Ok, i just go my MINI yesterday.... and i have the HK system.... i got a Sony headunit as a gift... nd was wondering if it will be compatible with the HK and the MFSW.... the sonly headunit model is CDX-F7700.

Any info will be greatly appreciated!!!

P.S. Sorry if this questions has been brought up be4

mikeythemini on here
www.newministuff.co.uk
has an interface which sounds like it should work im waiting to here from him about it i think hes just doing sum tests on it

I think also ian cull has a unit his username is gbmini ?

I am sincerely hoping that Mike (Mikeythemini) will have an adapter available shortly.

A year ago I bought an Alpine head-unit and CD-changer for my MCS which is fitted with the HK-system. Several attempts later, I am still not able to make them work with the HK-system. I have brought the car in with the Belgian specialists and asked them to use the solution that was provided by Iancull. They refused to start working on the car before they received the necessary technical information from BMW. This was four months, and the specialist and I am still awaiting a reply from BMW.

I think also ian cull has a unit his username is gbmini ?
Thanks.
The "HK enabler" circuits that Mikey has (and hopefully will soon be able to supply people) are designed and manufactured by me - I have had one in my car for some time and it works fine. Basically it persuades the HK amp to work with aftermarket HU.

To get MFSW control requires another separate adaptor - Mikey carries many of those (including the PAC SWI-X which I bought from him over a year ago and still have not got around to installing!)

Ok, then is it possible for me to install my headunit... but my it work with my HK... but then when i wanna sold the car...nd take the head unit off nd stuff....will the HK system still works if the factory headunit is fitted in?

P.S. if i install the sony headunit....will the curise control on my MFSW work????

I can build the HK enabler into the MFSW adaptor.
I have been waiting for a HK Mini to fit one to as a final test but have been unable to get my hands on one.
But as the prototype worked fine these will be fine I am sure
The cruise control will remain OK
The adaptor is plug & play so you will be able to re-install the factory unit when u sell the car

Ian,

nice work.

Mike,

please keep us posted on the development of the adaptor.

I can't wait to fit it to my MCS. Unfortunately, I live in Belgium. Otherwise, you could try it in my car.

Cheers,

musicman

Anyone for a free fit on the final version ????

Keep me posted on the further developments Mikey ... This sounds very interesting :D :D
Got a friend of mine who is looking for something like that...

com'on who wants to try it ??? :D :D :D

should have asked me yesterday!

My understanding is that you guys are talking about hooking the HK amp to a non-HK head unit. Other than the burning question of "why???" I am wondering about the reverse situation. I have the HK head unit, and the HK amp, but I have a far superior and higher-powered ads 6-channel amp that I would like to use instead. Are there any close-to plug-and-play options for putting the new amplifier either after or in-place-of the HK amp/processing unit?

The car is leased so I don't want to do major surgery on the wiring. One thing I cannot lose is the current connection to my phatbox (via the cd-changer cable). Any ideas are welcome...

MK,
"why" ... because the aftermarket head unit is better in some way. Better sound? Better Features? For me, my Kenwood head unit "plays nice" with my Kenwood Keg, displaying track/artist info.

Your second question is a big "no", especially with the no-major-surgery caveat. The HK amp is tailored to the speakers that it drives. Replace the amp and likely replace the speakers too.

keg is great. Unfortunately I have a phatbox that plays nice with the BMW-standard head unit. I guess what I am thinking of doing is maybe "minor" surgery.

First, assuming I can get a clean input signal, what would be the problems driving the HK speakers off a high quality a/d/s amp?

Second, if I just unplug the jack going into the HK amp, does the system just sort of magically revert to a standard boost or wave head unit? I guess I need to figure out then if the phatbox is running through the HK amp or on a wire straight to the headunit. And if I unplug the HK, I have (thanks to you as I recall) a pinout for the plug that I can perhaps use to get the speaker-level out from the headunit and run it into the a/d/s (with or without a line-level adapter).

