[W126 Coupe] speakers

[Chiappinelli, Joseph]

While RMS power is a more accurate measure of an amp's capability than the usually marketed "peak" power rating as David says, that too can be misleading. Perhaps not so much in car audio where such things are less important, but in home high end systems, audiophiles will look more at other amplifier characteristics. Such things as the "stiffness" of an amplifier which is its ability to continue to provide the same level of voltage into a load (speaker) as the load varies in impedance is critical. To do this, an amp must be very robust in its ability to pump current. Try hooking any typical electronics store amp rated at 500 watts to a pair of electrostatic speakers (Martin Logan, Quad, etc) which can drop to 1 ohm or less under certain musical passages. The speakers will easily "clip" and sound wimpy because the amp can't provide the current. Then hook up any typical high end amp like a 50 watt Krell or Mark Levison amp. Huge current pumps that will meet the current demands made by difficult speakers. A 50 watt, class A Krell will pump out 50 watts (RMS)into an 8 ohm impedance, 100 watts into 4 ohms, 200 into 2 ohms and 400 watts into 1 ohm. The same 500 watt department store amp will probably be unable to provide more than 75 watts into 2 ohms and would probably trip with a 1 ohm load. Of course, a 500 watt Sony costs about $350 while a 50 watt Krell will run over $3,000. 

J.Chip



-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]On Behalf Of David Fatovic
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 10:57 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] speakers


Also when talking to stereo guys also ask what the RMS
power is.  Most people tell you that a speaker or amp
is 150W but in actually it only has about a third of
that power.

David

--- Ronny Geenen <ronny.geenen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Nearly all new car audio/CD receivers have their own
> fader.
> An audio installer told me that when you use the MB
> fader with a new
> receiver, you will loose at least 50% of the power.
> That means if you have a system with 4x25 Watt, you
> get only approx. 12.5
> watt per channel.
> Why do not you check out some local installers and
> start asking questions.
> 
> Ronny
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Shayegan,
> Richard<mailto:rishayegan at davidson.edu> 
>   To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing
> Lists<mailto:mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com> 
>   Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 1:32 PM
>   Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] speakers
> 
> 
>   Speaking of wiring...it's not important yet
> because the speakers will
>   have to wait a bit since for now all I can lay out
> for is the head unit
>   (yes yes, I know, bigger sound improvement comes
> from replacing the
>   speakers, but again, I really just want the
> in-dash CD, speakers were
>   just something that came to mind), when I do
> replace the speakers, how
>   do I handle the factory fader? I ordered a
> crutchfield wiring harness
>   for my head unit for now because I like to avoid
> modifying the in car
>   wiring, but I'm told that when I replace my
> speakers the factory fader
>   won't be able to handle it. Do I just unhook the
> wires at the fader and
>   wire those same wires into the replacement head
> unit? I know, replace
>   the wiring...that will come later.
>   Richard
> 
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From:
>
mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com<mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com>
>   [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf
> Of David Fatovic
>   Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 12:32 PM
>   To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
>   Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] speakers
> 
>   Another thing to think about.  Just FYI.  Just as
> in
>   communications wiring, and components, you sound
>   system will only sound as good as your weakest
>   component.  In this case if you replace the head
> unit
>   and speakers (good call), you still have to
> contend
>   with the wiring.  Quality components will require
>   quality wiring, thicker guage, sometimes wound.  
> 
>   Just FYI.
> 
>   David
> 
>   --- "Shayegan, Richard"
>
<rishayegan at davidson.edu<mailto:rishayegan at davidson.edu>>
>   wrote:
>   > What do you all think of the Kenwood KFC-x468C?
> It
>   > seems to have good specs, you think it sounds
>   > noticeably better than stock? I think I'll just
> take
>   > the easy way out in the front with Alpine
> SPS-080A's
>   > using the crutchfield adapter bracket, but since
> in
>   > the back I'd have to do some modifying anyways I
>   > might as well go for 4x6's, the trick is will it
> fit
>   > without SERIOUS mods? I guess I'll find out for
>   > myself. As long as I have 1.8 inches of depth (I
>   > don't have the sloped panel of the later model
> W126,
>   > just a flat panel covered by inch thick
> insulation,
>   > and the x468's have an overall depth of 1.794
> inches
>   > ), 4 inches of width, and 6inches of length, I
>   > suppose I could make them fit.
>   > Richard
>   > 
>   > ________________________________
>   > 
>   > From:
>
mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com<mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com>
> on behalf of
>   > Shayegan, Richard
>   > Sent: Mon 3/28/2005 2:03 PM
>   > To: RONNY GEENEN; Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
>   > Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] speakers
>   > 
>   > 
>   > My SE is an 85 so it should have the same set up
> as
>   > your SD. I'm intrigued by the fact that
> everybody
>   > says this car can take 4x6 in the front. I
> wonder
>   > why Crutchfield doesn't know that? From looking
> at
>   > the front speakers I know why: while 4x6 would
> fit
>   > the stock speakers are 3.5. Also, from looking
> at
>   > the front speakers I can't figure how to get
> them
>   > out. I see the two screws closest to the body of
> the
>   > car, and I took those out. Something at the
> front is
>   > holding it in but I see no screws. Any ideas?
>   > Thanks,
>   > Richard
>   > 
>   > ________________________________
>   > 
>   > From:
>
mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com<mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com>
> on behalf of
>   > RONNY GEENEN
>   > Sent: Mon 3/28/2005 12:48 PM
>   > To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
>   > Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] speakers
>   > 
>   > 
>   > 
>   > What year is your SE? I have also a 1984 300 SD.
>   > Both bodies might be
>   > similar. If so, you can replace both the front
> and
>   > the rear with 4x6
>   > speakers. And I find out to get a better sound I
>   > replace the speakers with
>   > 4x6 plates.
>   > 
>   > Ronny Geenen
>   > 1987 560 SEC
>   > Glendora, Ca 91740
>   > 
>   > ----- Original Message -----
>   > From: "Shayegan, Richard"
>
<rishayegan at davidson.edu<mailto:rishayegan at davidson.edu>>
>   > To:
>
<mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com<mailto:mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>>
>   > Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 8:06 AM
>   > Subject: [W126 Coupe] speakers
>   > 
>   > 
>   > I'm going to operate on the assumption that the
>   > SEC's have the same speaker
>   > mounts in the dashboard and rear deck as the
> SE's
>   > here, which may be wrong
>   > (I'm told by Crutchfield that the fronts are
> 3.5inch
>   > diameter and the rears
>   > are 4x6's on an SE, but I'm told by someone with
> an
>   > SE that they are all
>   > 4x6, so if someone can settle this that would be
>   > nice too), but either way,
>   > what are good speakers that fit that can be had
> for
>   > no more than $100/pair?
>   > Thanks,
>   > Richard
>   > 
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>   > 
>   > 
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