Replaced the head unit: now front speakers not working

[IdahoGal]

HI all, we have loved our new to us 2007 E350 SMB, which had a $2400 stereo upgrade, including an amplifier under the middle seat, when created. However, the then new Kenwood excelon head unit was extremely frustrating to use, and we wanted a backup camera and Bluetooth, so we just replaced our old single Din Kenwood excelon with a new double Din Kenwood excelon head unit. We successfully installed a new backup camera, linked bluetooth, and were generally feeling good about the project, except—our front and center speakers don’t work! We carefully linked all the wires color to color from the previous wiring harness, and we plugged the connectors into the corresponding gold plated pre-outs from the previous unit. We have great sound out of the rear speakers in the rear doors and the subwoofer, but no sound whatsoever in the center or front speakers, no matter what we do. We are wondering—are we missing a power input somewhere? Or could this be a software issue in the new unit—a Kenwood Excelon 957? Has anyone else experienced this?

[carringb]

Double check all the settings. Some of the fancier stereos treat front and rear as zones, and even will isolate them by source (ie phone and Nav up front while the rears do music).

[IdahoGal]

Thanks carringb. My husband is convinced it is some interplay between the amp and the settings as we have triple checked everything else. May need a serious sound engineer if we can’t figure it out.

[marret]

Remove the amp connection in the system to see if this is the problem? Don’t know how difficult that would be.

[JWA]

Originally Posted by IdahoGal

Thanks carringb. My husband is convinced it is some interplay between the amp and the settings as we have triple checked everything else. May need a serious sound engineer if we can’t figure it out.

I've encountered such aggravating and seemingly unexplaiable issues with installed new car audio units. I've repeated had to access and refer to the owners or users manuals to get all the different features sorted.

Hope its nothing more than that!