I guess my "why" was really asking, does the sound quality get dramatically better by keeping all the HK stuff EXCEPT the head unit? I wouldn't think the head unit to be the weak link in the chain....

monty

My Kenwood HU sounds better than the original. It might simply be better loudness boosting at the quieter levels I listen to. Or it might be overall cleaner sound being delivered to the HK amp.

The BMW-phatbox should be wired up mimicing a CD changer. That goes into the head unit and should be unaffected by the HK amp.
From my testing, the head unit reverts to normal if the HK amp does not "talk to it" on iBus wires. Only the front left/right speaker wires are taken from the head unit to the HK amp position so if you wanted a new amp, you would need to pick up and run the rear left/right speaker signals. There is no line level in the stock head unit.

If you go for an aftermarket amp, you will need one that can drive 2 ohm speaker loads. On the rear 6x9 speakers you have two 2 ohm coils on each speaker - so with the front door speakers that would be six channels of 2 ohm loads, plus the midrange/tweeter. And you need a crossover for the mid/tweeter because there is not one in the car.
You will lose the HK "sculpting" of the sound shape, tailored to the MINI. Balancing an aftermarket system takes skill to get a system that is as clear as the HK system.

The stock head unit pinout is in many places, including my desk and I think in the MINI2 FAQs.


keg is great. Unfortunately I have a phatbox that plays nice with the BMW-standard head unit. I guess what I am thinking of doing is maybe "minor" surgery.

First, assuming I can get a clean input signal, what would be the problems driving the HK speakers off a high quality a/d/s amp?

Second, if I just unplug the jack going into the HK amp, does the system just sort of magically revert to a standard boost or wave head unit? I guess I need to figure out then if the phatbox is running through the HK amp or on a wire straight to the headunit. And if I unplug the HK, I have (thanks to you as I recall) a pinout for the plug that I can perhaps use to get the speaker-level out from the headunit and run it into the a/d/s (with or without a line-level adapter).

I guess my "why" was really asking, does the sound quality get dramatically better by keeping all the HK stuff EXCEPT the head unit? I wouldn't think the head unit to be the weak link in the chain....

monty

Thanks.
The "HK enabler" circuits that Mikey has (and hopefully will soon be able to supply people) are designed and manufactured by me - I have had one in my car for some time and it works fine. Basically it persuades the HK amp to work with aftermarket HU.

How much is this HK enabler, Very intrested! Need it for my Alpine flip out screen head unit which has the HU amp etc seprate and under the seat! I miss my HK Sub Loads! lol!

Take care

You should contact MikeyTheMini either via MINI2 (http://www.mini2.com/forum/member.php?u=3053) or via his website (http://www.newministuff.co.uk/products.htm)

Hi Mike,

any news on the enabler yet?

Have you found a Mini with HK to test it on?

Cheers,

the musicman

No but having tested the prototype ok I have now started shipping

Question on the "enabler": I assume that if I install the enabler and a (say) kenwood head unit, I lose the functionality of my phatbox device, currently wired up as a bmw-compatible cd changer. In other words, the enabler doesn't translate signals to/from the BMW cd changer device. That said, I am starting to think about Ian's solution, since I now see that a different headunit may allow me to high-pass the signal going to the HK amp, and that will resolve most of my issues.

Ian - what is a ballpark cost for a Kenwood h/u and keg? I am wondering if I trade in the phatbox how close I can get...

monty

The only thing the HKenabler does is fool the HK amp into thinking a stock head unit is present - this allows you to remove the stock head unit and replace it.
So your phatbox connected the way it is would need to be adapted to work with whatever new head unit you get. You might find help on the Phatbox forums (http://www.phatnoise.com/forum/index.php) which could allow you to get a different cable/adaptor and still use the phatbox with whatever head unit you go with.
Or you could sell the phatbox and get a keg instead, if you are going with a kenwood head unit. I got a "last years model" head unit for about $250, and the keg was either $400 or $450. Crutchfield currently list the keg at $350 (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Zq64GBMG65r/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?s=0&cc=01&i=113KHDCX91&g=50800&search=keg)!