We have a 55 model diesel Freelander (please be gentle with the mocking!).

It's the HSE model and comes with the Harman Kardon sound package:
HK (Becker / Alpine) Traffic Pro Head Unit
Amp
CD Changer
Sub in Boot

TBH, I've found the sound quality to be dreadful! Far too much bass in music and tinny speech. I've tried to adjust everything, but it's still crap!

I unplugged the sub in the boot today and that's made a heck of a difference... but still not great!

I'm tempted to just rip-out all the HK stuff and put in a Pioneer head unit and run it straight to the speakers (without amp).

Does anyone know if I'm likely to run into any complications? The only 'issue' I can think of will be bypassing the removed amp as I would reckon that all the speaker cables route through it, but other than that... ???

[Edited on 25/10/10 by scootz]

speakers first and see how that changes it.

my bmw e60 is awful but i put some nice speakers in front and put the fader more to front and it sounds much better.

dave

You can really alter the sound by changing the capacitors used as filters on the tweeters. This will sort the tinny speech and music.

That's assuming they have used caps not proper crossovers as in a component set, which I'm 99.9% sure they would have.

You just de/resolder new ones in for 48p for 4 in maplin, 3.3uF 100v capacitors, proper locost.

Swapped my fathers with him from the 6.8uF as supplied std (octavia) and it made a hell of a difference. Well, you can actually listen to it now!

Got to be worth a try, cheers
Stott

EDIT: as for your questions, a HU swap would require speaker wires to be run from the HU to them as if it's a proper amp then it will have RCAs to the amp then speakers wired from there.

If it's a usual upgrade package amp however the amps can be high level input meaning the speaker wires are already in place to and from the amp so you would need to take them out at either side and join them up.

As for the bass heaviness read your user manual and try to ascertain whether there is a loudness feature in your HU that is turned on as this will give the same symptom. It's often reffered to by a different name, all sorts of crap like super duper musical note enhancement etc but read the description and if it enhances the tone at low volume levels etc then swich it off and give it a try. It's often hidden in a submenu nowdays not on a button on the front of the HU

Regards
Stott

[Edited on 25/10/10 by Stott]

Thanks guys...

[Edited on 25/10/10 by scootz]

After many years working in this industry I noticed that HK was hit and miss.

If it excessivly bassy (which it is) there may be a setting on it, as said above. It will almost definatly have a number of EQ pre sets and often you can edit these aswell. Maybe your editing the EQ but it still has a preset present. Check the owners manual.

The effort needed to replace any single unit will be hard work. Replacing the speakers will require carfule thought and adapter plates. Headunit replacement will not look very nice and may be a pain to get working and the amp will not be easy to find or change. It will have a high level in (OEM nearly always do due to interference) which will help but its not unusual to have a digital in.

My suggestion is go back a fiddle with the settings. HK spend alot of time and money producing the upgrades and generally the cater for all types of music and ears!

HTH

Cheers bi22le... I've got all the major components out just now (wanted to check out their serial numbers on the internet to see exactly what I have got).

I would probably look just to delete the amp, sub and changer and just run a new head-unit directly to the existing speakers.

Oops... got a bit carried away today and seem to have removed everything!

Only wires left are the power, aerial and speakers!

So, what to replace it with!? Must have Bluetooth for handsfree and also a USB or similar for my iPhone. Sat Nav would be useful, but not essential as I still have my TomTom!

Really like THIS (Pioneer MVH-8200BT), but at £250 it's pretty steep! Any other recommendations?