MikeytheMini Harmon Kardon Question

[L33 KBY]

Hi Mikey,

I bought off you the other week the adaptor for the harmon kardon to be used with an aftermarket headunit..... service absolutely great!!!

I have just had my Kenwood 627DVD motorised screen fitted in, kenwood nav, ipod lead, Parrot Evo bluetooth etc

I have a problem though, I personally think the sound is absolutely dreadful, there is like a hissing noise when the volume is turned upto 20 on the headunit, the bass is perfect its just the singing on the songs sound awful, this is the same on CD, Ipod and Radio...

Have I got the audio set up wrong if so what setup would you advise for setting up the sound through the headunit?

Sorry to be a pain... but its that bad I want to put my old headunit back in!!!!

Cheers Mate

Lee

[GBMINI]

Lee,
You say this hissing occurs when the volume is turned up - so it doesn't do it on lower volumes?
How loud is "20"? Are you overloading the H/K system - is it much louder than you achieved with the stock HU?

The way (my) HKenabler works is that it tells the H/K amp to run at basically maximum all the time. You will hear a quiet hiss from the H/K because of this - but it should not be very audible when music is playing, and it definitely wouldn't be affected by the HU volume setting.

If you have noise only at higher HU volumes, it's either because you're overloading the H/K or because the HU has a problem.

[L33 KBY]

Hi GBMINI,

appreciate the response, the noise is there when the headunit is quiet but its not that audible but it does increase with the increase in volume....

I wouldnt say its like a background/interference hiss, sounds like the system is exagerating certain sounds within the song like a constant noise of when a cymbal has been tapped...

Wasnt sure whether it was the setup of the audio through the headunit, something wrongly cabled by the installer or blown speakers when they installed the headunit???

[GBMINI]

Don't know what's happening there, then
Mikey?

Would be nice to borrow some other HU and just quickly plug it in and check - with ISO connectors hopefully it would be a quick disconnect/re-connect to try it out and see if it's specific to the HU

[L33 KBY]

Shout out to Mikey for advice!!!

[mikeythemini]

Sent you a mail earlier - but now I've read more of your problems
As Ian says it doesnt sound like a hk enabler problem - it doesnt carry the signal from your stereo.
I would fade the kenwood to rear slightly, set the audio control to wide
One of my good friends has a kenwood screen in his S with HK I was sat in it yesterday - sounds great.
If its interference - it could be the way the cables are run. The speaker cables on your unit don't attach to the stereo but to the hideaway box, the cable is 4.5m long, make sure the installer has cut them down & not just coiled them up. I normally hide the hideaway under the seat. Be sure he has used the speaker outputs & not the pre amp outputs !!!!!
Do you have the hk enabler with or without mode adjust

[L33 KBY]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini (original)

Sent you a mail earlier

Thanks for the email, your help with this matter is appreciated

I believe the installer hasnt cut the cable he has coiled it behind the glovebox!!! This was coiled also though in the same position on my previous cooper but without Harmon Kardon!!!

The hideaway box is under the passenger seat with the Navigation unit under the floor of the passenger footwell.

I have the HK Enabler with the mode adjust button, I have tried all the different modes but it only seems to be really changing the bass, this over exageration of the cymbal sound happens on all different modes.

Finally I have one problem with the headunit, it is not storing my settings e.g. When I preset my radio stations turn the car off and then turn the ignition back on it is resetting back to standard which is what is also happening with the audio setup!!! This also occurs on my Parrot Evo bluetooth for example if I change the background image when the ignition is turned off and turned back on the iamge resets to default!!!! Its also outside of the 12month warranty!!!

I apologise for all this Mikey... its screwing with my head!!!

[Gavin1980]

With regards to the Head Unit losing its settings, this sounds like the power wires arent set up properly. Basically, one should almost be a perm. power to hold your settings, etc. Sounds like the guy who fitted it hasnt put these in correctly.

I would suggest getting your wiring diagram out for the stereo and have a look yourself.

[L33 KBY]

Gavin1980, thanks for your input....

Would the fact the red led flashes when the face off panel is removed with no keys in the ignition confirm that the headunit has a permanent live??

[Gavin1980]

I would say yes but without seeing the wiring diagram I couldnt be 100% sure.

If I remember correctly, on my Alpine you had a red wire together with a yellow wire which had a bullet connector half way down which depending on your cars wiring, you had to put it in the corresponding bullet hole.

Hope that makes some sense.

[L33 KBY]

Hi Gavin,

Just spoke to my fitter because he is finishing a few other bits off on Monday for me, I asked him about the live he said the head unit has a permanent live as the screen closes when the keys have been taken out the ignition...... so guess that answers that point..hopefully..

He said he will have a look into why the HU is not remembering the settings such as Audio settings or Radio Station presets... hopefully I wont have to buy a new screen... Why are cars so much money!!!

I appreciate you taking your time to help me out Gavin

[Gavin1980]

Hey no probs! Glad to be of help.

If I was you, I would have a look at the wiring diagram yourself just so you can see what he is talking about. Fitting stereos isnt that difficult to be honest.

[mikeythemini]

From memory that stereo needs 2 permanent lives
1 for the screen (which also has a red aux live) & one for the hideaway brain, maybe one is missing

[L33 KBY]

Mikey that might be the answer, im guessing the brain stores the memory settings for the screen........although

when I turn the ignition on the screen remember the settings for the angle and how far it should come out...so that would say to me anyway that the screen has a part memory.....

[Baker]

Like Mikey said, it could be that it needs the two permanent lives - by the sounds of it you've got the one at the actual headunit/screen end, but the one with the "brains" in has not, hence it forgetting the settings.

I've only played with a HK Enabler once or twice - do I remember a gain setting that you might be able to fiddle with that could possibly remove the hiss?