Harman Kardon stereo upgrade

[minigolf]

Anyone got the HK stereo upgrade? Is it worth the $880 price I have listed on my options price list? Is it a stacker or a single CD only?

Sorry for all the questions!



Cheers Liam

[warped]

Liam

I would strongly recommend listening to a car kitted out with the HK if you are of two minds ... personally for the price and the fact that it is integrated into the MINI (MFSW compatible and takes no additional boot space) and doesn't sound too damn bad at all makes it worthwhile for me

The system by default is only a single CD ... the stacker is another option and one that definately does take boot space

If you are analysising options talk to IML337, he's been looking at a variety of systems including getting the HK retro fitted by the dealership for a cool $3K

Cheers
Steve

[Boy Driver]

Liam,

I think the H/K option is one of the best options to go for. I may be bias as i am a real music enthusiast and not just your boom boom type of music, I really apprieciate a stereo with great sound repoduction. The Harman Kardon upgrade is great value at the said price, it costs upward of $3500 to install as a retro fit from dearlers. It give exception sound repoduction, from the clear crisp clash of Hi-Hats to the deep rumble of a bass beat.

You get an extra two speakers with all other speakers upgraded to co-axials for a cleaner sound in the mid to high range of the sound spectrum. The extra speakers are added in the rear of the MINI, utilizing the rear panel space effectively as a sub box and effectively tuning the sub bass. It sounds like there is a sub in the car if you turn the bass up!

You also get more amplifiers giving more power so the volume can go up louder without distorting. The Stereo also comes with a circuit to prevent cliping (distortion). Clipping is essentialy what kills any speaker or amplifier so your investment is protected.

You get the BMW sound proccessor (which is tuned to suit the cabin of the MINI for optimum sound quality) so you have a whole host of sound equalisation options to choose from. You also get Driver tuning which you can set on and delays signals to each speaker so that the sound reaches the drivers head at the same time.

You can also select:
• SPATIAL effect – this modifies the distribution of signals so that the sound effect is optimised at the centre of the vehicle. The ideal setting is when all seats are occupied.
• FESTIVAL effect – this modifies the signal echo, giving the impression of sitting in a large arena. The feeling is one of sitting in the open air, which provides each piece of music with a touch of realism. The upshot is that the car appears larger than it actually is.
• ELECTRONIC enhanced equalization – this is suitable specifically for playing back music composed primarily with electronics. So not only dance and pop music titles undergo acoustic enhancement, but also a wide range of different music types.
• INSTRUMENTAL enhanced equalization – this effect is designed specifically for playing back instrumental music. Here too, a wide range of different music types are supported beyond the simple rock and indy oriented titles.

Having said all of this, we all know that the standard stereo is of exceptional quality as standard. But if you enjoy listening to music (and most of us do) it is well worth paying the extra for the upgrade. Which also means the option should hold its value very well.

I hope this helps you out Liam.
Thanks,

Boy Driver.

[minigolf]

Good stuff. Thanks for the reposnses. I'm no real car audiophile, but I don't want to be listening to a tin box, and I reckon the $880 isn't too bad a price, especially when compared to a $3K+ retro fit. I know IML337 from the Vwvortex forums. Maybe I'll have to tag along on a Mini drive day one day, or at least catch up with some Mini owners at the German Autofest in Canberra on 27-28 September.

Cheers Liam

[IML337]

HK is a must - it's a no brainer...

Unless you're like flipside and like the whole suburb to know that you like Prince's music

[ShermanM]

The HK system is the way to go for about $800. When I got my MCS it was not avaible as a opt. in OZ.
I have a sub and 5 channel amp installed in mine. The bass is great but there goes the boot space.

[2nd Mini]

Check out the review/tutorial HERE .

2nd

[Darryl]

wander into a car stereo shop and tell them youve a MCS and have about $800 to spend on an upgrade.

All of a sudden the HK system looks to be real good value. I like ours. You can also do the Aux mod and plug in a MP3 player for countless hours of good quality sound.

[FLiPSiDE]

Quote:

Originally posted by IML337
HK is a must - it's a no brainer...

