[JoJoDFG]

I'm having the retro Becker 4602? AM/FM CD/iPod Aux installed next week and I'm assuming that I should replace my dash speakers. I don't plan on adding any others in the rear, but I want the best sound possible. Do any of you have any recommendations? Are there any drop-ins or do we need to do some cutting?
Thanks in advance,
Jo

 

[Ears]

Visit crutchfield... reports are, they have a near drop-in that fills the bills. I do not recall the size, but depth is the main problem. A cursory search in the fora here may uncover a size/model.

I hope you are not expecting much hi-fidelty... The dash speakers are minimal at best, although they work fine for me. I prefer the sounds of the road/engine when I'm driving about.

Good luck

 

[A&L's300SL]

Put in a good quality set of 4inch speakers and a subwoofer and amp in the boot.

My clarion cd/mp3 setup sounds great because the sub plays the low ranges the little speakers cannot.

 

[ConorD]

I replaced the dash speakers in no time.

But I agree with the others - no matter what quality the 4 inchers - with only two speakers you still miss out on a full sound.

While it's not a big deal (ears is right about the car sound!) I'd like to sneak in a rear speaker somewhere.
Problem is I have rear seats...

Jealous of your Becker!

 

[JoeB]

what you need are a couple of 5-8" subs under each seat in a sealed enclosure.

 

[JoJoDFG]

Thank you all...if I start with the 2 dash speakers and find it lacking, can I add more later or do I need select different dash speakers now for later expansion?
Should we pull new wire? As you can see I don't know anything about sound...Is there really room in the boot?
Also, do any of you have advice on where I should put the ipod aux cable. Unfortunately, the retro Becker aux option is a mini stereo jack and does not plug into the bottom and charge the ipod as well, or I would stow it in the glove box. But with this cable you still have to access the ipod to control. I saw a neat console holder for phone and or ipod www.proclipsusa.com has anyone tried this?
I was soooo tempted to get one of the new heads with bluetooth and ipod control through the radio screen...but I just couldn't do it...just too gawdy :crybaby2:
Jo

 

[ScottinSoCal]

As you can see I don't know anything about sound...Is there really room in the boot?

Basics on sound (very, very basic - don't be insulted if it's too basic):

To make sound, you have to move air. The lower the note, the more air has to be moved. That's why woofers and subwoofers are large.

The dash speakers are 4" speakers, and they can't move much air, so you can get great highs and mid-range, but no bass to speak of. There's no way around that. If you get a good quality 4" speaker, it's perfectly easy to expand it later and go with larger speakers in the parcel shelf. You just get an amplifier with a built-in crossover and send only the high and mid-range sound to the front speakers, and send all the sound (accented toward the bass, if you want) to the back speakers. Since you're not calling yourself an audiophile, you won't have to worry about the picky details like having the response matched between front and rear, or phase differences caused by different distances between speakers, or any of that crap. It's all pretty much useless fluff in a convertible, anyway.

I'd get an Infiniti or comparable 4" 2 way speaker. That means it has a 4" cone to produce the mid-range sound, and a smaller tweeter to produce the highs. You can later, if you want, add an amplifier and 8" two or three way speaker in the back to produce the low end.

It would be useless to put them in the trunk, because there's too much between the trunk and your ears.

 

[JoJoDFG]

Good points...Do you have model numbers for either the Infinitys or the MB Quarts I keep hearing about. As Ears said there is a depth concern and I don't want to order the wrong speaker. I am having my indy do the install, so I need all the components together. While his hands might be greasy, he knows how everything comes apart and won't break anything.
Jo

 

[A&L's300SL]

Basics on sound (very, very basic - don't be insulted if it's too basic):

To make sound, you have to move air. The lower the note, the more air has to be moved. That's why woofers and subwoofers are large.

Since you're not calling yourself an audiophile, you won't have to worry about the picky details like having the response matched between front and rear, or phase differences caused by different distances between speakers, or any of that crap. It's all pretty much useless fluff in a convertible, anyway.

Good basic info.

Especially the bit about convertables being the wrong car for an audiophile.

Personally I think cars full stop are no good for audiophiles.

It would be useless to put them in the trunk, because there's too much between the trunk and your ears.

The assumption that a subby in the boot won't work is purely that. An assumption.

It works because bass, especially in a convertable is all about low frequency. The car body still transfers the low frequency through the boot to the passenger compartment. Treble wouldn't make it from the boot but it's bass we want from there.

The whole reason for the subby is you don't have to mutilate the interior putting larger speakers in. Run a power/ground and RCA to the boot and fit a subby/box and amp.

It's not audiophile quality but it sounds good in a convertable and it does work:thumbsup:

 

[Djenka018]

OMG, Only now I realised the disadvantage ;-) of SL compared to SLC in terms of sound. NO rear speakers!
In SLC's at the back one can install good (Infinity Kappa) 5¼ speakers while closing airvents (or sound is terrible) and sound improvement effect is unpercievable.

 

[ConorD]

Also, do any of you have advice on where I should put the ipod aux cable.

A simple solution might be to just have a small velcro tab - one bit stuck to the back of your iPod, and the other bit on a clear piece of console. That way you can just stick your iPod to the dash when you're driving and take it with you when you go. Somewhere where a short mini-jack cable will reach and won't be in your way.

