[Golbasto]

I have finally decided to make the plunge and have ordered my fist Mini, in fact my first NEW car. One however might be a bit surprised to know that I am actually 35 years old. I am not a penny pincher or anything I just could never bring myself to spend the kinda money you have to to get a new car. So having nursed my Jeep along passed the 180,000 mile mark spending too much time working on it myself and too much time stranded on the side of the road I have decided on a bit more expensive and hopefully way more comfortable lifestyle.

Anyway, sorry, I digress. My question is in regards to the Hi Fi stereo upgrade I opted for. I have asked my dealer and searched the web but I cannot find any info on this system other than my dealer claims the amp is an Alpine. Does anyone know the following:
1. Make and model of the Amp.
2. The Make and model of the speakers.
3. The size of speaker each mounting will hold.
4. It sounds as if the front speakers are made up of a set of 2-ways and a component system made up of 2-ways and a tweeter. Is this correct?
5. Are the rear speakers a component set of 2-ways plus tweeters, 3-ways with tweeters added, or none of the above.

Any info is appreciated.

[mikeythemini]

The amp is Harmon
The speakers are cr@p
Fronts can take 16.5cm but you will need 2 ohm with the factory amp
Fronts - components - 'woofer' mid, tweeter
Rear - component - woofer, tweeter

[Golbasto]

mikeythemini
The amp is Harmon
The speakers are cr@p
Fronts can take 16.5cm but you will need 2 ohm with the factory amp
Fronts - components - 'woofer' mid, tweeter
Rear - component - woofer, tweeter

Thanks for the info. I did some more digging around and I did finally find a decent amount of info. Apparently I did not do a good job of digging the first time. Anyway from what mikeythemini says and what I have found online I now know that:
1. In the back there are 6x9s with separate 1" tweeters.
2. On the doors are 4" on top and 6.5" on the bottom.
3. 1" tweeters mounted on the A pillars.
4. Amp is Harmon.

I could use some more help on the amp info. Can anybody get a model number off theirs? If not does anybody have any specs on it as far as outputs, wattage, and ability to hook up a sub?

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini (original)

The amp is Harmon
The speakers are cr@p

Well, that's your opinion

For what I paid, I am happy with the system

[Interludio44]

Is "Harmon" short for "Harman/Kardon"?

[ASTON]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

Well, that's your opinion

For what I paid, I am happy with the system

i wasnt they were crap

[Purple Dave]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

Well, that's your opinion

For what I paid, I am happy with the system

Quote: Originally Posted by ASTON (original)

i wasnt they were crap

For what I paid, I'm happy too.

[ASTON]

Quote: Originally Posted by Purple Dave (original)

For what I paid, I'm happy too.

I really cant understand that mine i couldn't turn the bass above level 3 as the speakers would distort and the full volume was not loud enough. Any way thats my opinion on it

[frd]

Hi guys, i have a set of DLS R6a speakers in the garage from a previous car.. Is there any chance i would be able to install them on the mini to replace the front speakers without swaping the HiFi amp?

[mikeythemini]

what impedance are they

[frd]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini (original)

what impedance are they

4 ohms.. And will they fit the standard locations?

Woofer
Dimensions:
Outer diameter 165 mm
Magnet diameter 100 mm
Mounting depth 76 mm
Mounting hole 140 mm
Nominal impedance, Z 4 ohms

Tweeter
Dimensions:
Voice coil diameter 20 mm
Overall size* 43 mm
Voice coil height 2 mm
For recessed mounting:
Mounting depth 18 mm
Mounting hole 46 mm
Magnet size 28 mm
Nominal impedance, Z 4 ohms

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by ASTON (original)

I really cant understand that mine i couldn't turn the bass above level 3 as the speakers would distort and the full volume was not loud enough. Any way thats my opinion on it

Why turn the bass up? All it does is spoil the sound, and I don't mean distort it.

Look at any decent hifi kit, it won't have tone controls. Best to trust the mixer's ears and play it flat

[Arnbut]

the HK amp is a total 230 watts. The bass is muddy --- depends upon recording quality.
With serius tuned in and at 70 mph, it sounds decent.
The fast/dirty/cheap path to one-stop upgrading would be a real subwoofer; then just turn the bass down and enjoy.
You can throw a bunch of money into audio --- I have that in my house. For the car, I'm content with the HiFi Audio Package. Includes Serius for life and HD radio.

[Golbasto]

Quote: Originally Posted by Arnbut (original)

The fast/dirty/cheap path to one-stop upgrading would be a real subwoofer; then just turn the bass down and enjoy.

I am getting the HiFi and will probably add a sub. Any recommendations on a stand-alone unit? I feel like a lot of the problem with the HiFi system (in the 15 minutes or so I got to listen to one) was the distortion on the bass. So if you have a sub can you set the crossover so that a good deal of burden is removed form the other speakers there by allowing them to play with less distortion at slightly higher volume levels? I do not have any desire to shake the windows I just like clear sound. I prefer plenty of power at lower volume for better sound. For example, in my house my two channel system has two 120 watt tube amps each monoblocked for each speaker and I bet I never use over 20 to 30 watts but it sounds a ton better than letting one amp drive both speakers despite one amp having more than enough power.

I am also wondering if one decided to replace any of the factory speakers where would be the best place to start (bang for the buck that is)? What would be the order of replacement:
6x9s in the back
separate 1" tweeters in the back
4" on the doors (top)
6.5" on the doors (bottom)
1" tweeters mounted on the A pillars

I have not the desire or the budget to reproduce the sound I can get at home. That is where I do my serious listening. I just want something that will, to some extent, faithfully reproduce the music so that it does not become frustrating when I cannot hear what I know is actually in the recording.

[Arnbut]

Tubes produce really clean audio, for sure, Golbasto.

There's so much space limitation in the Mini that it doesn't lend itself to the easy mods for audio.
You could install amps and replace the 6x9's with subs or put a sub under one of the seats. The cheapest/quickest/easiest thing to do would be mounting a Bazooka somewhere. But there's that space thing again...
A speaker upgrade and mild stroking of the wattage might be the answer.

I'd like to try it but my priorities will be toward suspension and lighting first. I might never even touch the stereo.
Like you said, I have the systems at home and can blow the windows out of the entire neighborhood.