Is anyone using an aftermarket head unit with the Harman/Kardon amp and speakers? Crutchfield says they have a harness that will allow you to retain the Harman/Kardon setup and just replace the head unit. I'm thinking of doing this because I don't want to spend the $$$ for the factory CD changer and this way I will have a CD/MP3/WMA player and also an aux input for sat radio for later down the road. If I wanted then I could even use a CD changer later too, plus I don't have to figure how to make the factory sub work with an aftermarket unit.
Anyone using an aftermarket stereo w/HK amp and speakers?
- Thread starter Roverfire
- Start date
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syoung
Guest
I assume your head unit is a visteon single CD version? If so- a blaupunkt head unit will plug right in, otherwise there is an adapter to plug in just about any other head unit.
The HK amp is a speaker level input type, so it's no big deal to swap heads. ANY head unit would probably sound better than the original one- I went Blau, but tried an Alpine in there and either of them sounded better than the original.
The HK amp is a speaker level input type, so it's no big deal to swap heads. ANY head unit would probably sound better than the original one- I went Blau, but tried an Alpine in there and either of them sounded better than the original.
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DiscoII
Guest
Hey I could sell you my factory CD changer and save you the trouble with the head unit. It is an alpine from my 03 Disco?
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syoung
Guest
Depends which head unit is in it- HK external amp stereos can be had with a visteon OR an alpine head unit.
I put in a carputer (www.mp3car.com) that I built (mp3 jukebox, fm radio, xm radio, videos, dvd, single cd, and navigation). I had to adjust the line level with my HK amp in my D2.
--Craig
--Craig
Alpine head for me too (gotta watch my dvd's and run my gps). It's no prob hooking to the factory amp - wish I'd have known about the wiring harness adapter before I hooked it up though. But I am proud of getting the steering wheel controls to work again finally 
. I've disconnected the factory subs from the rear door (anybody want them?) since my little kicker 10" is much better.
Craig - how did you adjust the line levels on the factory HK amp?
. I've disconnected the factory subs from the rear door (anybody want them?) since my little kicker 10" is much better.Craig - how did you adjust the line levels on the factory HK amp?
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DiscoII
Guest
Jaberwock said:
There are universal line level adjusters. r inputs, 4 outputs, and two knobs. One knob adjusts the left (or front) and the other knob adjusts the right (or rear) line levels. I forget the name of it, but any good stereo shop should be able to help you out. Just tell them you have a factory amp and want to use an aftermarket headunit. They will give you a wiring harness and the line level adjuster.
Headunit -> Line level adjuster -> amp -> speakers.
--Craig
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syoung
Guest
not sure you'd need an external line level adjuster since the HK amp is hi-level (speaker level) input from the head unit.
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