Swapping Kenwood gx-204je headunit for Mcintosh PF-41131 - no sound, scanning, steering control input

[Phil]

Hi,

 

My stock Kenwood GX-204JE headunit has decided to go; it's currently outputting sound, responding to controls etc, but not working with my Aux/CDs which I primarily use, I've replaced it with an OEM Mcintosh PF-41131, which powers up just fine, does the CD shuffling during first power on to check how many discs are in, and the controls work just fine (vol, tune, switch mode), however it doesn't output any sound whatsoever, doesn't respond to the steering wheel controls, nor does it appear to tune to any stations - scanning doesn't stop, and manually tuning in does nothing.

 

From the back, they both have the same pins and connectors, I'm connecting both the antenna and the power/controls which have the same connection type. I'm not sure if anything further is needed such as configuration or some how initialising it? Not seeing anything online.

 

As far as I am aware this is an unused head unit.

[Andy_Mac]

The Mcintosh one uses an amp and a round multipin connector cable between the two. Plugging your existing loom in will get some things working as you have experienced but you’ll get no sound as it is trying to output it to the rest of the setup you currently don't have.

 

No idea on the antenna/swc issue, may be the same plugs but some differences in hardware. Have never heard of people needing to change either of those when doing the complete swap though.

[Phil]

Thanks, so it needs an amp to work? 

[Andy_Mac]

Yea, at the very least. Not sure on the impedance of the base spec speakers and whether they will be happy with the amp. The amp lives under the passenger seat so extending all the current wires from the dash to there would be needed too. Seems like a hell of a lot of work for very little gain, besides a better looking unit obviously.

 

If you're still keen and need the amp cable at any point I've still got my one under the carpet I can dig out.