Europa II Stereo & Associated Speakers

[Ed Cave]

I have read miles of messages in this forum regarding radios and apologize if this is redundant.

In my 1971 280sl I am considering switching out the Europa for a Europa II Stereo. I assume the later will fit where the Europa was and I also assume if MB installed a stereo radio in the 113, there must have been more than one speaker.

Of the thousands of photos of sl's I have looked at over the past several months, I'm not sure I have ever seen one that shows original stereo speakers. I believe these were installed in the kick panels but not absolutely sure.

Now the questions. What did the original stereo speakers look like? Were they in fact in the kick panels and if so, precisely where? What happens to the center speaker in the dash when you run a stereo system or is there even a speaker under the wood grille?

The photo attached below is of the speaker found in my dash. It appears to have 2 small tweeters as well as the larger center cone. Anyone recognize this? Could this be original or is it an obvious later conversion?

And finally, if anyone has a good photo of what the original stereo speakers look like as they were originally installed, please post it here.

Thanks very much.

Download Attachment: dashspeaker.jpg
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Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL

[hauser]

Ed, I have never seen a center speaker like yours before.  None of these had tweeters.  I have a Europa II stereo in my car with  center and rear speakers.  My fader switch is located in the center console where a defroster switch would be.

I will try to post a couple pics for you.

You may also want to check out a Becker Mexico cassette.  There is a company in Germany that will replace its innards with something more high tech.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[Douglas]

Here's a photo of a factory speaker in a kick panel. It's identical to mine:


Download Attachment: frtspkrs.JPG
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Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[hauser]

Doug, with these speakers in the kick panel was the center speaker operative?

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[Douglas]

There is no speaker under my center speaker grill. It's empty.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Mark Sean]

Any one know where i could get replacement speakers for the kick panels - left - right?

Becker USA no longer handles.

Would these just be "basic" 3" ish replacement?

Mine work - just considering replacing as i am sure theyre original.

[ja17]

Hello Ed,
Here is a good string on the subject:

http://sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=647,radio,Joe,Alexander

I also have the Becker installation diagram for the radio and the stereo speakers with the exact locations on each side.

Download Attachment: speaker panel layout 2.JPG
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Download Attachment: w113 speaker1.JPG
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Yes the center speaker was left out when equiped with the stereo and dual speakers.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[hauser]

I guess one could use the covers (if you can find) and have modern speakers installed.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[Ed Cave]

Well, I'm kind of back to square one with my speaker issue and need some help. The photo shows the factory cut hole where the original kick panel speaker(s) would be installed. Can someone who knows these speakers tell me how large a speaker this hole will accept (3- 1/2", 5-1/4"?) and is it possible to use the original square black plastic grill with a modern speaker (of some size) behind it?

Douglas posted a photo of one of these speakers in his response below and the overall size of it appears quite small. Anyone know the width x height dimension of one of these?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Download Attachment: speak loc.jpg
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Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[hauser]

Ed, what about those JBL speakers you had posted in an earlier topic.  Do you think these would work/fit?   Since I'm on the subject and mind you I'm no expert when it comes to these things but aren't the new JBL's too close together(center dash location) to get optimum sound effcts?  Just a thought.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by Ed Cave

The photo shows the factory cut hole where the original kick panel speaker(s) would be installed.
Download Attachment: speak loc.jpg
33.08 KB

Anyone know when these speaker spaces first showed up in production?  I assume my 230SL would not have them.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[ja17]

Hello Ed,
I have a pair of these originals in front of me.
The plastic covers are 4" X 4" and 1" deep. The 2 1/2" diameter speaker magnet is the only part of the speaker which protrudes 3/4" out the back of the cover.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[ja17]

Hello Rodd,
The openings were probably "hole sawed" at the factory if the stereo option was ordered.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Dick M]

Ed..
I'm using a pair of small Pioneer speakers (4x4 after a slight modification to the speaker frame). They fit snuggly into the black kick pannel speaker box.  The depth is just right so only the magnet extends through the hole in the body.


Download Attachment: speaker 1.jpg
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Download Attachment: speaker 2.jpg
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Dick M
1970 280SL

[Ed Cave]

Hauser: Unfortunately, that dual JBL set-up I came up with would not fit in the dash. Even though the total depth was less than 2" the magnets, spread apart as they were, would conflict with the heater levers. Apparently there is some accommodation made for the factory mono speaker where the small magnet is in the very center.

quote:Originally posted by hauser

Ed, what about those JBL speakers you had posted in an earlier topic.  Do you think these would work/fit?   Since I'm on the subject and mind you I'm no expert when it comes to these things but aren't the new JBL's too close together(center dash location) to get optimum sound effcts?  Just a thought.



1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

JA17 - This car came with the mono Europa and has never had speakers installed in the kick panels. From what I understand, these holes in the steel became a standard at some point, regardless of whether speakers would be installed there or not so all 'later' cars would have them. From what I've seen in my research, a fairly low percentage of cars ever had speakers installed there.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[ja17]

Thanks Ed,
Yes the stereo option  is fairly rare and the speakers hard to come by.
 
Interesting, so a lot of late 280-SL's have these holes behind there kick panels.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[hauser]

Ed, just the other day I found myself looking at speakers at the local Best Buy store.  There really wasn't much to choose from in small size speakers.  This is not to say they aren't out there.  In fact many of todays high end cars with multiple speaker systems are usually made up of mostly smaller speakers.  My BMW had a total of ten.  The smallest were located just opposite of the side view mirrors.  I believe you can do a pretty nice setup if you were to contact a high end car audio shop.  If you're not intending on showing the car I would lean towards doing four or perhaps six speakers.  Just a thought.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.