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Jamesy Boy ACS3d

Harmon Kardon Retrofit

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Just started my Harmon Kardon full system retrofit yesterday into my touring.

Managed to get a full system of eBay including:

  • Full HK wiring loom
  • HK wiring looms for all 4 doors
  • Front heated door surrounds with HK tweeter covers
  • HK tweeters
  • Front black leather door cards with leather arm rests, HK mid and sub speakers
  • Rear black leather door cards with learher arm rests and HK mid speakers
  • Rear parcel shelf HK speakers with HK grills (will be selling the grills off)
  • 2 x HK subs (6x9's) with amp
  • HK main amp and mounting brackets

Purchased an OEM CD player from Jorge (Cheers buddy :D)

Purchased a Connects2 IPod connector of eBay (new and for half the price, bargain :P)

The only part I am missing is the HK spatialiser button (and how this is wired into the system as there is no connection on the loom B))

Got started on this installation yesterday and ran out of time as BigRich78 visited (he has some lovely pics of the touring exposing parts that she shouldn't :huh:). Drove to work today with no door card or seats (apart from the drivers), must admit she did move a bit quicker!!

So far I have removed rear trim, door cards, seats, door runner covers, some carpet, stereo, dash trim, heater matrix, ashtray, sunglass holder, centre console and some other parts. Started to remove the orginal stereo wiring loom.

Just hope I can remember where it all goes back :D

Next steps:

  • Run HK wiring loom
  • Run new door wiring looms from doors to body
  • Fit HK front door surrounds
  • Attach new speakers to all doors and refit with new door cards
  • Fit 'loon rear parcel shelf speakers into boot speaker locations (normally this is where the HK 6x9's would go)
  • Temporarily fit HK 6x9's onto boot floor (Next phase is to purchase a HK convertible sub 8" and install into rear multi-CD trim cover)
  • Run Connects2 Ipod wiring from stereo location to armrest compartment for Ipod
  • Install OEM CD player
  • Refit all trim, carpet, seats, console etc.

Should keep me out of the misses way for a bit!

Also does anybody know how to retrofit the HK spatialiser button into the loom?? As I will be requiring the 18mm button which is separate from other buttons (not in a console bar with other buttons DSC etc, which is the 16mm version).

Will post some pics when I get a chance.

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The spatialiser button you speak of is DSP. It's not part of HK specifically.

I hope the kit wasn't too expensive!

<_<B)

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got the HK in my touring :huh:

get some pics up.!

mine when the bass is all the way up distorts a bit duno if there is a fault with one of the drivers?

I've got it in my touring, too.

The bass is a bit overpowering and boomy when turned up.

Pretty disappointing for a so-called 'premium' sound system - no where near as crisp and rich sounding as the standard system in a '98 A4 my wife used to have.

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The spatialiser button you speak of is DSP. It's not part of HK specifically.

I hope the kit wasn't too expensive!

:huh::P

Cheers for the info on the button, done a bit more research and found out not all HK systems came with the DSP button. So mines probably one of these.

Got the whole HK system & 4 HK speaker fitted black leather door cards for £400. Will be putting my black leather door cards & all the other bits I remove up for sale. So hopefully in the end I won't have forked out to much.

Hopefully finishing off the install this weekend, weather permitting. Will then get some pics and a write up posted B)

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Not a bad price, yeah definitely get some pics up, I know there are quite a few people interested in this upgrade :huh:

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I've got it in my touring, too.

The bass is a bit overpowering and boomy when turned up.

Pretty disappointing for a so-called 'premium' sound system - no where near as crisp and rich sounding as the standard system in a '98 A4 my wife used to have.

totaly agree my mates a4 standard system and my other mates mk4 golf standard system kick the HK quality and loudness. was quite dissapointed when i got the car. maybe a better amp would make better use of the speakers??

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The HK speakers are the weak link (just cheapo paper things with a logo on them made on the cheap for BMW). The amp is quite good. Change the speakers and it will sound loads better.

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No, they are non-standard sizes but have a look for dicky's speaker DIY for an idea on what to do ;)

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Well i saw the process of James taking his car apart, and personally i wouldn't even attempt it. From the amount of wires and the ball ache involved, not for me. I already have HK in my car and i dont really see if being any better than going to an audio shop and putting in aftermarket speakers in. If my car hadnt got the HK in, i would of put custom fit speakers in. Good luck james, if ya get stuck i can always bring my mate up who is a installation god...

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I have the HK system and think its great. I've had 2 audis with their premium concert system and Bose and compared it with a jaguar with a bowers and Wilkins system and with my unprofessional ears the HK system is just as good.

400 is a great purchase especially as you can sell your old gear.

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H/K in my coupe was excellent imo, could go much louder than what i ever wanted. Not so gresat in my convertible but thats to be expected.

Does anybody know what the button does though? When i bought my coupe the owner said it turns the h/k amp off if u dont want it so loud but as far as i could see, or hear , in my ownership it didnt seem to make any difference on or off. Oh and my convertible doesn't have the button.

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HK is alright.

For a 10+ year old sound system.

IMO you could do better by wiring up an aftermarket sub, amp and a couple of compenents in the front.

In all honesty, I probably would have done the same if it wasnt so damn expensive to upgrade the HK speakers.

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H/K in my coupe was excellent imo, could go much louder than what i ever wanted. Not so gresat in my convertible but thats to be expected.

Does anybody know what the button does though? When i bought my coupe the owner said it turns the h/k amp off if u dont want it so loud but as far as i could see, or hear , in my ownership it didnt seem to make any difference on or off. Oh and my convertible doesn't have the button.

It turns on the digital signal processor. The amp is always on.

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I don't suppose you have any info on the Connections2 gadget.  I've got one in my Car and I can't get it to work.  Been through how it connects to rear of standard business CD player with the help desk,  But how do you get the stereo to play external inputs?

I'm on the verge of ripping it out 

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