Harmon / Kardon head unit replacement - definitive 'how-to' and adaptor harnesses

After successful tests on both Clarion and Alpine-equipped HK sound systems, I am now able to offer a definitive 'how-to' guide for fitting any aftermarket head unit to these systems (guide currently being written as we speak - pics will be included where able).

In addition I have bulk-purchased a good amount of parts to make up a few of these adaptors - which I am willing to offer at cost price plus postage. These work out considerably cheaper than the commercially available ones, and unlike some, are true 'plug-and-play' and actually WORK!

The guide I will post up will contain full details of how to build one yourself, which is actually quite straightforward if you are handy with a soldering iron. Alternatively, let me know if you are interested and I can knock one up for you. Cost price for components is a little shy of £20. There are two basic designs, one for the earlier Clarion systems, and a slightly different one for the later Alpine systems. They will also work on DSP-equipped systems.

If anyone is interested, post up here or PM me, so I can gauge interest levels.

Interest from here...

Me making you one, or making yourself?

Does your harness also give you back your steering wheel controls?

No - but then again, neither does anyone else's. You need a completely separate adaptor for that, and they're pretty cumbersome and expensive.

Clarky130 said:

No - but then again, neither does anyone else's. You need a completely separate adaptor for that, and they're pretty cumbersome and expensive.

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Bummer

Sorry Guys, slight hijack here, but does anyone know how to get the steering controls working?
My P38 never had the controls so I replaced the steering wheel, but all that works is the up/down for channels.
No volume or mode buttons work.

Once again, Sorry but just thought someone might know

Could be a problem on the slip rings, or with the buttons themselves... If one works, they all ought to really. Which head unit do you have?

Hi Clarky,

Definitely interested in the write up; and quite possibly interested in the leads themselves (I'd judge that after seeing the level of skill required to follow the how to...I can solder two wires together, but not brilliantly).

Also - out of interest do you (or does anyone) know which steering wheel control "patch leads" actually work? Specifically with an early HK set up in my case, but I same info for the later set-up is no less valuable to forum members.

Cheers,

Malcolm

Only one I have found that SHOULD do the job properly is a fully programmable one, and I found it on a US website... I'll see if I can dig it out again, I think it was about $70 or so, but shipping will add a fair wack to that.

Problem with steering wheel controls is that whilst most aftermarket HUs are capable of accepting remote inputs, there are several different standards across manufacturers, and none of them, to my knowledge, accept what the P38s controls put out (it's a simple 'resistive ladder' design), hence the requirement for either TWO 'boxes', one designed to serve your HU, and another to convert the resistive ladder inputs into a data stream that might be used as an input to a HU.

Having done ALOT of research into the subject of HU swaps, even the more electronically-gifted amateurs tend to dismiss it as "TFD", unfortunately.

Personally, I don't really miss my steering wheel controls - the HU is not very far from my left hand, plus has many iPod / USB functions that you just would not be able to control anyway from the steering wheel.

Ps - writeup may take a few days, as I'm currenty wrestling with my Radius Arm & Panhard Rod bushes, and rear airbags...

i would definately be interested in one made up,ive got a '98 clarion hk set up

Clarky130 said:

Could be a problem on the slip rings, or with the buttons themselves... If one works, they all ought to really. Which head unit do you have?

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Hi Clarky130, Not too sure which head unit it is. It's just the standard manufacturers that comes with it when new.
I do know it's the Harman Karden type with Satnav (the car is a 51 plate 4.6 vogue)

Yep - I'd be very interested in the write up too.

v8p38 said:

Hi Clarky130, Not too sure which head unit it is. It's just the standard manufacturers that comes with it when new.
I do know it's the Harman Karden type with Satnav (the car is a 51 plate 4.6 vogue)

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This is the Alpine head unit:



I suspect this is the one you will have given the year of your RR.

Ok guys, plenty of interest then.

Give me a day or three to get the write-up done, and we will then see who wants them made up for them.

For the rest of tonight, and prob tomorrow also, I have to figure out how to get my front axle connected back to the chassis, after a v. poor attempt at doing my radius arm bushes... Think maybe I should stick to stereos!!

Guys,

I got the Alpine Harness and it is what it says!! Plug n Play, within minutes!!

No buzz whatsoever, even at low volumes. Also makes the most out of the system, sounds totally different!

Be warned thou, if ur anything like me you'll end up buying a new stereo just cause it sounds so good! (and i definatley have more important things to fix first - but i can just turn the sounds up and ignore rattles, squeaks and thumps now!!)

I have finally completed the much-promised 'how-to' write up... Full step-by-step guide with part nos, etc - it's quite long and contains piccies and background info and stuff, so it's in PDF format. Anyone who is interested, PM me an email address.

Slight tangent, what if I kept my head unit but wanted to upgrade the speakers? Would that make a difference? I'm not very knowledgeable but I can guess that I would need to match either the impedence or gain/sensitivity of the originals but don't know which is more important. Anyone done this yet and which speakers do you suggest getting? Oh and any thought on the s/woofer?

Danke!

rasheed said:

Slight tangent, what if I kept my head unit but wanted to upgrade the speakers? Would that make a difference? I'm not very knowledgeable but I can guess that I would need to match either the impedence or gain/sensitivity of the originals but don't know which is more important. Anyone done this yet and which speakers do you suggest getting? Oh and any thought on the s/woofer?

Danke!

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Guten Tag!

Having just put a new head unit in my P38 today, I would't touch the speakers at all now I've discovered how good they can sound.

I'd put off touching the stereo for ages, assuming that the speakers were the weak link, but threads on here over the past couple of days convinced me to experiment, and I'm glad they did. I can only speak for myself, but the sound is excellent through the existing speakers, now I finally have a decent head unit.