Mercedes-Benz GLE Car Audio Upgrade Review: Better Sound

Why Your Mercedes-Benz GLE Deserves a Sound System Upgrade

The Mercedes-Benz GLE (W166) is renowned for its luxurious feel and sophisticated cabin, often coming equipped with a premium Burmester sound system. However, many GLE owners find that even the factory setup has limitations. Common complaints include weak mid-woofer output and a lack of clarity, especially when turning up the volume, leading to a muddy mid-range. To address these shortcomings, many owners opt for a comprehensive car audio upgrade. This review details a full speaker replacement using PHASS premium components, demonstrating why such an upgrade is essential for unlocking the GLE's true audio potential.

Understanding the Limitations of Stock GLE Audio

A closer look at the stock mid-woofer in the GLE reveals its structural limitations. The magnet is notably small, and the rear magnet structure is basic. While this design is cost-effective for manufacturers, it significantly compromises acoustic performance. These speakers often suffer from reduced resolution, particularly when reproducing the intricate details of music – the subtle nuances of instruments or the delicate expressions in vocals. Furthermore, their low efficiency means that as you increase the volume, sound quality degrades noticeably. This is where an aftermarket speaker upgrade, like the PHASS system, makes a substantial difference.

The PHASS Full Speaker Replacement Process

At Today's Car Seoul, a complete speaker overhaul for the GLE involves replacing not just the door speakers (mid-woofer, midrange, tweeter) but also the subwoofer. The installation begins with carefully removing the door panel trim to access and disconnect the existing wiring and speakers. For the GLE, unlike its W167 sibling, the speaker shape and mounting positions differ, necessitating custom-designed brackets. Today's Car utilizes bespoke brackets engineered specifically for the GLE, ensuring a secure fit that is crucial for both sound quality and long-term durability. This attention to detail is a hallmark of quality audio tuning.

Installing PHASS Mid-Woofers: The Significance of the Brown Cone

The new PHASS P86 series mid-woofers are installed in the driver and passenger doors. A striking feature is their distinctive brown woofer cone, made from a blend of paper and fiber. This material choice influences the texture of the sound reproduction, contributing to a warm and rich mid-range. This results in a more comfortable listening experience without sacrificing sonic detail. In contrast, the stock speakers, often based on white paper cones, appear less robust and deliver weaker output.

The Impact of Magnet Size on Sound Quality

The most significant advantage of the PHASS speakers is evident when examining their rear: a substantial, large magnet. This contrasts sharply with the small, lightweight magnets found in the factory units. The size and strength of a speaker's magnet directly correlate with its ability to generate vibrations accurately. A larger magnet provides stronger magnetic force, leading to quicker response times and more precise control over the speaker cone's movement. This translates to superior resolution, allowing you to discern finer details in music, from individual instrument notes to subtle ambient sounds, even at the same volume level as the stock system.

Door Panel Treatment: Enhancing Sound with Sound Deadening

Simply replacing the speakers isn't enough to achieve optimal performance. Effective sound deadening and sound absorption within the door panels are critical. This process involves applying specialized materials to the inner and outer door skins, as well as the door panel itself. The goal is to reduce vibrations, minimize road noise intrusion, and prevent sound waves from canceling each other out within the door cavity. By enhancing the acoustic environment inside the door, the new speakers can perform at their best, delivering clearer, more impactful sound with reduced distortion.

Installation Process:

1. Careful removal of door panel trim to access factory speakers and wiring.
2. Installation of custom-fit brackets designed specifically for the Mercedes-Benz GLE.
3. Mounting of new PHASS mid-woofers, mid-ranges, and tweeters, ensuring a secure and precise fit.
4. Application of sound deadening and absorption materials to the door structure for improved acoustics.
5. Reassembly of door panels, ensuring all trim pieces are correctly fitted.

This comprehensive approach ensures that the new sound system integrates seamlessly and performs to its full potential, providing a vastly improved listening experience compared to the original setup.