
There are two recommended methods to adjust the audio system of the Mercedes-Benz E300: 1. Increase both treble and bass to +6, set midrange at zero, and move the overall sound field to -3 or -4 towards the rear seats. 2. Set bass to the highest level, midrange to 4/5, and treble to 2/3. Adjust the sound position to balance the auditory center point vertically at 0 and horizontally at -5, maximizing the volume from the front bass speakers. Please note the following points: 1. The in-car listening environment is challenging, and the human ear may not subjectively distinguish between 320Kbps MP3 and lossless audio formats. 320Kbps MP3 format is sufficient, and there is no need for lossless formats. You can directly plug a USB drive into the armrest compartment's interface for playback. 2. The equalizer settings for radio and music playback are the same. When listening to the radio, setting the bass to zero can make the sound clearer.

I've tinkered with the E300's audio system before and came up with this tuning method, which works really well for daily listening. Different audio configurations do produce varying effects – for instance, the tuning priorities differ between the base model's standard speakers and the high-end Burmester system. First, access the sound settings via the MBUX system. I recommend using the 'Driver' mode, as it focuses the sound on the driver's position, delivering an exceptional listening experience when driving alone. For the equalizer settings, I prefer boosting the bass to around 70%, keeping the midrange at default, and increasing the treble to 80% for clearer vocals. Don't max out the surround sound; setting it two notches to the right of center sounds most natural, otherwise you might get a boomy echo. Using lossless audio sources is crucial – playing FLAC files via USB sounds significantly better than compressed Bluetooth audio. If you often drive with family, remember to switch to the front/rear balance mode so passengers in the back can hear clearly. When driving through tunnels or on highways, turn on one level of speed-dependent volume compensation to prevent road noise from drowning out the music.

Last month I just helped my friend tune the Burmester® sound system in his E300, which requires meticulous adjustment. Remember to turn off the Speed-dependent volume compensation in the audio settings, otherwise the volume will fluctuate with speed changes. I prefer moving the sound field center two notches backward for a more balanced listening experience between the driver and front passenger. Don't be too aggressive with the bass module—just increase the 60Hz by two notches, or else the door panels will vibrate. Key point: Make sure to enable the 'Burmester® Surround' effect, but keep the intensity below 50%, or the vocals will sound hollow. When playing different audio sources, it's recommended to save two separate presets—for example, a 'Vocal Mode' with midrange +2, treble +1, bass -1, and an 'EDM Mode' with bass maxed out and treble +2. You can quickly switch presets by long-pressing the volume button on the steering wheel while skipping tracks.

Adjusting the car audio system really depends on your usual driving conditions. For those of us commuting through congested city traffic, I recommend turning on the audio compression feature—this ensures you can still hear the lyrics clearly even at lower volumes during traffic jams. If you have a luxury model equipped with the Burmester sound system, try turning off the 3D audio effect. While it sounds impressive, it can make pop music feel unnatural. Focus on adjusting the 100Hz-1kHz range, as this determines the richness of vocals. A good test track is Tsai Chin's "The Ferry"; if the vocals remain clear without muddiness after the drum beats, your settings are spot-on. Also, avoid letting the air conditioner vents blow directly onto the door-mounted speakers, as this can make the sound unstable. Lastly, set the star button on the steering wheel to mute instantly—this comes in handy when taking phone calls without fumbling.


