[W126 Coupe] Becker Radio, iPod, and Cassette Adaptor

[Steve Nervig]

You have a 1480 or possibly a 1432 (see <http://web.mac.com/dakota/ 
iWeb/Becker/1480.html> to check). Becker can modify either one, I  
believe.

Steve

On Sep 15, 2006, at 8:47 AM, Paul Samarin wrote:

> I've "replaced" my 86 SEC with a 90 SL which has the orig Becker.   
> How do I determine whether it can be modified?  I don't see any  
> model numbers on the face plate (of course, my eyes ain't so great  
> anymore!)
>
> Paul
>
> On Sep 15, 2006, at 8:21 AM, Steve Nervig wrote:
>
>> I notice that the link didn't come through.
>> <http://web.mac.com/dakota/iWeb/Becker/96520529-1761-4093- 
>> AAF2-30F3532EA3AF.html>
>>
>> Steve
>>
>>
>> On Sep 15, 2006, at 8:12 AM, Steve Nervig wrote:
>>
>>> I suspect that your Becker does not have an Aux Input, but I'm  
>>> not an expert. But I think that BeckerNorthAmerica can modify  
>>> your radio to accept input directly from the iPod. I have had  
>>> mine modified this way. Cost was ~US$100. It is set up so that if  
>>> the iPod is plugged into the radio the iPod works when the radio  
>>> is set to Tape Mode. Unplug the iPod and the Tape Mode works  
>>> normally. Becker provides an adapter and cable and plug which you  
>>> can place where ever you want, eg, glove box, console, etc.
>>>
>>> I've done this installation and have a few photos here.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Steve
>>> 1992 300CE Sportline
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sep 15, 2006, at 7:28 AM, Dawid Loubser wrote:
>>>
>>>> Based on the fact that there is no button on the head unit to  
>>>> "select aux input"
>>>> or anything along these lines in the user guide, I deduced that  
>>>> there is no aux
>>>> input, otherwise I would definitely use it. I've never pulled  
>>>> the unit out to
>>>> look at the back.
>>>>
>>>> Does any Becker expert know if the model 839 (Mexico Diversity)  
>>>> has an aux input?
>>>> And how do you select it?
>>>>
>>>> Dawid
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 15 Sep 2006, at 4:20 nm., Shayegan, Richard wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Doesn't the 10 speaker system have some aux-in's on the back of  
>>>>> the head
>>>>> unit? You could always go with something like this
>>>>> http://www.logjamelectronics.com/blitzuii.html if it has aux- 
>>>>> inputs. It
>>>>> pulls from the bottom of the ipod, instead of the headphones,  
>>>>> so the
>>>>> ipod volume and equalizer have no intereference in the sound,  
>>>>> plus it
>>>>> gives a better sound to pull from that bottom port rather than the
>>>>> headphone plug. I was going to do an install in my car, but  
>>>>> decided CDs
>>>>> are fine with me and I turned away from wanted to cut up my  
>>>>> coin tray to
>>>>> make a slot for the ipod hookup. I still have the blitzsafe  
>>>>> sitting
>>>>> under my coin tray in fact....
>>>>> Richard
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
>>>>> [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of Dawid Loubser
>>>>> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 10:12 AM
>>>>> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
>>>>> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Becker Radio, iPod, and Cassette Adaptor
>>>>>
>>>>> My car has the original Becker 10-speaker sound system, and  
>>>>> also had a
>>>>> Sony CD Changer in the boot (with FM modulator which goes  
>>>>> through the
>>>>> antenna) fitted very early in its lifetime.
>>>>> I have always been playing CDs, but never *quite* happy with  
>>>>> the sound
>>>>> quality - which I always attributed to the age of the system in  
>>>>> general.
>>>>> My previous car (MINI Cooper S) had a somewhat better-sounding  
>>>>> stock