I do that with a bluetooth control I have, as it's now illegal here to talk on a phone handset while driving.

Maybe before you buy your new speakers take out one of the old ones to compare sizes (passenger side is easier). I'm pretty sure any 4" will fit though depth-wise.

 

[JoJoDFG]

Thank you Conor,
Did you check out www.proclipusa.com ? I believe that California has a date next year sometime for hands-free only phone use as well. But I think I'll get a bluetooth ear bud for the phone and save my dash space for controlling the i-pod. BTW, the Becker retro 4602 will look good in the sl's dash...it even says mercedes benz on the face. What I really wanted was the new Becker Mexico... has all the new stuff. But FM is not tuned for USA :crybaby2: Don't know the price tag, could be more than what my car's worth
Jo

 

[ConorD]

Just looking at that link, Jo, has made me realise I had the wife's iPod nano in mind when I was taking about the velcro. Of course a full size player would be better off in one of those holders - they do look good.

Be sure to post a pic or two of your setup when you get it sorted!

BTW in my old car (a noisy FIAT Spider) I had the speaker box from an old home CD system sitting behind the back seats and hooked up to the stereo. It was a temporary measure but worked so well I used it for 2 years! An amateur but effective way of producing that "missing" sound Scott talks about.

 

[nobby]

Pioneer TSA 1057 4" speakers bolt in with little fuss.

 

[JoJoDFG]

Conor...I will post pic's when I get it all together. Love the back-seat speaker tip.
Nobby...I will see if I can find the pioneer's locally.
ScottinSoCal...I needed the primer; I am clueless p.s. Daughter graduated last year from UCSB. Hubby and I miss our frequent trips up the 126 to your neck of the woods.

I'm looking online at 4" speakers...lost in specs i.e. frequency, peak power, impedance, etc.
There are these MB Quarts
http://www.cardomain.com/item/MBQDKG110?vq_id=none
These Infinitys
Infinity - 4" 2-Way Car Speakers with Plus One Cones (Pair) - REF4022I
And Crutchfield's shows these 3.5" for my 380sl
All Car Speakers at Crutchfield.com
What should I look for? Does more expensive mean better sound?

Jo

 

[JoeB]

Like I said.... if you put a pair of subs under the seats, you will be fine. one on each side and no they don't have to be big, you CAN get 5" subs and they DO provide plenty of punch and they also don't require huge enclosures.

When someone comes to the debate with some more dreamt up BS about size matters, then perhaps they should consult IASCA SQ entrants list for the last 5 years.

go and buy 2 focal 5" subs, models 13KS or 13WS. Stick one under each seat. Problem more than solved. If you want shit-hot front speakers for the money they make a pair of coaxial 4" drivers model 100CA1.(take your old speakers always to make sure the mount points match, not evey manufacturer adhered to the DIN standard) buy a 4 ch amp to match, model FP 4.75.
Hook it up to your head unit or better still get a professional to handle it

You want to keep it hidden and enjoy the sound, thats what I suggest you examine.

and anyone who says 5" subs arent any good or dont extend far enough into the low Frequencies dont know shit about SQ.

 

[JoJoDFG]

JoeB...Thanks for the help. Yes, that is a professional install for me. Would the seats still be able to move down to lowest position on floor...6'2" hubby need the seat on the floor to drive. I am confused if I need 2way speakers or 4way if I decide that dash replacements are not enough bass and I want to add on.
Jo

 

[Digmenow]

Six months ago, I thought I had this all worked out and was waiting to sort through the last of the mechanicals before going after the sound system. The Becker was long gone, replaced by a Kenwood digitial unit that doesn't match and only has push buttons for all of the functions. It still has (I think) the original speakers. I was going with with these speakers that a lot of 107 owners said fit right in.

http://www.cardomain.com/item/ROCP132C?ref=gogwr&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=rockford_fosgate_p132c

I planned to replace the head with something that was up to date, inexpensive but retained the look of the older Beckers and even has tuning knobs! I found this but the supply seems to be drying up if I don't act soon.

Kenwood Ez500 - CD-R/W, MP3, and WMA playback • detachable fold-down face • 22 watts RMS x 4 • CR-2 tuner • System Q Sound Control • SIRIUS, XM, and HD Radio-ready • 2 sets of preamp outputs • remote • auxiliary input • changer control - , In-Dash He

Now I have to consider an amp and subwoofers?
I am so lost on this stuff.
All I know is that at 85 mph, I can't hear the stereo with the top down and with all the wind noise, I can't hear the engine. Are we saying that the P132s won't give me enough sound?

 

[page62]

Meh. I never have my top up, so audio quality is a non-sequitur. (Translation: I never listen to the stereo anyway.) So I'm going back to something more-or-less original...it looks right and I got it on ebay relatively cheap:

 

[nobby]

There is no "right" answer. There as many set ups as stars in the sky. Depends what YOU like to hear, how much money you have and how much you want to modify your car.

This is a close second on opinions as square headlights or what the best oil is to use.

Filter through all the advice and open up the wallet. Or purse, as it were.