rhartley Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 (edited) Hi guys, relatively new to the forum, lurked for a few weeks and amazed at how friendly you all seem to be.. Most of the time I've recently invested in a 2005 330Cd Convertible with a BMW business HU, and a HK system. Reasonably good sound quality but me being me wants to upgrade. I have a Pioneer DA120 from my previous car which I want to install, and I'm aware I will need a CC Relocation Panel from BMW or the like, and I'm hoping as it doesn't have a CD drive it will be shallow enough to install without modifying the heating ducts. Not an issue really either way. However, I'm not 100% happy with the SQ of the speakers, they're not bad but lack a little mid and bass. I'm hoping that the aftermarket headunit will help, and as an addition I was looking to install a boot build. I've been told that it's an absolute ballache to install (apparently I would need a completely new loom made up). Can anyone shed light on the wiring that goes with the HK sub, and amp? If needs be I don't see why I couldn't take it out? Thanks in advance. Edited October 26, 2015 by rhartley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daboy Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Seems impossible to get a definitive answer or guide to this and as nobody replied in all this time I guess most people don't know but I am sure someone has done it and can help. I will be looking to upgrade my professional HK system to an Alpine HU and would like to know the same thing. I'm sure you must be able to use the phono outs to the HK amp but have no idea what leads/loom will be required. Did you ever get anywhere? I will create a guide once I know how to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontpannic Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 The HK amp is speaker level only - not line level, so no phonos. If you want to just upgrade your headunit, just go right ahead with a 17-pin to ISO connection - it will work fine with the HK. If you want to upgrade the speakers, you can't run aftermarket speakers off of the HK amp properly as the impedance level from the HK amp is odd and doesn't match aftermarket speakers/amps. So - if you just want to change headunit - go ahead, that's fine. If you want to change speakers, then you'll have to replace the speakers, the amp, the wiring from the amp to the speakers (unless you want to try and trace back the wiring from the HK amp), and run phono cables from the headunit to your new amp. daboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus5000 Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 I don't even know where to start lol. Will be stripping out my 1000w amp and sub from my Nissan (rip) tomoz but am buggered if I know how to plumb it into the beemer. The sound system (non HK) sounds terrible in my car. Had to move all sound to the rear or its all horribly distorted. Need to sort the 'auto volume up and doing weird things to treble/bass' thingy via 'secret' extra functions from the onboard computer. I've just found that I can't even access the boot via the rear seats arm rest thingy. Think I'm destined for piss poor audio as can't afford to sort it all :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daboy Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 On 2017-6-4 at 13:34, dontpannic said: The HK amp is speaker level only - not line level, so no phonos. If you want to just upgrade your headunit, just go right ahead with a 17-pin to ISO connection - it will work fine with the HK. If you want to upgrade the speakers, you can't run aftermarket speakers off of the HK amp properly as the impedance level from the HK amp is odd and doesn't match aftermarket speakers/amps. So - if you just want to change headunit - go ahead, that's fine. If you want to change speakers, then you'll have to replace the speakers, the amp, the wiring from the amp to the speakers (unless you want to try and trace back the wiring from the HK amp), and run phono cables from the headunit to your new amp. Thanks for the reply. I can confirm that I have put in an Alpine using the iso adaptors etc and it all sounds fine, in fact it sounds brilliant!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontpannic Posted June 22, 2017 Report Share Posted June 22, 2017 Alpines have very good sound processors, and the HK is not a bad system by any means - it's normally let down by the stock headunit. Whack a replacement in there and as you've found out, it sounds pretty good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
