Holden By Design Audio Upgrade

[zacz]

hi all

We all know that the standard BLAUPUNKT Audio System in our Commies and Monaros doesnt have RCA pre-outs for an external amp to be fitted if required.

This means the only way to add an amp and keep the standard H/U is to use High Level Inputs into the amp (which requires splicing the speakers and adding a line out from this into the amp!)

The interesting thing is that Holden offers the HBD Audio Upgrade - which is a Blaupunkt system and consists of an AMP and Speakers / SUB. Surely this means there must be some sort of adapter that is available for the factory H/U to plug in an amp without the need for splicing wires?

So - perhaps we could get some input and advice from anyone that has the HBD Audio upgrade installed......

Does anyone know how the HBD AMP is added to the system?

cheers in advance!

ZacZ

[myhsv]

I don't know about the HBD, but I was led to believe that my Z series GTO had a sub and amplification, ie if I undertsand all the HSV documentation.
So I am with you, sort of. They really made things difficult.
My past experience with standard Blaupunkt units were all with pre outs etc.

[Misaprop]

Calais from at least VT onwards have stock 8" subs and amp... I used the wires going into the stock amp (in the VX) and connected them to the one I installed... works good...

[cold_carve]

the blaupunkt amps used in these systems i do believe accept a highlevel input - same as output to a speaker, takes out the need for a low level converter.
not sure about these "premium" headunits if theyre the same or have rca... only seen what they look like in the GTO brochure - and not their specs.
but the standard 6 stackers and single disk... u can idealy go 2 ways - new headunit or get a phreddy rca kit

[zacz]

The standard amp is a 40W x 2 unit that powers just the 2 6" subs on the rear parcel shelf!

HBD never made available the upgrade to Monaro for some reason.......it is only available to Commodores and Statesman

Ive heard that doing the high level output method sometimes generates engine noise through the system.....so im a bit concerned about going down this path!

[mouce]

get in touch with freddy, he makes little conversion kits so that you have RCA preouts on the stock head unit.

[Phreddy]

thanx mouce!

OK, as far as I know - anyone who has info to the contrary, please correct me - the "premium" system does use an external amp for the parcel shelf "subs", but this is indeed driven from the rear speaker outputs - ie, high-to-low conversion. (built into the amp, but this technique is used nonetheless - NOT line level) The base board in the premium system is slightly different, it utilises power amp chips which are capable of driving a 2 ohm speaker. (the "standard) types - both single and six stack - are designed for 4 ohm loads)

The upshot is that being a lower load impedance, you can squeeze more power output from them. There is an external amplifier, but that's ONLY for the subwoofer(s), not the corner door speakers.

If you want to run external amps for the "corners", you can go the Stratho's and get a LOC (Line Output Converter, or high-to-low converter), but every one of these I've come across has its limitations - engine noise and so on. The other thing is that, as I've pointed out before, once the signal HAS passed thru the onboard power amps it has become distorted. (in ANY sound system, the majority of the distortion is introduced by the power amplifier stage)

My mod picks up the signals inside the H/U before the power amp chips, it's TRUE low level output, straight from the pre-amp stages. There have been a couple of installations where some stray spurious noise was introduced, but in all of these cases the problem came down to a "ground loop" and once this was eliminated it worked pretty well.

Hope it helps, Cheerz!

[davey g-force]

Here, here!! I'll vouch for that. My "Phreddy-arised" Blaupunkt sounds awsome.

I just can't believe that Holden would supposedly "upgrade" their sound systems in such a dodgy way! I mean, I'm sure it does the job and all, but it's just not the ideal way to do things...

[zacz]

Thanks Phreddy - i think your MOD Board is the way to go!

Are you ever in Adelaide? Or - if any other Adelaide people want to get together and have their decks upgraded - perhaps we could fly you over!

Maybe go for a cruise to the Barossa for lunch too?