My new Kenwood Head-unit

[netcsk]

Ok, so I looked at the 5v wire running from the HU to the hard drive. Turns out, that long after the source is switched from USB (or even if the car has been off to a few hours), that wire still has voltage. There must be a huge capacitance on that wire.

In any case, this kept me from putting a relay on it. So I wired it to a switch that I have in my cig. ash tray in the front (under my work ID that you can see in the first picture in the thread. I have two switches from my when I needed them, but they have long been passed, so I just used one of those.

Oh yeah, the unit does reset when you switch the source to another; then back to USB. That's what sucks. But oh well, I might just end up taking stuff off the drive that I'll never listen to.

[netcsk]

Ahh, thanks for the link. Hopefully they stock them so I can wire it in this weekend. And the drive really does look sweet in the car. it's an "inverse" activity light (on solid with no activity, blinks with activity). It's the OKGear OK250AU2-K from Newegg. I paid $10 and I think I picked the perfect one.

I'm not sure if the 50 second boot time happens if I switch between sources (after the initial load). I meant to check that but never did.
I'm willing to deal with the 50 second time (it takes me a few seconds to get movin anyway). It's not as bad as it sounds in my opinion.

I'm not going to waste my time on the voice command. It sounds stupid.

It would be nice if something with a little though was made. Maybe I should shoot some suggestions to kenwood, although they may be too big to hear them.

Hey, ibuprofen (paired with vicodin) allowed me to live during my recently separated shoulder. Screw my liver. And my drinking has been in the toilet lately. I hate 16 hours of Junior level engineering.

[StereoInstaller1]

Chris, that is a farking hawt looking drive.

This is the reed switch.

Are you sure you are dealing with a 50 second boot time? Is that every time you go to USB (as a source)? That seems hella slow...would definately piss me off.

So, no .OGG, no .WMA Lossless? Have you used the Kenwood "Voice Command" bullshit yet?

I just wish someone made a hard drive controller that had USB conncetivity...like that "Music Keg" pile of crap that Kenwood pushed, only good.

Oh yeah...Chris, lay off that Ibuprofen. Rough on your liver. With the R3V Recommended Drinking Schedule, (RRDS) you may never get that hard drive full.

Luke

[netcsk]

And how it looks in the car! Mmmm yay! Now just to get it wired perfectly.

[netcsk]

where can I order one online, Luke? Or where can I order one from you? :)

I guess it's some kind of error beep. Stupid thing. I guess wiring it like this will just keep less hours on the drive. *justification for extra work*

[StereoInstaller1]

You will have to use a "reed switch" which is basically a low voltage relay.

Bummer about the beeper! I wonder why it does that?

Luke

[netcsk]

Luke,
I got the hard drive wired in and set up. It takes approximately 50 seconds from when I switch the unit to USB after power on to when it starts playing a song. Keep in mind, this is 18gb with ~4000 songs. Not bad in my opinion.

I want to rewire it though, which I'll do this weekend. When the hard drive has power, but no interface signal (when the headunit is either not on or set to another source) the hard drive beeps audibly. I'm going to put a relay on hard drive side of the USB cable to give the unit power when I have the source on USB.

Does anyone local (radioshack, lowes, autozone, etc.) sell a relay that will activate with 5v and a half an amp? They may be like this normally, but I've never used this small of power so I'm not sure.

[StereoInstaller1]

StereoInstaller1 can you link me to a male/male audio cable from my line in?

WalMart, $4.77. They have extensions, adapters, almost always in stock.

Luke

[doucy2]

Why not a big fan of Kenwood, doucy2? This thing is loaded with 3 preamps, aux in, usb in, high pass on front and rear (separated), low pass on sub with level control, and not to mention one of the best digital to analog chips out there.

Their long term quality just has never suprised me. I am partial to JVC, Alpine, or Pioneer. I'm not saying I wounldn't buy one because I hate them, just def. not my 1st choice.

What do you guys think about 2x 12" alpine type-r's in an e30, might be getting some for a decent price just wondering if anyone had some opinions on them, just PM me so this thread doesn't get hijacked.

[netcsk]

Yeah, I'm sure you could change the knobs over to amber. Would I do it, probably not. The unit costs too much for the possibility of me screwing it up.

Luke, I'm at school without an iron, so unfortunately it will be using spade connectors for awhile, till I can tidy it up. Should be good enough.
I'm going to tie into a ground and acc. power running to the ecu since I'm lazy. I have my own acc. running in the car on its own fuse, but I'm not sure it will reach over there.

Why not a big fan of Kenwood, doucy2? This thing is loaded with 3 preamps, aux in, usb in, high pass on front and rear (separated), low pass on sub with level control, and not to mention one of the best digital to analog chips out there.

[doucy2]

Think it'd be hard converting those knobs to amber?

why mess with it, and yes, would most certainly void the warranty. i'de do it when the warranty runs out or if you run across another one you could mess with or use for parts.

[Kilomph]

Think it'd be hard converting those knobs to amber?

[doucy2]

looks decent i'm not a big fan of kenwood yuck, i just put a cheap JVC kd-AR470 in my e30 looks good. only thing that dissapoints me is i have no control over the subs and there is no sub out line (so they are hooked to rear out). it also doesnt have line in in the rear for rca's which i don't like but it does have a line in jack in the front. StereoInstaller1 can you link me to a male/male audio cable from my line in?

[parkerbink]

I love my 890 congratulations on the setup. Sorry about the flash drive I am waiting to get 65.00 back from bidpay on a 2gb micro flash I was scammed out of on fleabay

[StereoInstaller1]

Chris, at least solder some wire on that cig lighter adapter and hardwire!

Wire that sucker for accessory (or better still, off of a relay on the remote lead of the deck) and see if the deck searches the entire hard drive upon power-up. Keep me posted on access times, woodya?

Luke