Harman Kardon Logic 7

[goldblum]

Hi

I'm picking up an '08 E class this week with the HK Logic 7 headunit/Command system. It has an iPOD connection in the glovebox. Is there an adaptor available that I can use to connect a USB datastick > adaptor > iPOD dock in the glovebox? If I have to go the media player route (don't like itunes) connected to the iPOD dock is there any way the tracks/filenames can be displayed on the Command screen? Does the Command have a loadable HD?

I'm thinking I may have to invest in an Alpine (or whatever) headunit. Is there some way of playing music on the HK system so track titles are displayed on the headunit a la the Windows filesystem?

Any ideas? Thanks.

Edited by goldblum on Monday 25th March 02:05

[JimmyR1]

I can answer a few of your questions I have a 2010 C class with COMAND and connectivity in the glove box ie sounds like similar to yours. The car came supplied with several different connectors for this glove box socket, one of which looks like a USB port. There is a Hard Drive built in (which I have never used) that I believe you can upload to from a USB or from one of those slot card things inserted into the head unit. Hope this helps, excuse my lack of IT jargon.

[goldblum]

Thanks for your help. I think you may have a more recent version of the HK L7 system in your MB though as I'd swear I've not seen any kind of SD card slot on mine. All the same if MB can supply me with some kind of adaptor..

[Ari]

If it is COMAND there will be a SD slot directly above the CD slot. Mine's a 2009 and has it. You can see it here:



The easiest thing to do is put all your music into files on a 64GB SD card and slot it in. I order mine by "Male", "Female", "Groups", Various", "Soundtracks", "Playlists". Then in each if I have more than one CD by an artist or group I'll have a file for that and the albums inside it. Makes it very easy to find whatever you want. It's also easy to update, just keep a mirror copy of it on your PC, when you get a new CD update the copy, then format the card and drag the copy onto it.

You're limited to 4,000 tracks from memory. I have some on the hard drive as well for this reason.

[Ari]

I should add that it is possible to have HK without COMAND, and it's the COMAND that has the slot.

So if you've got the Audio 50 stereo then even with HK it won't have the SD slot.

[goldblum]

OK that's not the HK L7 COMMAND headunit I have in mine. I must have an earlier version, there's definitely no SD card slot but I can play an mp3 disk... .

So I guess the best option is to load up a dvd disk.

Thanks for your reply.

[Ari]

It sounds like you have the Audio 50 upgrade. Audio 50 is one up from the standard Audio 20 and allows HK to be specced. Think from memory it has nav too.

COMAND is the next and top layer and again HK can be specced.

[goldblum]

Just got in from having a little drive. I managed to get it to play an mp3 dvd with about 8 albums on but it didn't seem to be able to separate the albums by folder.

Have to spend some time with the instruction manual! This is the headunit:

[Ari]

Not 100% certain (perhaps others can advise), but I think that's Audio 50 you have there, not COMAND.

[SimNugget]

I had that COMAND system in my 2007 CLS. It will play MP3 CDs but needs the optional iPod kit to work only with iPods. It is only later systems that have the Media Interface that can use USB sticks and IPods etc.

However if that version pictured has the iPod connector then you can control it via the steering wheel buttons.

S

[e320dave]

I have that same Comand unit in my late 2006 E class. I believe MB upgraded the Comand in 08 with the newer one that has the sdcard slot and built in hard drive. I guess your car must be just before the changeover. I do not have the iPod connector in mine, just an aux socket in the glovebox which I can plug my media player into via the headphone socket. It's not ideal, but now days I listen to the radio more or put a cd in the multichanger (not MP3 -only headunit is).

[Ari]

I stand corrected. Every day's a school day.

[goldblum]

Thanks everyone.

It transpires I have the 08 COMMAND version (or earlier) that was updated in some vehicles in 09. The 09 version is called the APS NTG2.5. I have looked over some MB forums and it seems that putting the newer unit in ones car is a popular update. As the version I have is quite simply...um...rubbish (compared to my S8's Bose, anyway) I will probably try this install. I have had a gander on Ebay and these units can be purchased for £500-700. So the $24k question is has anyone heard both systems, and is the newer version a noticeable improvement?

[Ari]

Surely the main components that will affect sound quality are amps and speakers? The head unit is mainly just supplying the sound signal.

I'd expect the newer COMAND to be a useful upgrade in usability, but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on it sounding any better.

[goldblum]

Ari said:

but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on it sounding any better.

I think it probably will: Much more modern technology than the COMAND I have. I've updated headunits with Audi RNS to RNS-e before and the difference in sound quality was quite noticeable even though many functions were the same. Just a more modern unit.

[Ari]

That's interesting, I've always assumed that such is the very digital nature of CDs, the output would be very similar and final quality would be down to the amps/speakers.

I'll be very interested to hear how you get on. Good luck with it.

[e320dave]

Have a look at these guys Comand Online. They specialise in this sort of stuff. The main differences between the 2 units is the Sat Nav is better in the NTG2.5, it has a hard drive on which you can store your MP3's, better iPod connectivity and built in Bluetooth. I believe that you will need more than just the headunit. I looked into it myself a while back and there was quite a bit to it. Decided it was not worth it for me.

[Pork]

e320dave said:

Have a look at these guys Comand Online. They specialise in this sort of stuff. The main differences between the 2 units is the Sat Nav is better in the NTG2.5, it has a hard drive on which you can store your MP3's, better iPod connectivity and built in Bluetooth. I believe that you will need more than just the headunit. I looked into it myself a while back and there was quite a bit to it. Decided it was not worth it for me.

If you have HK and want to update to the NTG2.5, its a very very expensive option. I was going to add this to my B class and was told it was c£560 for the parts, plus fitting. When I said I had HK upgrade, I was told it would be nearer the £3k mark!

[goldblum]

Some interesting information, thanks all. My research has also found that the update to 2.5 is expensive...so much so in fact that a local ICE whizz said he could put a better bespoke setup in my car quite possibly for less. He reckons a new headunit, amp and processor fully fitted would be c.£1700, but of course you'd lose the dash info from the headunit, which I think I could probably live without.

[goldblum]

Update:

It looks like if I want any significant improvement over the system I have I'm looking at new headunit, speakers inc. subwoofer, amplifier and processor. At a cost of about £2,500.

The system I have certainly doesn't need £2.5k worth of improvement so my opening gambit will be to replace just the subwoofer and front door speakers and add extra padding in the doors. I'll have a bit more bass all round, more 'substantial' sound and better quality at high volume.

That's the theory anyway. If we can find a sub that will fit in the tiny parcelshelf space (can't use the boot - I need the space) then that lot should come to c. £600. We'll go from there.