Upgrading onboard electronics
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I used the Kenwood microphone, could not see anywhere I could plug the OEM one in. I ran it up the left hand A pillar and across to the overhead console, same a the DAB aerial.
Regarding the speakers, the Kenwood ones are too deep, but I have ordered some JBL GTO938s, they are 71mm deep, which is what I read the OEM ones were on Rico's thread. The reviews are quite positive on them, so we will see how they go.
Regarding the speakers, the Kenwood ones are too deep, but I have ordered some JBL GTO938s, they are 71mm deep, which is what I read the OEM ones were on Rico's thread. The reviews are quite positive on them, so we will see how they go.
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Re the microphone, I got a lot of complaints that my sound quality was terrible when I was hands-free. I did a little research and found that the Alpine has a builit-in mic which apparently is in the wrong place, or terrible, or both. I know the original car microphone is tied into the infotainment and I was trying to figure out if the radio would have access to this. I turned off the Alpine mic and…something…worked, I don't know if it was the car microphone or just my handset.
It's kind of confusing, I looked at the NAV-TV diagram and they show the car mic going into the Ben Hur, but I don't know if it is then connected to the Alpine "external mic" input.
How did you do yours? Did you just run a new microphone and hook it up to your radio?
It's kind of confusing, I looked at the NAV-TV diagram and they show the car mic going into the Ben Hur, but I don't know if it is then connected to the Alpine "external mic" input.
How did you do yours? Did you just run a new microphone and hook it up to your radio?
As I type this I’m getting the feeling that I did try that and ppl couldn’t here me and was told that my new mic might be better then the factory ones anyway. I can recall doing something and ppl couldn’t hear me so I took the radio out again and ran it to where it’s located now. I really can’t recall as I don’t even drive this car that much 😂. Well when I get time I’ll take it out again and see what I can come up with.
Anyone know where I can get a quick schematic of the overhead console?
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Just an update on this. In the end, after a lot of soul-searching, I went with the least intrusive option and have kept my car "as is". All I have done is add:
1. Parking camera, operating on manual override into the existing screen when Reverse gear is hit. I must say, the clarity is pretty good, I am pleasantly surprised.
2. A Bluetooth adapter, also operating on manual override into the existing radio, such that at a specific frequency, my phone is broadcast into the sound instead of that radio station. This function is fine but has a few quirks, including the fact that for whatever reason, you can only add a new phone pairing when the physical key has been used to turn on the engine rather than when you use keyless engine start.
In other words, my car looks exactly as it did, including (important for me) maintaining the central **** on the infotainment unit. I suppose, were I ever to sell it, this all helpfully keeps everything in-place. I know this line of thought did not gain much traction amongst the forum members here but for me, I think I will consider upgrading the whole thing later if I really need it. In the meantime, these two upgrades cost me HK$9,800 in total (about US$1,264).
As has been advised by others on this forum, the sound quality of the built-in speakers is not great. Actually, they work fine for classical music, be in Bach or Wagner or anything in between. But as soon as anything with a substantial bass is played, it gets quite poor. Hence I will indeed upgrade my speakers next, and my car audio man will doubtless give me some options soon. Will ask new questions when that happens!
1. Parking camera, operating on manual override into the existing screen when Reverse gear is hit. I must say, the clarity is pretty good, I am pleasantly surprised.
2. A Bluetooth adapter, also operating on manual override into the existing radio, such that at a specific frequency, my phone is broadcast into the sound instead of that radio station. This function is fine but has a few quirks, including the fact that for whatever reason, you can only add a new phone pairing when the physical key has been used to turn on the engine rather than when you use keyless engine start.
In other words, my car looks exactly as it did, including (important for me) maintaining the central **** on the infotainment unit. I suppose, were I ever to sell it, this all helpfully keeps everything in-place. I know this line of thought did not gain much traction amongst the forum members here but for me, I think I will consider upgrading the whole thing later if I really need it. In the meantime, these two upgrades cost me HK$9,800 in total (about US$1,264).
As has been advised by others on this forum, the sound quality of the built-in speakers is not great. Actually, they work fine for classical music, be in Bach or Wagner or anything in between. But as soon as anything with a substantial bass is played, it gets quite poor. Hence I will indeed upgrade my speakers next, and my car audio man will doubtless give me some options soon. Will ask new questions when that happens!
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