Harmon Drive and Play

[DaStar]

Hey guys,

NOOOOOB with this car audio electronics stuff.

Just recently purchased a 06 mazda 3 hatch, and want to install an ipod integration thing. It has the media button, fyi. I purchased the Harmon Plug and Play for 30 bucks, and was wondering if anyone had instructions on installing this guy specifically. I have been searching and haven't found anything specific. I am not even sure if it will work!!

I found a video on how to uninstall the radio, and I suppose I am just making sure it will kind of be easy once that is out. (Oh how wrong I could be, though.)

And auxmod was out the question because it seems to be out of stock, and probably won't come in stock for a while.

THANK YOU!!!

 

[icspots]

I assume you mean the Harmon Kardon Drive and Play, yes? If so do you have the DnP I or II? Basically what you get is the screen, the controller, and the "brain" module. You mount the screen and controller wherever you find them most convenient. I've seen the controller mounted above the ashtray, next to the shifter, and between the cupholders and armrest depending on different installs and what each person liked. A far as the screen goes again you can pretty much mount it wherever you'd like... I've see on the upper dash panel by the hazard switch, on a vent clip mount (proclipusa.com), near the ashtray, and the most inventive was the one who disassembled the screen, cut out the section on the HU between the lower knobs and installed the screen near-flush with the HU face. Looked pretty awesome.

So you install the brain somewhere. There's tons of storage space in the 3 behind the dash/console panels that you can hide the brain. The most convenient will probably be under the cup holders as you can remove that panel without any tools. It will need to be plugged in to power, the audio output, the screen and the controller.

For power it should have a lighter plug. I really don't like having visible wires, so I recommend grabbing a little two plug splitter that's connected by wires (vs. a molded plastic plug), cut off one of the female plugs, and then wire that to the wires on the back of the cigarette lighter behind the panel. Then just run the power plug from the DnP and plug it into the new aux. power port you just wired in. It will get power when the ignition is on and all your wires will be behind the panels.

For the controller and screen wiring just run the wires down from wherever you decide to mount them.

For the audio signal you have a few options. One you could go with a wired FM modulator that plugs into the antenna port on the HU. HK actually makes one specifically for the DnP. I recommend getting a hard-wired input as you'll get much better quality. For this purpose either the grom audio or the Aux Mod basic would be perfect. Like you noted the Aux Mod is out of stock and comes back pretty sporadically, plus it's more $$ than the grom. Both will function similarly, though the grom uses the port on the back of the HU vs. the one on the bottom. With either of them you'll need to install a ground loop isolator between the brain and the input to avoid alternator whine.

Any other questions?

 

[Tronspeed3]

I had the Harmon Kardon Drive and play in my old car, I would definately recommend hardwiring to the radio antenna the FM transmitter sucks really bad.

 

[Eltico30]

Hey, i have the Harmon Kardon Drive and play installed and its preatty good. Here are some pics of my install.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123700965

 

[DaStar]

I have HK DnP I. So it sounds like I will need more than just the DnP for a hardwired connection? The grom, eh? I do want more than just an FM transmitter.