I recently had my Mk2a professionally installed and am having a serious problem with the sound quality. Hopefully someone here can help or provide some tips I may try.

I have a 2002 Mercedes C230 with the upgraded Bose stereo system, so unfortunately the only option I had was to install the Empeg with an FM Modulator. I had this done at a local shop which did an incredible job on how the unit looks, however the sound is horrible. As long as I leave the volume at around -10 db or below on the Empeg, the sound is fine, but once I crank the sound anywhere above -5 db there is serious distortion and becomes unbearable. The reason I cannot just leave the volume at -10 db is because the sound is not very loud, even with the head unit cranked up all the way. The install was done with an Audiovox FMM100 FM Modulator, which the installer told me was better than the Clarion Modulator. All wiring to and from the FM Modulator was double checked by the installer, so there are no loose wires.

Has anyone had any bad experiences with an FM Modulator install? Can anyone recommend a modulator that will work better? Has anyone had any success with an FM Modulator with this unit?

Before everyone yells at me for using an FM Modulator, which I did not want to do, this is the only way that it can be done in this car. There is no CD Changer adapter made for the Mercedes Fiber Optic system so that was not an option. Also I thought about running the head unit into the Aux-In of the Empeg and got shot down because the output of the head unit is fiber optic and runs to 4 separate amplifiers which convert this signal just before it hits the speaker. So the only other option is to replace the head unit and all of the speakers in the car, which I want to do, but don’t have $1000 right now.

Thank you for any help anyone can provide!
Matt

There's loads of information in the Installation forum. Mercedes-specific and all. Synergy had the same optic dilemas you were faced with. Wish I could remember all the specifics. Do a quick search and you should find the threads though. A simple "Mercedes" and "modulator" would probably do it (two searches, not one ).

Bruno

I'll bet the Audiovox can only handle around 1v inputs. The car sled outputs are 4V outputs. 1V levels out of a 4V output means about -6dB down which agrees with what you're seeing (hearing). Not much you can do really. In this case I'd recommend leaving the volume on the empeg at the maximum possible and using the standard head units volume control. This is the best method for noise reduction anyway.

You can lock the volume control but I think only to 0dB - I don't have mine here to try.

As for the volume being very quiet at -10dB - I can't think of why if my explanation/analysis above is correct. Does the modulator have a gain control of any sort?

This is very similar to what I was being told by a friend of mine. I have been unable to find any substantial information on the Audiovox Modulator, but suspect it will only accept 1V inputs. Does anyone know if the Clarion from Crutchfield supports 4V inputs?

There are no gain controls on the Audiovox FM Modulator, so that is not an option.

The system is not exactly quite at -10 dB, but there is a substantial difference between that and 0 dB, where I like to listen to my music. If I were listening to talk radio, -10 dB would work, but it does not do music justice.

Search the posts back a few days, a guy with an Astra has recently installed an FM modulator with his empeg and his works great!

Look for Astra Installation Problems!

Why not drop him a line and ask him what make his modulator is and where he got it from!

Cheers,
Mark.

Is the equalizer turned up past 0db in any band? Is the loudness cranked? That would cause distortion at 0db for certain songs.

Also, there was a bug in the 2.0 beta 3 software which would cause some songs to distort. Are you running beta 11 or 1.03?

Also, as was already suggested, maybe the FM modulator is just crap.

http://empeg.comms.net/php/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=install&Number=73934&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

Go here, this is the guy who has just installed an FM modulator and it works well - might be of some help to know what make he used!!!!

FTP222:

See my previous response to your post in another thread (Riocar in 2002 Mercades Benz SLK 32 AMG Install).

http://empeg.comms.net/php/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=install&Number=75018

I have tried numerous modulators and they will not work. The head unit expects a super-boosted antenna signal, which is what is sent from the embedded antena in the rear window. FM modulators just cannot generate that strong a signal. Try the cassette adapter solution I discussed earlier. It is really the only way to get decent sound from the Empeg in a new C-Class. I have been struggling with this for the last 5 months. I would still appreciate a picture of your install, please. Thanks.

Tony,

No, the equalizer is set below 0 dB on almost all bands, nothing is above zero. In fact when I set all of the bands flat, it sounds horribly distorted, so if I lower the mids its not bad.

I am running build 2.0 beta 11 with HiJack 225.

I agree the FM Modulator is crap, but do I risk another install charge and buy a Clarion?

Thanks,
Matt

I wasn't sure what you were talking about regarding running the wire, but then I found the attachment. Nice! Those come with an 1/8" headphone jack so you need just a convertor to dual RCA right? Are there any differences between tape adapters that I should be aware of? Is there a brand I should look for? It's been years since I've used one

I should be able to get pictures up on the site here within the next couple of days. Sorry for the delay, but I need to borrow one of the digital cameras from work to do it.

