One of our clients brought his 2016 Mercedes Benz C300 Coupe to us here at Sound Depot and Performance for some upgrades. He wanted to have the windows tinted and the stereo system upgraded with a subwoofer. This client knows what he wants, so is a pleasure to work with. We reviewed a few product options and made some suggestions as to how we could install it. Once we understood his vision for the project, the rest was easy.
Custom Enclosure
We started by constructing a subwoofer enclosure out of MDF for a pair of JL Audio 10W3v3-4 subwoofers. While the design of the enclosure was relatively simple from the standpoint of acoustics, it took some time to ensure all the measurements were perfect to make sure it would look correct in the vehicle. The client has previously owned forward-firing subwoofer systems, so he asked for the same in his Mercedes.
Integrated Amplifier
This enclosure was no simple box! The Kenwood amplifier is the perfect match for the JL Audio subwoofers.
We agreed on a Kenwood eXcelon X500-1 amplifier for the subwoofers. We mounted the amplifier on the front of the enclosure between the pair of subwoofers. This amp produces 500 watts into a 2-ohm load – a perfect match for the JL subs, and more than enough to keep up with the rest of the factory audio system. We used an AudiocControl LC2i to extract an audio signal from the factory amplifier.
Cosmetics
The addition of the Mercedes logo and detail lines add a custom touch to the back wall of the enclosure.
We created a trim panel that surrounded the subwoofers and amp, then fit flush against the opening in the rear of the car. It took some time to get the fiberglass transition from the subwoofers smooth, but it was worth it to show off the subwoofer system. We created a small insert to accent the amplifier. We sourced vinyl that matched the interior accent color to finish the trim panel.
In the trunk, we created a slightly simpler trim piece to conceal the audio system at the rear of the trunk. We raised the Mercedes-Benz logo out of the vinyl and gave it a few style lines for some extra flair.
Premium Window Tint
The client chose 3M Crystalline window film for the vehicle. We tinted the rear and side windows with 40% film, then 80% to the windshield. This complete tinting solution dramatically affects the temperature in the vehicle – making it much more comfortable. 3M Crystalline is considered the best film in the industry for thermal energy rejection.
The Client Loved His New Mercedes C300 Bass And Tint Package!
The client loved how the audio system sounded with the new subwoofers. Most OEM audio systems lack good, clean bass. The pair of JL subs fixed that easily. The window tint keeps the car cool and looking great. If you are interested in an audio system upgrade for your vehicle, contact us here.
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