Replacing loudspeaker system business head Unit

[nick_z4]

Guys, slightly confused as to how to upgrade the head unit hooked upto the loudspeaker system, basically i'm looking at a Kenwood KDC-BT61U but i'm guessing that since its a 4 channel head unit its not going to be able to drive the sub's and speakers as part of the loud speaker system.

Has anyone upgraded this in the past and what are the best options - i'm not looking for a system thats too loud but might entertain a small amp somewhere along the line

Any help would be much appreciated - btw, how many speakers come with the loud system (6?).

Nick

 

[nick_z4]

Ive just read this:

"There are 3 systems.The Business one has 6 speakers,you can tell by seeing if you have cubby holes behind the seats.If yes, you have 6 speakers.If you have speakers there,you have one of the 10 speaker systems.The 6 speaker system has the main speakers in the footwell, with tweeters by the mirrors and mids behind your head in the rear panel.There are dummy grilles in the door but no speakers.I've upgraded mine with new bass units in the footwell, new tweeters and mids in the doors where there were none with an amp in the boot.I've left the rear mids in place as I ran out of cash. It now sounds fab."

Presumably I have a 10 speaker system, now if i change the head unit, will it connect straight into the amp driving the 10 speakers or is the amp integrated into the business head unit now and i'd have to find a new amp to drive the speakers?

 

[Wondermike]

The amp is in the boot, either next to the battery or on the rear firewall (post facelift).

What age car?

 

[nick_z4]

Its a 2006, so do you think a new head unit will connect straight into the cabling running from the amp upto the existing business head unit?

 

[Wondermike]

I recall something about the DSP or Carver set-up having digital connections from the amp, but the "middle" system is OK. Just having a little look for one of the threads.

 

[ZED_NOT_ZEE]

What you have is the 'Hi-Fi' option.

Now the question is, do you have HiFi with DSP or not. (digital signal processing). If you have options in your headunit for EQ controls like Jazz, Concert, ROck, etc. then you have DSP.

DSP will be more difficult to wire up than the analog version. You'll also need to either swap your stock amp for a new one, or run your head unit directly to 4 speakers and just the sub out to your stock amp to power your subs.

 

[nick_z4]

I think ive got DSP since ive seen the Jazz etc EQ controls.

Does anyone know if there's a converter to change the Carver cable from the amp to an RCA cable?

This means i wont have to either change the amp and run and RCA cable through the car to a new head unit or re-route the current speaker cables to the new head unit.

 

[nick_z4]

This should do it:

http://www.amazon.com/PAC-Premium-Sound-System-Interface/dp/B0002J227I

1 PIECE SOLUTION FOR REPLACING THE RADIO OR ADDING AN AMP TO ANY FACTORY SYSTEM ADD A NEW AMP TO A FACTORY PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
OR
REPLACE A FACTORY PREMIUM STEREO WITH AN AFTER-MARKET STEREO & RETAIN THE USE OF THE FACTORY AMP PROVIDES

 

[Dev]

From what I understand (and I may be wrong) - this is what you have

current head unit with proprietary digital output -> proprietary digital link into carver amp -> speakers and subs

if you change your head unit for one which cant 'talk' to the carver amp, you would probably have to replace it with an 'analogue' amp - and run some cabling to do this. I don't think that ebay interface box thing is an analogue-digital converter and even if it was, would it interface with the carver amp? I'm sceptical....

that said - what are you looking to obtain by changing your setup and what is the budget / hands-on factor (will you do the work yourself)? A few people on here have changed their setups totally, and could probably help/advise a bit better...

 

[nick_z4]

What i'm after is a head unit with direct Ipod control, at the moment i have to unplug my ipod to change albums and playlists which is difficult whilst driving.

According to what ive read i need to take the balanced signal of the head unit and change it to an unbalanced differential signal for the stock amp. The PAC OEM2 "from Amazon" apparently does this from what ive read on the net - though i'm probably going to ask a car electrician to connect this to the digital signal input to the carver amp. The rest i can do myself - pretty straight forward:

- Remove existing head unit
- Install a blanking panel
- Install steering wheel connector
- Install aerial connector
- Install head unit

- Professional to connect up the PAC OEM2