Are you impressed with the way this unit sounds through the Tape Adapter? As good as FM Radio?

Thanks for all the help!
Matt

In reply to:

---

agree the FM Modulator is crap, but do I risk another install charge and buy a Clarion?

---

Or better yet take it back and make the installer "install" it correctly. I can't believe you paid in the first place if it sounded that bad. No worthwhile installer should consider an install finished that sounds bad.

Tom

FTP222:

I tried a Sony and a Radio Shack cassette adapter. The Radio Shack sounds better by far. I wonder whether there are any comparisons/reviews of cassette adapters out there. You should select a cassette adapter that has a thin wire that will enable the cassette door to close. I am very pleased with the sound. The Empeg connected to the Radio Shack cassette adapter sounds better (and way louder) than any FM radio station I have been able to tune. I set my Empeg at -10db instead of 0db so that the volume of the Empeg is similar to that of an FM station. I think this is because the cassette adapter expects 1v rather than 4v inputs.

So here's the Astra guy ;-)
My modulator is a
Farenheit EFM-02
You can find it here: (or try an other search)http://www.thezeb.com/caraudio/poweracoustik.html

My install is different: I didn't mount the sled; my empeg is connected to the mod by the 1v line out rcas.
I put the gain to the max and it works fine.
I heard the same song on my cd hu and on the empeg, quality is better with cd for sure, but there's not a big difference. It's a very good temporary install.

or here: it's the provider
http://www.poweracoustik.com/video.htm

Great, thanks for the advice. I ran down to Radio Shack today and picked up an adapter. I will test the quality over the weekend and let you know how it turns out.

I noticed there's some interferences with some songs, but still 'heardable'

I get the same interference occationally, its just something I have come to accept with a modulator install. Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one with interference.

Wow! I tested out the adapter tonight and it sounds way better than the modulator even though I was only getting sound from the left channel due to cable adapters from 1/8" to RCA (my fault). I'm going to go get a new cable this weekend and get this thing installed next week. I figure I might as well leave the FM Modulator in there and connect the cassette adapter to the back channels.

Thanks again for the great tip!
Matt

FTP222,

Great! How much did you pay to have the pocket below the OEM head unit trimmed to take the Empeg? Did you have any brackets especially made? Were you able to install it so that the Empeg is flush or so that the metal lips in the sled are flush? Is any of the sled metal visible from any angle when the Empeg is inside the sled (e.g. from the side)? As I had mentioned, I had a local store attempt the same thing but the results are not that great. I have an extra pocket that has not been touched. I'm wondering whether the guy who trimmed your pocket could do the same for mine if I send it. I would really like to see pictures of your install, with and without the Empeg in the sled. At the very least I could go to the fancy store that did mine and show them the pictures, so they can't keep saying that mine was done as best as could possibly be done.

My total install price was $225 and is broken out below.

2 Antenna adapters: $30
FM Modulator: $50
FM Modulator Install Labor: $60
Additional Labor (I think this is the Pocket): $85

The totals were not broken down on the invoice, but the top 3 items were quoted to me, so the rest must be the labor and time involved in cutting the pocket. This isn't bad considering my car was the only one in his shop and it took most of the day!

I am not sure how the brackets were made since I didn't get to see the install go back together, but from how it was described, the rails from the pocket were cutt off and mounted around the docking sled. This must have taken a long time as I'm sure you've seen how the rails were a part of the pocket.

I have attached another picture with the docking sled removed. The sled appears to be almost completely flush with the dash, which is extremely impressive! When the Empeg is inserted, you can see no metal whatsoever from the sides, top, or bottom! The installer also spray painted the some of the sled black to match the dash, unfortunately some of this is chipping away, so I need to get some paint that will not do this and do a quick touch up.

I am not sure if he would be able to form the pocket without the car here, but I can check with him. But definately show your installer the pictures and let me know what they have to say.

If you wouldn't mind, could you post a picture of your install? Also where did you get the spare pocket and how much was it? I am going to have to get one for when I get rid of the car, so I might as well take care of it sooner than later.

Hopefully this helps out.
Matt

Thank you for the information. I believe you only posted the picture of the sled without the Empeg. I think this BBS allows only one attachment per message. Attached is a picture of my installation without the empeg. The message that follows has picture with empeg.

Photo with the empeg in sled attached.

For reason previous attachment did not get through, attached is picture with empty sled.

And here is a repost of picture with empeg in sled

You can get a replacement pocket from your dealership for $23.

I believe I posted the picture to a different thread. Here it is again though so everyone can see. Your install does not look that bad, perhaps a small gap at the top, but thats about it. I would recommend painting the edges of the sled with some flat black paint, but other than that not too bad.

I can't wait till may amber faceplate arrives too

I've posted all pictures to the photo gallery. Hopefully this will give you a good idea of how the install looks.

http://riocar.org/modules.php?set_albumName=album48&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php