Harmon Kardon - what are my options?

[coolasacucumber]

So today I picked up some of the HK system.

I've got the big bar that sits under the parcel shelf.
Also, the parcel shelf itself with the speaker grille.
I have the front & rear door speakers, without the HK tweeters.

Someone mentioned there would be a separate amp, I don't have that, or any of the wiring.

I currently have the standard speaker set up, running from an aftermarket Kenwood head unit, with connections for an amplifier.

So my question to the ICE gurus - what's my best bet? I want to keep it as cheap as possible, but to sound as good as possible.

In order to get the rear HK parcel shelf speakers working, will I need a separate amplifier from the head unit?

Any tips, thoughts or pointers would be most appreciated!

[dissy1810]

On my car I have a separate amp to run the sub, on my Kenwood there are pre outs on the back for the sub,

[coolasacucumber]

Do you mean the HK sub, or an aftermarket one?

[HarryM1BYT]

Installing just the four door speakers will improve things a bit, but you really need the tweeters. This will work without the amp, but much better with.

Next stage will be the sub (parcel shelf speakers), for which you will need an amp anyway.

So the next stage would be to source the HK amp, plus maybe the loom or just the amp with plugs, to make up your own loom.

The quality of the output does depend on the source system. The hi-line as a source was pathetic, almost anything would be better, despite the cost of the hi-line.

[dissy1810]

Originally Posted by coolasacucumber

Do you mean the HK sub, or an aftermarket one?

Hk sub aftermarket fusion amp

[coolasacucumber]

So I need the tweeters, the HK amp or an aftermarket one, the loom, or sundries to make one.

Hmm, I thought it would be easier than that!

I don't imagine it would be easy just sourcing the HK amp, so I may just get a second hand aftermarket one to power the subs on the back shelf.

Just so I understand, did the HK amp power front speakers, rears & subs? So effectively the HU just supplied power to the amp?

If I can hold of the HK tweeters, and run these on the current wiring, then run the HK subs from an aftermarket amp, would that effectively produce the same sound as the original HK set up?

Thanks

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by coolasacucumber

So I need the tweeters, the HK amp or an aftermarket one, the loom, or sundries to make one.

Hmm, I thought it would be easier than that!

I don't imagine it would be easy just sourcing the HK amp, so I may just get a second hand aftermarket one to power the subs on the back shelf.

Just so I understand, did the HK amp power front speakers, rears & subs? So effectively the HU just supplied power to the amp?

If I can hold of the HK tweeters, and run these on the current wiring, then run the HK subs from an aftermarket amp, would that effectively produce the same sound as the original HK set up?

Thanks

The HK amp supplies boosted output to the 4 door speakers, plus supplying the sub.

As input it takes the standard speaker levels for the four channels then outputs six boosted speaker levels.

[dissy1810]

I run all of my hk speakers from my head unit and the sub from a separate amp I am more than happy with the sound, my kenwood probably has a better output than the amp anyway

[coolasacucumber]

Originally Posted by dissy1810

I run all of my hk speakers from my head unit and the sub from a separate amp I am more than happy with the sound, my kenwood probably has a better output than the amp anyway

This is exactly what I'm thinking of doing - it keeps it nice and simple. So all of the wiring stays in place to the 4 door speakers + tweeters, then as you say just wire up an aftermarket amp for the subs.

How do the subs perform from a different amp, do they give a fair bit of bass, or are they a bit weak?

I've not really looked at the wiring on the HK sub box yet, but how have you wired them to the amp?

Thanks again, really appreciate your help.

[dissy1810]

I have changed the speakers in my sub as the originals were a bit weak, the sound and bass is quite good, they are wired to the amp like normal speakers then from the amp to the sub output on the rear of my head unit