Unless you're like flipside and like the whole suburb to know that you like Prince's music

get stuffed

if you want to keep your rear glovebox then the HK from what i've read (im still waiting to hear it first hand) is a decent option and at the price you wouldnt get the same level of upgrade in the aftermarket, thats for sure

as for 3500 retro fit.. i think u'd wanna be REALLY keen.. theres a million options better value than it at that price

and as for the quote "the standard stereo is exceptional quality" if by that u meant flat, muddy and putting out a scintilating 15w of power thru paper coned 5 dollar speakers.. than yes.. its senational for listening to AM talk back

[curmudgeon]

Hello,

I'm in the US and the HK system is $550.00 as a factory option. The system is well worth the price if you appreciate properly reproduced music, the fidelity is noticeably better than the Boost system. I had a 2002 Cooper with the Boost and recently traded up to a 2003 MCS fitted with the HK and it's money well spent. The HK system produces excellent mids and treble with plenty of useable bass without the boomy, thumping noise that you hear in aftermarket setups with subwoofers. The HK produces a good soundfield with decent imaging (for a car) and sounds good with rock, blues, jazz, classical, and similar formats. While the HK has plenty of power it's not designed to compete with 120 Db "stereo war" thumpers that blast hip-hop and techno at earth tremor inducing levels. There's ample power to play music pretty loud even with the windows down and sunroof open.

I have a Linn stereo/home theater system at home and I'm rather picky about music reproduction. The HK system in my opinion is a good value and produces good quality sound in the MINI's interior environment. The MINI's cabin is a bit on the noisy side and the AC/heater fan is noisier than most cars so you're only going to get just so much fidelity unless you do something drastic to insulate the cabin.

Overall, the HK system seems to be designed for those wanting cleaner and more natural sounding music at reasonable levels (and by reasonable I mean loud enough to properly appreciate Primus, Jane's Addiction, and the like) and for those in search of a bit of stereo imaging. Those wanting "stereo war" capable tsunami producers should look to the aftermarket for their needs. Another bonus is that factory audio systems are not attractive to thieves so you lessen the odds of some low-life trashing your MINI to get at the stereo system.

[FLiPSiDE]

lets hear it for mr generalisation

120db isnt loud.. i rekon the HK could probably do that, or near enuff to

i dont listen to much if any techno, a little hip hop. but mostly rock, blues and funk .. and yes sure, set up for an SPL run it'll do close enuff to 140db.. (and thats by no means all that loud in comparison to the 150db or so hit by people with similar sized car and levels of equipment here in australia.. lord knows what they get in the US)

but to say the aftermarket isnt for any1 wanting "clear and natural sounding music" is absurd.. i'll take the pepsi challenge any day sure lotsa kids with huge subs just to impress thier friends by how loud thier car is from 200m away but a subwoofer is a necessary evil in faithfully reproducing music no matter what type i dont think u'd find a high end home audio system without one.. being in a car doesnt make it any different. its how its set up that is the key to what is music and what is noise

anyways wasnt disagreeing that the HK isnt good value as an option.. but if u're really interested in SQ the aftermarket is where its really at

[Boy Driver]

I have to agree with you there FLiPSiDE. When set up right, the aftermarket scene will always get you a lot higher quality system. But the point still being that HK is a good value way to go if you don't want to spend a few thousand on a proper aftermarket set up.

What set up do you have in your MINI FLiPSiDE? What does the install look like?

[curmudgeon]

Quote:

Originally posted by FLiPSiDE
lets hear it for mr generalisation

120db isnt loud.. i rekon the HK could probably do that, or near enuff to

i dont listen to much if any techno, a little hip hop. but mostly rock, blues and funk .. and yes sure, set up for an SPL run it'll do close enuff to 140db.. (and thats by no means all that loud in comparison to the 150db or so hit by people with similar sized car and levels of equipment here in australia.. lord knows what they get in the US)

but to say the aftermarket isnt for any1 wanting "clear and natural sounding music" is absurd.. i'll take the pepsi challenge any day sure lotsa kids with huge subs just to impress thier friends by how loud thier car is from 200m away but a subwoofer is a necessary evil in faithfully reproducing music no matter what type i dont think u'd find a high end home audio system without one.. being in a car doesnt make it any different. its how its set up that is the key to what is music and what is noise

anyways wasnt disagreeing that the HK isnt good value as an option.. but if u're really interested in SQ the aftermarket is where its really at

