2022 Mercedes S580 Audio Upgrade

The client approached us seeking an upgrade for his 2022 Mercedes S580 Executive. This car already features a multi-channel factory amplified system, specifically Mercedes' "Burmester High-End 4D Surround Sound System." It's quite a powerful setup with over 30 speakers and nearly 2,000W of power. While this may be enough for some, our clients demand more fidelity and detail in their audio reproduction.

The goal here was to increase the fidelity and output of the system while maintaining, with the exception of the trunk which you'll see further down, the original look and feel of the interior.

This is typical with factory-amplified systems—more isn't necessarily better. We focus on quality drivers rather than just a large quantity of speakers. This generally results in improved fidelity, greater power handling, and a more enjoyable listening experience overall.

Here, again focusing on quality components, albeit a fair amount of drivers still, we utilized 22 drivers with 20 channels of amplification totaling over 3,800W of power!

The front stage alone has a staggering 10 drivers, the 3x tweeters, 3x mid-ranges, and 2x mid-basses are courtesy of Focal's K2 Power and K2M lines delivery high output and high-fidelity.

This vehicle has the rotating tweeter mounts in the sail panel locations. After careful modification and adapters, the new tweeters fit directly into the location and still allowed for the factory motorization if desired.

The mounting locations for the door speakers are likewise not typical - they are not designed to mount into the door and use the door as the baffle and "enclosure" - instead they are mounted on brackets that seal the speakers directly up to the door and leave the entire back open.

With that being said it was paramount that our drivers properly seal up against the door panel, like factory, to achieve optimum performance. Utilizing CAD we designed and 3D-printed adapters in-house that gave us the exact height and thereby fitment we needed to do just that.

The outcome? A visually seamless integration to the interior design paired with a dramatically enhanced audio experience—offering more vibrancy, emotion, and undeniably greater power!

Part of that front stage is the center channel - which is a 2-way active K2 Power tweeter with K2M mid-range. The mid-range in the center utilizes Mercedes' "pop-in" speaker mounting solution - essentially utilizing a ball-in-socket joint to secure the speaker in place but allow for tool-less removal. Again, utilizing CAD and our 3D printers, we designed and printed an adapter that mirrored the factory mounting exactly - no extra holes to drill or modifications to be made - the factory grille snapped right back into place.

The factory firewall woofers were replaced with Helix Compose i5 8" mid-woofers, which improved the bass response and added more impact to the front sound stage.

The rear doors essentially mirrored the front doors - a fully active 3-way in each door in the factory locations.

The rear deck speakers were the only ones where each driver didn't have its own separate amplification channel. Given their close proximity to one-another and their role in providing surround sound, using their passive crossover networks was logical.

The rear deck also used the Focal K2 Power-series drivers; for this section a 4" 2-way system, incorporating a custom 3D printed ball-in-socket adapter designed to fit into the factory mounting location.

We had the opportunity to design and create a unique subwoofer enclosure that complimented the interior while still providing enough trunk space for a set of golf clubs. The enclosure and its accompanying trim are mechanically secured to the vehicle to guarantee safety and stability

The design was inspired by the vehicle's interior. Along the lower section of the rear deck, behind the seats, the factory panels feature LED trimming that encircles each rear passenger seat. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice a gradient effect on the edge-lit acrylic. It begins with the client's chosen color on each side, which can be adjusted, and transitions into a pure white center.

The enclosure upholstery echoes the perforated leather with a diamond pattern found in the original plush seats. It seamlessly connects with the rest of the trunk, featuring matching black carpeting. At the center, the Mercedes crest is positioned above our logo, which has been laser etched into the clear acrylic.

Finally, we have the power and processing. At the core of the system is the Helix V Eighteen DSP, which offers 18 individually controlled and EQ'ed outputs. This allows us to have complete control over the vehicle's audio response, adjusting for in-vehicle acoustical characteristics and customizing the sound to the client's preferences. The Helix DSP also includes an additional 2-channel pre-out connected to our Mosconi AS200.4. The Mosconi amplifier, discreetly placed behind the beauty panels of the subwoofer enclosure and secured to the underside of the rear deck, delivers 950W of power to each subwoofer.