I looked through the sticky and could not find anything that said specifically where the amp is exactly. I'm getting ready to upgrade the speakers and build a sub box/amp rack.

T.

 

Right hand side of the boot behind the access panel.

:-)

 

The H/K amp is located in the rear right boot fender well. You can gain access via the small door on the right side of the boot area.

You have H/K and you want to-

Upgrade all speakers?
Add and build a separate sub/enclosure and additional amp?

 

FF2,
I hope you have read lots about HK in these threads and elsewhere - and maybe on my web site too ...

Changing speakers without replacing the amp will probably not benefit you. Existing speakers are 2 ohm coil (dual voice coil in rear); aftermarket 4 ohm coils will reduce sound level. There is no external crossover in the doors either - the crossover is done inside the HK amp.

As for subs, you cannot take a feed out of the head unit, only after the HK amp. If you do this you will have a signal which has already been manipulated and filtered by the HK amp so will likely not be a good sub signal.

 

Ian - uhhh, which do you mean? Can you get clean signal from the head unit pre-amp outs?

 

FF2 did not mention replacing the head unit (or amp) - only the speakers. And there are no pre-outs in the stock head unit.

Perhaps I have mis-interpreted this thread. Maybe the question was only asking where the HK amp was for info, and not because the car actually has the HK upgrade ...

 

There has to be some sort of pre-amp signal going to the amplifier in the boot - otherwise how does it get it's signal...fiber optic?


(background)
The audio system in my car is the final frontier. I know once I start tearing into it, my whole interior will come out until I'm satisfied I've lowered the noise floor at least 30dB and made suitable driver baffles/enclosures When I finally do a system, it will be very light weight as to not hinder vehicle performance. The Final Frontier indeed; lightweight, automotive, quality. Ouch, I'm almost in over my head

Ooops, sorry for the thread-highjack!

 

The front speaker outputs from the head unit are sent to the HK amp. But they do not vary in level with volume - this is a good trick since it minimizes any noise pick-up. The HK amp gets digital instructions to set volume, and appropriately scales the fixed level from the head unit - it also implements the front/rear fade (the rear speaker outputs of the head unit are un-unused in HK systems).

 

Thanks for the clarification, Ian :smile:

 

I guess I should have given some more information about my project. Yes, I am replacing all speakers and adding amps. I'm going with the MB Quarts that I pulled out of my WRX for front and rear, an Alpine 10" type S sub, and two Diamond Audio D5 amps. I am designing this so that the entire sub box and amp rack can be removed from the vehicle in less than 2 min. Also, it will be grocery friendly for momma.

As far as the head unit goes, for now I will stay with stock until I see what the MINI offering for Sirius is. I still want to be able to use the MFSW controls.


T.