>>>>> system.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a large music collection, of which a large portion is  
>>>>> mirrored to
>>>>> my iPod (4th gen, iPod Photo 40Gb) which I actually don't use  
>>>>> that much
>>>>> these days, since I'm a bit of an audiophile and though I  
>>>>> prefer the
>>>>> sound of Vinyl, for digital music, FLAC (lossless compression)  
>>>>> is the
>>>>> way to go. Nevertheless, I have a huge MP3-based collection  
>>>>> (also a lot
>>>>> purchased in that format at places like www.emusic.com).  
>>>>> Furthermore,
>>>>> nobody can hear the difference in the car anyway, so I decided  
>>>>> I wanted
>>>>> to integrate my iPod with the car, but without gutting  
>>>>> anything. The
>>>>> iPod radio transmitters are a no-go, they sound terrible, and  
>>>>> they just
>>>>> can't seem to get through the thick shell of the SEC, no matter  
>>>>> where
>>>>> you put it, especially in the city with all the frequencies  
>>>>> pretty much
>>>>> taken.
>>>>>
>>>>> I decided to give the Cassette Adaptor a go (I had never used my
>>>>> Becker's cassette before) and I must say, I am *SO* pleasantly  
>>>>> surprised
>>>>> at the sound quality. It's a 10x improvement over the CD changer
>>>>> (provided you play with the Becker equaliser settings, I had to  
>>>>> move the
>>>>> bass to full neutral, and treble
>>>>> +2 notches up).
>>>>>
>>>>> Granted, I have heard better in my life, but I do think I know  
>>>>> a thing
>>>>> or two about music, and the SEC (mine is a 1990) has a truly  
>>>>> fantastic
>>>>> sound system, provided everything works, and is adjusted  
>>>>> correctly. The
>>>>> thin black cable running out of the tape deck can easily be  
>>>>> routed into
>>>>> the (unused) ashtray, and then into e.g. the glove compartment  
>>>>> or change
>>>>> tray, quite unobtrusively. I plan to route it into the glove  
>>>>> compartment
>>>>> soon.
>>>>>
>>>>> Usually have terrible bass and treble (they sound muddy) but I  
>>>>> tested
>>>>> with artists like
>>>>>
>>>>> (Electronic)
>>>>> * Felix Laband
>>>>> * Juno Reactor
>>>>> * Logic Bomb
>>>>>
>>>>> (Jazz)
>>>>> * Miles Davis
>>>>>
>>>>> (Rock)
>>>>> * Maroon Five (Live Recordings)
>>>>>
>>>>> and they all sound great My advice is, if your sound system sounds
>>>>> weird, don't replace it! Rather play with the settings, or if  
>>>>> something
>>>>> is broken, fix just that component.
>>>>> Most sound systems sound best with everything in the normal  
>>>>> position
>>>>> (and most decent sound equipment have no bass/ treble  
>>>>> adjustment to
>>>>> begin with) but you have to play with the Becker. What I really  
>>>>> like
>>>>> about it, is that it automatically maintains two different  
>>>>> settings for
>>>>> radio vs. cassette, surprising for something this age.
>>>>>
>>>>> This may be a useless post, I just wanted to share that I think  
>>>>> the
>>>>> stock sound system has some amazing capabilities. This is the  
>>>>> best tape
>>>>> deck I've heard :-)
>>>>>
>>>>> Dawid
>>>>>
>>>>> P.S> I know that I can run a line output from the iPod directly  
>>>>> to, for
>>>>> example, the fader control in the centre console. But I do not  
>>>>> want to
>>>>> pull things apart, and to get this working smoothly may require  
>>>>> some
>>>>> additional electronics fidgeting, not to mention that you  
>>>>> effectively
>>>>> bypass the pre-amp and rely on the iPod's volume control - not  
>>>>> ideal for
>>>>> me.
>>>>>
>>>
>>> The MB Coupes Website!
>>> W126 SEC Mailing List
>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
>>
>> The MB Coupes Website!
>> W126 SEC Mailing List
>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
>>
>
> The MB Coupes Website!
> W126 SEC Mailing List
> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.