Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8056
Harman/Kardon drive and play
Read a few threads and that on here and have just bought one of the HK iPod kits (less than £25 delivered.....).
Initial thoughts are that it looks a good bit of kit and well made (bits I expected/thought were painted plastic are metal) and comes with all the cables, fittings and connectors required..........except one it seems?
You can install it using an FM transmitter or with line-out cables (both supplied) directly to the ICE head unit. I want to do the latter (for sound quality/continuity) and on the wiring diagram is says "third party CD interchanger interface" is required. However in the written instructions it says that it can go into an "auxiliary input jack".
Does this mean that I can plug from the unit into the auxiliary jack on the rear of the centre console and avoid any third party extra bits? Would also mean no need to get centre console out to get to rear of head unit???
For the installation I am planning on the 'brains' box going under the armrest (right under, i.e. inside and hidden) which means aux in wire can easily be looped around. The control knob to sit on the flat bit of plastic behind the handbrake switch (any issue with screws going into that piece of plastic?) and the display unit I intend to have on the dash' 'ledge' (inbetween where the sat nav screen sits and the steering wheel), again it will be screw fixed so any issue. If I can find a way to route it I want the iPod to be kept in the glove box but would default to the centre console cubby box (just got to be careful of chucking stuff on top of it) and this would make wire routing easy.
Any comments/help guys?
Intend to do a completely hidden-wire/installation fit as will not remove if/when car is moved on
28th Jan 2010 11:27 am
mikeyp
Member Since: 29 Dec 2009
Location: London. Scotland. The Alps.
Posts: 131
Re: Harman/Kardon drive and play
astonbuilder wrote:
...in the written instructions it says that it can go into an "auxiliary input jack".
Does this mean that I can plug from the unit into the auxiliary jack on the rear of the centre console and avoid any third party extra bits? Would also mean no need to get centre console out to get to rear of head unit???
Yes. Plug into the Aux input, which is a stereo line in as per a normal domestic hi-fi analogue amplifier.
There's a refurbished one on the 'bay for just over £20 inc. delivery - clicky.
It charges my 1st gen. iPhone fine, but it will buzz if not in airplane mode, which defeats the point of such. I therefore leave an old iPod in situ.
astonbuilder - I'd recommend leaving the control "knob" by the handbrake lever - a convenient spot.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member Since: 08 Feb 2009
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2423
I've got one of these and it's great if anyone wants to know if it will charge an iphone then I can probably borrow an iphone for a few minutes and test it for you. It charges my ipod video.
I paid about £50 for mine two years ago and it's been really good. Very very well made, lots of metal and not lots of plastic. The control mimics the ipod so it's easy to use. The only downside that I find is that you don't get a menu option for podcasts. They can be played but you need to find them in the other menus ie if you search for artist and find BBC then any BBC podcasts will be in there.
No problem with using the Aux socket. If you use the FM transmitter (which you can do direct into the aerial so no interferrance like you get with normal FM transmistters) then you can use the Aux input on the "brains" box as to give you another Aux in.
Bargin at £50, amazing for £25! 100 times better than a normal FM transmitter.D3 HSE MY05 Auto
Expo Rack, Club MTR, LR Spots, A Bar, Light Guards, GNVP Sump Guard, GNVP Ladder, Cup Holders, RLD A Bar brackets. Disco3Club stickers, Aux power on Mod
Could I be really cheeky and ask if you could check that you don't need Airplane mode turned on (as DrLex seems to) - I've got a iPhone 3G, not a first generation one so might be OK. Airplane mode is the first item in the Settings menu and is normally Off.Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
28th Jan 2010 4:17 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8056
I got mine off eBay for £24.50. think the seller had ten available. There was another seller for just under £30 as well and a few others on auction. Saw a couple go for under a tenner.....
Or run a search on eBay and it should bring up half a dozen or so.
Hadn't thought that the FM in through the aeriel wasn't like the crappy 'through the airwaves' type.....doh
Where have others who have them sited their unit, scroll wheel and display to give me an idea?
