Blanco

iTrader: (8)

The Mark Levinson sound system in the 2GSs had a center channel (dash) speaker. I don't know if it was a separate channel out of the amp, or if was just somehow mixed from the front channels.

My application is different. I have a 98 that I just swapped interiors with an 04 model. So I have the opening for the speaker, but no speaker behind the grill in the dash.

I could probably install the external 605 speaker there, but I'm not convinced it will be loud enough. That's why I was asking Debonair about other options.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Oh, ok, I dont have ML and no center speak or grille (that I recall).

I still would love to be able to wire it to the rear speaker.

Debonair

Yup. See pic below - not my car but you get the idea.


That actually sounds ideal. I say give it a shot. Other wise you need to find a way to feed the sound into your head unit so that you can use all the speakers and the cars amp to raise the volume.

You can also explore a headrest mod like THIS.

Using the factory center channel speaker I can not turn the volume all the way up. Only on the freeway at high speeds in wind or rain is it difficult to hear.

fuzzzz

iTrader: (19)

Wow, thats a clean addition to the car. Thanks for sharing, but I already got a double din thats bluetooth compatible

Debonair

I am sure LOTS of people, like you, have aftermarket solutions. Good thing I was not thinking about you when I made this post.

Blanco

iTrader: (8)

Ok, so I spent some time this last weekend trying out alternate methods to put the phone audio into the factory speakers. I've tried all the methods mentioned so far in this thread.

None of them satisfied me so I'm going to try another method. I'm convinced on paper that it will work, I just have to wait for the parts to get here. It involves adding a relay and an amplifier. Once I get the parts, hook it up to test it out, I'll post my results here.

I'm just still not satisfied with the external Moto speaker in the cencter channel location in the dash, although I would suspect it would be loud enough for most people.

We shall see....

Och

iTrader: (3)

Keep us posted dude.

Blanco

iTrader: (8)

I ended up giving up. Current kept going back INTO the factory amp, no matter what I tried. I added another relay, that keyed off the mute wire when a call would come/go. That relay would charge, and in turn power on a small 2ch motocycle amp to drive the voice call into one of the car's speakers. Problem was it drove the speaker, and also into the factory amp causing all kinds of garbage.

I suppose I could have kept going down the rabbit hole. Believe me, pride was a motivating factor, but the diminishing returns curve was going up in a hurry. I've learned to live with it (Moto speaker in dash). It does the job 98% of the time, and the fact that I installed my mic in pretty much the same place as Debonair, doesn't cause ANY feedback!! So far EVERYONE I've been on the HF with, can't tell they're on speaker phone.

Long term solution is just to do a double din swap. I just don't know if I want to drop the coin for a new unit, climate control unit(I'm on factory nav) and 5 channel amp. Plus, I don't really like the idea of the climate controls ABOVE the screen. I'm sure I'd get used to it.