I just went through the technical manual for xk8. I have all of the speakers installed for premium sound as listed. 2 in the door, 2 by the mirrors, 2 in the dash, 2 in the rear and sub woofers. However, I do not have an HK amplifier above the CD changer. all of the speakers work, they fade and control properly. So where's my amp? Did they move it or forget it? was there a change to the spec?
According to the tech manual there should only be 4 speakers for the base sound system. 2 in the doors, 2 in the rear panels.

 

A bit confused? You say you have the Harmon Kardon amplifier above the CD changer and then say wheres my amp?........ Or did you mean 'sub'???

 

I do not have the amp above the changer.

 

Did you remove the side panel? The amp sits on top on the cd changer and is hidden behind the panel.

 

Removed the panel just a open shelf above the cd changer

 

No amp, no premium sound. Unless, of course, someone removed the amp. But that doesn't really make sense because the speaker wires are all different between a standard ICE and premium ICE.

 

Unless the previous owners installed some speakers himself already. There is no reason why the fader sould not work in case after market speaker were installed.

Are you happy with the current performance of the system? (disregarding the performance on the low frequencies)

If thenprevious owner already installed aftermarkwt tweeters, you system will already sound better than the pwemium sound system

 

Send me a PM with your VIN number and email. I'll send you your original equip. list. You can go from there to see what might have been done to your car.

Cheers,

 

The tweeters in the mirrors have the stock alpine covers. And the looks like a stock installation. Steve I'll send you a pm thanks.

 

Interesting topic. I had never thought to question mine (2001 coupe), I also have the working additional speakers, sub-woofer and Alpine covers to the tweeters, but no HK amplifier above the cd changer.

Doesn't really matter though as I am perfectly happy with what I have got!

 

AFAIK, All US XK8-XKRs from 1999 or 2000 on, had Premium Sound as Standard.

This is from the US 2000 Brochure:



Edit: Actually, This must be from a post 2000 Brochure because in 2000, the Nav system was still a option for the XKR in the US.

 

If i remember the amp is not visible unless you pull the side panel off in the trunk

 

I thinkI found my amp. I that it below the top pump? It does not have HK on it.

 

That's your amp.

 

Great, thanks Sam. I thought these amps were made by Harmon Kardon. The only label says Jaguar and made in china.

 

I've done a bit of research and it turns out that for the 2000 model they replaced the 240W Harman Kardon with a 320W Alpine Premium.

 

Pardon me if I'm a tad off topic but just want to say, as a guitarist by hobby since I was a kid, music for me is extremely important. I understand that's not true for all, but driving these awesome cats without awesome quality sound should be a moving violation

I have premium sound in my 2003 XK8 and while I like it a lot, wish I knew some folks near me that were as wise and reasonable with these cars as many here on this forum. I live in the North Bay (Marin County) of the Bay Area and all the audio folks want a fortune to modify the system in the XK8. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with the time it takes to pull it all out and put it all back in a professional manner because the parts, even great ones, are not that expensive relatively.

Thank you for allowing me to add my 2-cents ^^

Cheers -Terrapin

 

The single and most dramatic improvement you can do for any sound system is to upgrade the speakers. It's also the easiest as it is just 2 wires for each speaker.

 

I read in a thread on here that the convertible rear speakers are only low tones...when I out my fade to the rear all I get is the low sub

 

I believe it went like this.......

'97, '98 and '99 Non-Premium systems, rear speakers were full range.

ALL others, rear speakers are base boomers only.


Cheers,