Harman Kardon stereo?

[wagnerfp]

Friends, good afternoon,

I recently purchased a 2019 xc 40 T4, yes here in Brazil people often opt for used cars because the prices are absurd.

Well, I was reading and researching about the model, before purchasing, and I saw that the R-design version comes with the Harman Kardon kit.

Searching on Ebay, I found a kit with all speakers, module, etc. for sale.

My question is, would it be compatible with my T4 version? I noticed that the fittings are all very well defined.


I appreciate everyone's attention from now on.

[eugen61]

My question is, would it be compatible with my T4 version?

It would be compatible having all 13 HK speakers and HK amp, however installation is the main problem. There’s no cabling behind the empty speaker slots 6 & 7, no cabling for the subwoofer 8. XC40 audio uses a fiber optic system where all data is transmitted by light via fiber optics. You need a specialist knowing how to work with such a set-up and calibrate the new system sound without having access to settings, there’s no HK menu in your car’s software, you won’t be able to tweak the sound from the centre display.

[DB2k]

Incredible knowledge!

[percymon]

Complexity of install aside you might be better looking for a local car audio installer to replace your existing speakers with higher quality items, such as Alpine /Focal - whilst it wont give you all the benefits of the HK system you will get better sound quality. Why anyone wants to listen to a two channel audio source in surround sound is rather bizarre, but the car marketing folks have won people over.

The speakers used in the HK system arent exactly high end in their materials - plastic baskets, foam suspensions, smallish magnets and possibly even paper fibre for the speaker cones.

[DB2k]

I think my HK stereo is a bit crap tbh. And it’s too quiet for calls

[m@rk]

The speakers used in the HK system arent exactly high end in their materials - plastic baskets, foam suspensions, smallish magnets and possibly even paper fibre for the speaker cones.

You are right however one thing people forget is that these components are tuned for this particular car. The speakers, mounts and imprtantly the DSP are all tuned in a holistic fashion to go into an XC40 cabin. That in itself can make a huge difference in the perceived audio experience

Yes you could simply upgrade the speakers themselves but the DSP will still be feeding them thinking they are the originals (and you can't tune this yourself) so you will potentially end up with a very unbalanced system.

And finally, there is no place for a sub woofer. The XC40 uses "air woofers" that are positioned at the bottom of the windscreen and you can actually see the read of them when you are stood outside the car. You cannot retro fit these so would need to find a place for a sub and a way to feed it.

[percymon]

The speakers used in the HK system arent exactly high end in their materials - plastic baskets, foam suspensions, smallish magnets and possibly even paper fibre for the speaker cones.

You are right however one thing people forget is that these components are tuned for this particular car. The speakers, mounts and imprtantly the DSP are all tuned in a holistic fashion to go into an XC40 cabin. That in itself can make a huge difference in the perceived audio experience

Yes you could simply upgrade the speakers themselves but the DSP will still be feeding them thinking they are the originals (and you can't tune this yourself) so you will potentially end up with a very unbalanced system.

And finally, there is no place for a sub woofer. The XC40 uses "air woofers" that are positioned at the bottom of the windscreen and you can actually see the read of them when you are stood outside the car. You cannot retro fit these so would need to find a place for a sub and a way to feed it.

My suggestion was to replace the existing speakers in a non HK system with better quality items to improve the sound quality, rather than trying to integrate a HK system into a non HK wired vehicle.

I cant vouch for others but when i listen to music live the noise comes from the stage/musicians and not from all around me - you cant replicate a proper soundstage in a car environment, but creating surround sound isnt really an answer either.

[m@rk]

The speakers used in the HK system arent exactly high end in their materials - plastic baskets, foam suspensions, smallish magnets and possibly even paper fibre for the speaker cones.

You are right however one thing people forget is that these components are tuned for this particular car. The speakers, mounts and imprtantly the DSP are all tuned in a holistic fashion to go into an XC40 cabin. That in itself can make a huge difference in the perceived audio experience

Yes you could simply upgrade the speakers themselves but the DSP will still be feeding them thinking they are the originals (and you can't tune this yourself) so you will potentially end up with a very unbalanced system.

And finally, there is no place for a sub woofer. The XC40 uses "air woofers" that are positioned at the bottom of the windscreen and you can actually see the read of them when you are stood outside the car. You cannot retro fit these so would need to find a place for a sub and a way to feed it.

My suggestion was to replace the existing speakers in a non HK system with better quality items to improve the sound quality, rather than trying to integrate a HK system into a non HK wired vehicle.

I cant vouch for others but when i listen to music live the noise comes from the stage/musicians and not from all around me - you cant replicate a proper soundstage in a car environment, but creating surround sound isnt really an answer either.

Yes I got that but the existing speakers are balanced to each other so just swapping them for speakers with different characteristics (with no way to adjust the DSP to balance them again) would /could lead to an unbalanced sound stage. EG if the crossover point between mid range and highs on the existing speakers is different to the new ones

And yes, cars are not ideal for music hence the need for DSPs and tuning in the first place

[Drbhob]

Hi all, not a moan as such but I’m curious as to what others think of the sound of the HK system?

I wouldn’t describe myself as an audiophile but I’ve spent enough on hifi and home cinema systems over the years to be able to distinguish the good from the bad. To me the HK sounds over processed and the bass lacks control and seems to ‘roll’ instead of being tight. Despite plenty of fiddling and different music types I just can’t get it to sound ‘right’.

I appreciate that sound quality etc is subjective but I was really looking forward to the HK system and would like to hear others thoughts?

Thanks, NM.

Not impressed, somehow the HK in the C40 that I test drove sounded much better than the one in my XC40. Could be to do with the shape and smaller interior of the C40. The stereo in my 2012 C class sounds way better - my opinion.

[JFDIT]

Mine is pretty good. Better than the HK system fitted in the BMW X1. Perhaps yous is faulty? Or the source is poor?