28th Jan 2010 4:29 pm
GlosBoy
Member Since: 16 Oct 2009
Location: Chandlers Ford
Posts: 2444
What am I missing then?
I just bought a unit that plugs into the Aux socket in the back of the cooler box, It also plugs into the 12v outlet to charge. You can control it from the top of the cigar charger or hang the iPod over the cooler box and use that. Cost me under a tenner. Works fine but I guess is messy
What does this HK unit buy me over this - apart from being integrated.
I notice the prices range from £25 to £50 altho StoneAudio have it for £137D4 HSE - Aintree Green
D4 Orkney my13 - gone
Stornaway D4. Gone, Didn't like it at all
D3 silver manual. Loved my first LR
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8056
Quote: What does this HK unit buy me over this - apart from being integrated.
For fifteen quid isn't that enough????
I have previously had a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack lead and just had that in the iPod to car. They can be bought as cheaply as a quid but it still means that you have to fumble with iPod if you want to change tracks, search, etc. Not good on the move and pretty dangerous I would think....
GlosBoy,
you also get a screen with mount so that you can see song details and menu items.
Monochrome with blue backlight, not LCD colour goodness, but remember this is old & now cheap, discontinued kit.
It's a 3 part kit consisting of controller, screen & "brain", plus interconnects. I also had an FM modulator to allow feed through the aerial socket, but this might be missing from some versions.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member Since: 16 Oct 2009
Location: Chandlers Ford
Posts: 2444
DrLex
Thanks for update
I have tried (on other vehicles) various ways of connecting iPod, either thru a radio transmitter - c p. or via the cassette option -better but nobody has cassette slots now.
This one I have now works well, sound quality wise, but as its been pointed out to me , pretty messy and potentially dangerous.
Dont get to drive the D3 that much but when I do I like my choice of tunes and therefore dont use the CD changer that much. They always have SWMBO rubbish in there.
Will take a look and see if there are other newer versions out that I can get away with without her knowing what I have fitted Hence, the integrated approach is best. The sound out of the HK unit is pretty good so shame not to maximise it.D4 HSE - Aintree Green
D4 Orkney my13 - gone
Stornaway D4. Gone, Didn't like it at all
D3 silver manual. Loved my first LR
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8056
Glosboy, take a look at the link on my post or just do a google search to get the full spec and see various pics. It really is a good bit of kit for the money and will be comparable with the dealer fit system I had fitted on my Merc for 400 notes.......only real difference is that the display is seperate whereas on the Merc' it was in the LCD display in the clocks, but still monchrome
28th Jan 2010 5:55 pm
GlosBoy
Member Since: 16 Oct 2009
Location: Chandlers Ford
Posts: 2444
Asstonbuilder
Will do. Thanks for the info
MarkD4 HSE - Aintree Green
D4 Orkney my13 - gone
Stornaway D4. Gone, Didn't like it at all
D3 silver manual. Loved my first LR
I've got one - boxed and as new - if anyone wants to make a sensible offer (let's say £25 to site funds). I've even got a pre-drilled panel to go behind the EPB that will take the controller! PM me if you are interested.
EDIT - it's a DP 1US and it's in the box but pretty packing material is missing. Should all be OK though...
28th Jan 2010 7:34 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8056
If anybody buys Guy's unit (and I'd advise you to at that price) I can provide any fitting instructions if that is missing.
I hope to fit mine in next week and will post pics and that.
However Getting back to the OP, anybody answer that or advise?
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Could I be really cheeky and ask if you could check that you don't need Airplane mode turned on (as DrLex seems to) - I've got a iPhone 3G, not a first generation one so might be OK. Airplane mode is the first item in the Settings menu and is normally Off.
p. or via the cassette option -better but nobody has cassette slots now.
Hence, the integrated approach is best. The sound out of the HK unit is pretty good so shame not to maximise it.