Sorry, but if you think the measure of high fidelity music is how loud it will play and that subs are necessary for full-range music you've never heard a good home audio system or are really misinformed. Subs are necessary for good home theater systems but they're usually avoided in most higher end home stereo (two-channel) systems. You may also want to avoid public displays of naivety such as suggesting that a home listening environment is the same as an automobile listening environment . The last time I checked, my house didn't have engine noise, airbox noise, exhaust noise, road noise, and wind noise that the audio system needed to overcome. It's possible to get good sounding car audio systems from both OEM and aftermarket sources but they will never be able to reproduce stereo music fidelity and imaging as well as a home audio system does, a home system barely does justice to most music as it is.

Also, if you would have read my post closely I never suggested that aftermarket car systems didn't sound good or have decent fidelity, just that the HK system is aiming for something different than the average aftermarket setup. Plus, I would like to see what you could get in the aftermarket for $550.00 US that will have the fidelity of the HK system, more likely you will be spending in the thousands to get close and lose storage space in the process (unless you put the amps & sub on a trailer or roof rack ). But don't let "Mr Generalization" stop you from trying to attain 180 or even 200 Db, just be sure to buy Loctite by the quart for all of the fasteners that will be backing out of their holes.

[FLiPSiDE]

i didnt for one second say loud equated with quality.. just highlighting that 120db isnt loud at all. nor was i debating the fact that the car is a harsh enviroment in which to achieve a high level of fidelity nor did i compare home theatre with car audio.. i was merely dispelling your seemingly ingrained generalisation that aftermarket installs are only loud and sound crap. which u appear to continue to be pedalling

i didnt say they were the same enviroment i merely said a subwoofer is essential as 6 inch driver or 6x9s or just about any driver in a free air location can simply not produce the lower two octaves of out hearing spectrum efficiently enuff to accurately reproduce a full range of music

im not insterested in attaining loud DB readings in my car.. again you're generalising and displaying your lack of knowledge. i just stated that 120 is obtainable by just about any decent car stereo and is hardly a "tsunami producer" and as a point i showed my car which is more of a SQ setup can produce 140db if i wanted it to and is in no way a "stereo war" thumper

boy driver - my current setup is as follows

Stock headunit for stealth looks - Navone engineering RCA adaptor on it to

two JVC DOHC class A amps

set of boston pro 6.5 splits up front in stock locations
would prefer to make pods to improve imaging but i didnt wanna go hacking the door trims of my brand new car

Audiobahn Alum12x subwoofer

Audio control 13 band EQT equaliser/line driver on front stage

Stinger Capacitor

7 inch LCD screen under the dash bit where the cup holders are looks almost OEM it fit there so well

and a Playstation 2


6x9's are disconnected cause i dont believe in rear fill.. and never have back seat passenger

had the trims i made for the boot install sprayed up this week but im not happy with how they came out so they're going back.. so no pictures of it all completed just yet.. mayb next week

oh and once again.. i wasnt denying the value of the HK system as an option, yes i've spent several thousand on my system.. but it'll walk all over the HK system any way, any how, any style but that wasnt my point to begin with.. i just think your view of the aftermarket scene as all about being loud and nothing else is a tad misguided if you spent more than a moment researching the scene u'd know what an SQ competition is, how they're marked, how much effort people put into SQ and that it isnt all kids with big subwoofers going "wow look how loud my car is"

[Boy Driver]

I used to be big on the aftermarket stuff as I used to sell and design car systems. I had a pretty basic but good set up not long ago and I used to fiddle, tune and tweak for hours on end to get a sound that I was happy with. I really appreciate the fact that you kept your interior intact (no holes install). I did the same thing and I know how difficult it makes things at times.

I will be watching out for the pics. I would love to see the LCD screen that really sounds fantastic!