FAO: Mikey or anyone else who can help!

[Gavin1980]

Hi

Prob one for Mikey more so here we go.

I am looking at getting the new Alpine Ipod only headunit (IDX-001 … I think) and have a couple of questions.

I have a MCS (2004 Pre-facelift) with H/K and a MFSW now what do I need to get this working?!

Also, if I plan to change the speakers at any point can these just slot into the normal speak plugs and carry on working through the H/K? Im not really 100% sure what the H/K actallu does apart from sound a damn sight better than the normal MINI stereo

[straff2002]

you can get an adaptor from mikey for a HK headunit to ISO connection and a 2 or 3 spoke MFSW adaptor. He does them all!

[GBMINI]

You cannot change the speakers, unless you rip out the H/K amp and rewire the car!

Mikey is (I think) the only person in the world who sells the HKenabler, which allows you to use an aftermarket HU with the H/K system. And as straff said, Mikey can supply it integrated into plug-and-play wiring adaptors, and with MFSW interface too!

PS:
For lots more about H/K, see:
Ians GBMINI (MINI Cooper) ? Blog Archive » Harmon Kardon Information
(and loads of info elsewhere too)

[mikeythemini]

Thanks Ian (the genius who invented the hk enabler)
You will need a HK enabler - NewMINIStuff.com
A alpine MFSW adaptor - NewMINIStuff.com
aerial adaptor - NewMINIStuff.com
facia adaptor - NewMINIStuff.com
WHen both the mfsw adaptor & HK enabler are ordered, I combine the 2 into one loom to make fitting easier & reduce the cost a little

[Gavin1980]

Great ... will be in touch

Also, if I decide to run a sub ... will this have any issue in terms of the H/K?

[Gavin1980]

Oh and whats the mode adjustor on the H/K enabler?

[GBMINI]

When you control H/K from the stock stereo, you can select spatial / festival / etc from the buttons. With an aftermarket HU, the mode button on the HKenabler does the same job - each press skips to the next mode (of course there's no display, but it's easy to recognize the sound style that you like!)

If you run subs from the H/K system, starting with an aftermarket HU is a great way to go - assuming it has sub outputs.
From the stock H/K, you have to pick up (rear) speaker levels and drive the sub from that. But you're getting "post-processed" sound, adjusted by the H/K amp.
With aftermarket HU, you can run subs from the RCA sub output and you have no H/K manipulation going on - and you can control it from HU independant of the H/K.


PS: Thanks, Mikey