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Thread: What Head Unit to keep from blowing up HK amp?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Port St Lucie, FL
    Posts
    650
    My Cars
    1998 M3/4/5

    What Head Unit to keep from blowing up HK amp?

    Just got a 1998 M3 sedan with the 10-speaker HK system. In researching new head units the issue seems to be not trying to blow up the existing HK amp. Most of the head units have built-in amps. I’ve searched in here and people are using Alpines with the HK amp. I’m looking at the Alpine CDE-172BT (about $130 from Crutchfield) and it has 18 watts with 4 channels.

    I’m not ready to rewire the car to install an aftermarket amp. Will this Alpine work?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    Posts
    9,923
    My Cars
    2018 BMW M240i
    I believe the inputs to the factory HK amp are balanced differential signals. These signals’ voltage levels are higher than line level (aka RCA) signals. That said, you best option is to find converters that transform the outputs from a head unit (whether they be line level or speaker level) to balanced differential signals. Also, check the audio section of other BMW forums. Lastly, try http://www.diymobileaudio.com.

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