Hi all. I'm new minis and the site but also ICE.

I have an MCS R56 and the the front speakers are frankly pants. I've seen posts on swapping the front and rear channels but to be honest the last time I tried anything like that in a car I just knackered it.

Does the swapping channels produce a good result or do I need to upgrade the front speakers to something a bit meatier? I don't want anything deafening or to fill my boot/trunk with subs just would like a bit more bass and depth to the sound as they sound a but tinny a the moment.

Any ideas suggestions would be very much welcomed. Thanks in advance.

Ry

Second this!

Although the rear 6x9's are just as pants.

I don't know if anyone has compared the standard speakers to some that have been upgraded? (Preferably not the factory HK ones as they have their own seperate amp)

Or perhaps it is this reason? The standard MINI Boost Stereo simply doesn't deliver enough power due to no amp to the speakers or a combination of not enough power and poor grade speakers. Has anyone installed an aftermarket amp to the standard speakers and noticed a difference?

The reason for this is I'm sure I'm not the only one that doesn't want to shed out for an amp and uprated speakers. Plus where the hell do I neatly install an amp!!?

Hi. I've used a NewMINIstuff channel swap loom which was easy to fit in the passenger footwell of my R56 MCS. This swaps front audio channel to the rear + vice-versa.

Apparently this is effective because the rear channel incorporates a 100Hz limiting filter (excluding all the good bass bits to the big rear speakers) so it's now sent to the front mid range units which reproduce the higher frequencies and don't 'need' the missing bass. Meanwhile the unfiltered front channel signal is sent to the rear so those bigger units can reproduce more of the unfiltered bass. Upshot is much punchier, better defined bass and clearer mid-range.

I added front A-pillar tweeters to further enhance the treble and raise the sound stage and IMO it's now how it 'should be'; I don't feel further speaker upgrade is necessary. Mikey at NewMINIstuff fitted the two extra cable pairs needed to feed the extra tweeters and provides an easy diy guide for the upgrade.

This also works it's magic in my latest R56 LCI MCS (with DAB) although it seemed slightly better to begin with. A-pillars in this are cream instead of grey but the tweeters are easily transferable. (My grey A-pillars had been in my two previous R56s and most of the tabs had broken off.) I used my original 4 ohm OEM tweeters 'cos I wasn't sure if the HKs in the cream A-pillars that MINI supplies were 4 ohms or 2 ohms. Plus I already had the OEMs and knew they worked well...

Long, I know, but I hope this helps!

I have a first gen Mini Cooper.
I upgraded the standard speakers to better 'hifi' quality
one's and the difference was staggering!!
The front speakers were 5 1/4 inch and i easily upgraded to
6 1/2 without any difficulty at all.
The rear 6X9's were also upgraded.
Do it, if you like music, it's the way to go. :D

Second this!

Although the rear 6x9's are just as pants.

I don't know if anyone has compared the standard speakers to some that have been upgraded? (Preferably not the factory HK ones as they have their own seperate amp)

Or perhaps it is this reason? The standard MINI Boost Stereo simply doesn't deliver enough power due to no amp to the speakers or a combination of not enough power and poor grade speakers. Has anyone installed an aftermarket amp to the standard speakers and noticed a difference?

The reason for this is I'm sure I'm not the only one that doesn't want to shed out for an amp and uprated speakers. Plus where the hell do I neatly install an amp!!?

Depending how good you are at DIY, you can easily fit three amps in the boot.
I made a false floor in my boot and have the amps under that, showing through three perspex windows.
Hardly loose any boot space either! :D

hi... i m new in minis... give me ideas regarding this....

Hi spikeyadrian.

I don't think the 1st gens had this 'filter' that seems to cause the probs. Almost any speaker upgrade is successful/worthwhile as you've found.

I think the first 2nd gens (grey or anthracite interiors) with BOOST had the 'HiFi option' with better speakers (and certainly incorporating some sort of solution) at extra expense, or the 'HK system' with separate amps (driving better 2 ohm speakers?) at extra extra expense. (Or Mikey's value-for-money independent option.)

The latest 2nd gens (with cream interiors, the LCIs) don't even offer the HiFi upgrade - it's now BOOST or HK (or Mikey) only. MINI don't seem to facilitate d-i-y tinkering or even after-market audio conversion from BOOST to HK.

Sorry jennythomas764 I didn't intend to exclude you...

Hi spikeyadrian.

I don't think the 1st gens had this 'filter' that seems to cause the probs. Almost any speaker upgrade is successful/worthwhile as you've found.

I think the first 2nd gens (grey or anthracite interiors) with BOOST had the 'HiFi option' with better speakers (and certainly incorporating some sort of solution) at extra expense, or the 'HK system' with separate amps (driving better 2 ohm speakers?) at extra extra expense. (Or Mikey's value-for-money independent option.)

The latest 2nd gens (with cream interiors, the LCIs) don't even offer the HiFi upgrade - it's now BOOST or HK (or Mikey) only. MINI don't seem to facilitate d-i-y tinkering or even after-market audio conversion from BOOST to HK.

But surely you can improve the sound quality of the standard system by
installing better speakers.
As long as there is not an impedence mis-match, i don't see a problem.
Indeed, by installing bigger speakers in the front doors you'll improve
bass response and sound quality. :)

But surely you can improve the sound quality of the standard system by
installing better speakers.
As long as there is not an impedence mis-match, i don't see a problem.
Indeed, by installing bigger speakers in the front doors you'll improve
bass response and sound quality.

Yes, absolutely (unless the signal is filtered out before it gets there) so gen 1's are ok to put the better speakers into as a first upgrade.

Bigger speakers are better for bass, smaller for treble. Better bigger speakers usually have a smaller separate tweeter built in, as well, I think.

...yes, component speakers.
You get the best of both worlds. :)

What does "pants" mean?

Apologies I didn't bear in mind use of words for our mini loving friends over the atlantic. Pants means rubbish or if American "trash"

Generally the mini cooper s r56 speakers aren't very good.

Aka pants

Ry

i find aftermarket speakers can't be driven properly by stock headunits because the rms output is pityful,over the years of doing audio upgrades i've always had to amp up aftermarket speakers..

i find aftermarket speakers can't be driven properly by stock headunits because the rms output is pityful,over the years of doing audio upgrades i've always had to amp up aftermarket speakers..
Same experience here, if you are going to upgrade do an amp and speakers.

Ok I thought I'd resurrect this thread as I've finally decided which way to go.

I've just placed an order with mikey the mini for the pillar tweeter upgrade with clarion tweeters and the extra channel swap loom. Should get my hands on it on Saturday and me and a mate who knows about ICE are going to fit it all in. I'll update once fitted to let you know how it went and more importantly how it sounds.

I am expecting it to be good as from certain posts in here and total mini it has very good reviews and as mentioned previously much better than "pants" stock set up!

Ry


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Got the a pillar tweeters and channel swap fitted today. Took 45 mins and the result is fantastic.

If you own an second gen mini and think the stereo is pants this is the best money you could spend.

Well recommended

Ry




Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[QUOTE=Ryanjdover;3837002]Got the a pillar tweeters and channel swap fitted today. Took 45 mins and the result is fantastic.

If you own an second gen mini and think the stereo is pants this is the best money you could spend.

Well recommended

Agreed - I got this from Mike too. But the bass is still a bit off - the filter in the amp unit it seems. But still worth it IMO.

Rob