klipsch Heritage speakers, that I really liked but they were too big for my college apartment, and then I bought a pair of Allison Ones. About my Junior year we started doing parties, and deejaying them playing good old American Rock and Roll and my partner and I each bought 4 Bose 901s series II. We could shake the plaster off the walls with the 4 big MONO amps. I remember one party around New Years Eve, those damned amps got so hot we had to open the windows and turn on a fan to keep them from going in circuit protection mode. Hence the desire to buy 4 more! I got married a couple of years later, I eventually sold all of the good stuff except for two of the old amps and a pair of 901s. My wife hated that stuff. Now, I have a set of NHT Surrounds in the living room with an older Pioneer Elite receiver. Then in the main viewing room I have some tiny little Mirage speakers and a 15 inch sub and a cheap Onkyo amp. They are all more than adequate for the way I listen to TV as an adult. MP3s are fine by the way. jc

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08-23-2008	#55 (permalink)
smoothbnzf4n4tc Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Vehicle: 2009 Mars Red SLK55 Posts: 170 Country: Thanks: 12 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	haha sweet. Nice to know someone else that likes audio equipment. I'm no audiophile but for my small room, my b&ws are loud and the quality for me is more than adequate. Don't intend to spend any more in the near future but maybe later on I might buy a used pair of paradigms if I can find them cheap.