I will soon be installing the Kenwood DMR D378BT in my SRT. Any suggestions or info on the install? Do I need any adapters, wire diagrams or ??? to make it easier? I haven't installed a sterio system since the 80s.

 

Get the correct wiring harness adapter from Metra or other (similar)

Just do a little research to get the right one

With some of these, you have to change the pins for the Red and yellow wire

you attach the Kenwood wire harness to this adapter and then you plug this into the factory harness

solder all connections and deal with heat shrink or tape

Unless you enjoy doing things twice, DO NOT use crimp butt connectors

 

Yes, do it (wrong) - use "an adapter" and get the horrible two channel sound our cars are damned with.

OR.......

do it RIGHT and do what this guy did - turn the abortion into a four channel system:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...-channels.html

No adapter will do this for you, you MUST add the four extra wires from the Kenwood to the amp. My system, with my JVC, is four channel and was totally worth the effort.

 

I was thinking the same question since I also ordered a Kenwood. I found mine on amazon for 9.90 shipped . ZERACER, May I ask what speakers you went with to go with your Head Unit? Thanks in Advance.

 

As of now I was just going to use the stock speakers?

 

Put a decent head unit in, and you will be amazed at how good the factory speakers can sound.

Of course, if the rears are shot, well, ya gotta fix that -and the rears tend to go bad often.

 

A search will come up with a ‘how to install a Kenwood’ it has all the adapters listed, but you should do the pizzaguy suggestion and get full control of the radio as best you can with the OEM amp.
I found out that my rears worked just fine, it felt like a kick in the kidneys if you wanted.
The Kenwood install question was asked in the last week as well.
Kenwood Install (click)

 

Thanks to all for the help.

 

Have you completed the install and how did it turn out?

 

I am back at square one again on this project myself and would like to know how it turned out.

 

It was easy per the instructions.

 

I replaced the entire sound system, including the wiring. It took me an entire day, but it was fairly easy as I followed various instructions and recommendations found on this site. Thanks to all who contributed.

 

Run new fused power and ground for both head unit and amp

it’s a PITA but it’s worth it. Using the existing low quality wires is just asking for noise in the speakers from other electrical items

I experienced a high pitched hum and it went away with new power/ ground. Same for speakers. Use new wires

 

Great advice. Definitely makes a big difference.

 

Since I am back in a XF then I am at the point where I want to upgrade the system I went another direction in this car with the marine Power Acoustik MCD-51B which states its 300x4 channels and it has a silver face. In the 1st car I went with the suggested Kenwood unit. Not sure if I want to wire it as mentioned and turn the amp into the 4 channel setup using the stock amp and speaker which i did in the 1st time or just wire it as a new unit and install the JBL 6.5 component speakers I have for the doors and install the JBL 2 ways on the back panel using only the head units power. Not going to go with the big *** box in the rear with 12" woofers at 58 yo but I do like my music loud and clear since I have lost some hearing most likely due to listening to loud music. Any suggestions ? If need be I will buy a amp to replace the stock one and sell it on flea bay. The Kenwood I went with last time was doubled in price and the review were not that good so I decided to go with this unit since it was less than a 100 bucks and came with 2 speakers I can use at the houseboat. I can return it as long as its before Feb 2021 with free returns so that should allow enough time to know if its a keeper or not.

 

Well, no. "300 x 4 channels" means 300 watts per channel for a total of 1200 watts.
If you read that somewhere, it was written by someone who had no clue what they were describing (you know, like the marketing department.)

The specs of that head are:



I really like the appearance of that one, IMO, closer to OEM looks than ANYTHING I've ever seen. I'll be interested to see what you report, for that price I would toss my JVC just for the look! But I want to see if you are happy with it first, it just seems AWFUL cheap at $68. I do like the front-panel AUX jack but wonder - where is the USB port? I don't see it on the front OR rear. I know it's there, I"m hoping its hidden on the front somehow.

 

Man, I DO like the look. I may just order one - I have wasted $68 on a lot stupider purchases than that....................

 

Then you have gone COMPLETELY blind - it's clearly labeled

 

Looks like the USB port is behind th little door on the right.
George beat me to the draw.

 

I like radios to have a combined Volume/On/Off switch, my DD radio has small buttons for the volume. I fumble around to adjust the volume and switch the radio Off by reducing the volume to nothing.