Chinese DD, Hi-line and the HK amp??

HarryM1BYT · 29th September 2010, 16:09

Can someone end my confusion please?

So far as I have been able to determine -

The Harmon K unit's inputs are at speaker levels and it boosts those levels and also produces an output to the sub speakers.

Now when I fit the (Radioguy) DD unit in place of my present Hi-line, it plugs directly into and feeds the speakers.

Will that not mean both the HK and DD will be fighting to feed the very same HK speakers?

I eventually want to resuse the HK amp and sub speakers with the DD unit.

Jakg · 29th September 2010, 18:05

99.9% of headunits have an internal amp - this is what drives the speakers. The Symphony / Harmony / Kenwood / VDO units found in our cars are wired direct to the speakers, with the internal amp powering them. The HK amp sits between the HU and the speakers, taking the speaker cables from the HU, and then amplifying this (already amplified) signal, and sending it to the speakers.

The Hi-Line works in the same way (albeit with a lot more cables)

If you replace the Hi-Line with the Chinese units, as long as you plug the speaker outputs (should be in the BMW 17-pin connector) into the HU it will work fine.

HarryM1BYT · 29th September 2010, 18:55

Do you mean the HK will be used by the new DD head unit, simply by plugging it into the ISO plug and the subs on the back shelf will work as before?

Great if that is true, it is just that others (Italianstallion) seem to have found the HK didn't work unless I have misunderstood.

Jakg · 29th September 2010, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

Do you mean the HK will be used by the new DD head unit, simply by plugging it into the ISO plug and the subs on the back shelf will work as before?

Yes. This is my experience with retrofitting the HK system to my own car / using different head units. I haven't used the Hi-Line system but it should be very similar. The only thing you *may* have to do is wire the remote up separately (remote = turns the amp on when needed).

The HK is nothing special unfortunately... I wish i'd realised before I spent so much time and effort fitting the ****** thing

HarryM1BYT · 29th September 2010, 19:43

Thanks Jakg.

I'm just hoping the new unit combined with the HK will bring the sound upto 'reasonable quality'. I'm no audiophile, but the more I listen to my Hi-line the more critical I become of it.

Jakg · 29th September 2010, 19:44

Unfortunately I doubt it will make a massive difference

29th September 2010, 16:09	#1
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Chinese DD, Hi-line and the HK amp?? Can someone end my confusion please? So far as I have been able to determine - The Harmon K unit's inputs are at speaker levels and it boosts those levels and also produces an output to the sub speakers. Now when I fit the (Radioguy) DD unit in place of my present Hi-line, it plugs directly into and feeds the speakers. Will that not mean both the HK and DD will be fighting to feed the very same HK speakers? I eventually want to resuse the HK amp and sub speakers with the DD unit.

29th September 2010, 18:05	#2
Jakg This is my second home N/A Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 6,867 Thanks: 0 Thanked 397 Times in 302 Posts	99.9% of headunits have an internal amp - this is what drives the speakers. The Symphony / Harmony / Kenwood / VDO units found in our cars are wired direct to the speakers, with the internal amp powering them. The HK amp sits between the HU and the speakers, taking the speaker cables from the HU, and then amplifying this (already amplified) signal, and sending it to the speakers. The Hi-Line works in the same way (albeit with a lot more cables) If you replace the Hi-Line with the Chinese units, as long as you plug the speaker outputs (should be in the BMW 17-pin connector) into the HU it will work fine.

29th September 2010, 18:55	#3
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Do you mean the HK will be used by the new DD head unit, simply by plugging it into the ISO plug and the subs on the back shelf will work as before? Great if that is true, it is just that others (Italianstallion) seem to have found the HK didn't work unless I have misunderstood.

29th September 2010, 19:43	#5
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Thanks Jakg. I'm just hoping the new unit combined with the HK will bring the sound upto 'reasonable quality'. I'm no audiophile, but the more I listen to my Hi-line the more critical I become of it.

29th September 2010, 19:44	#6
Jakg This is my second home N/A Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 6,867 Thanks: 0 Thanked 397 Times in 302 Posts	Unfortunately I doubt it will make a massive difference