HELP.... Harman Kardon CRAPIEST stereo!!!

[Nicooper]

Hello every1, i have a 2004 cooper S, with the harman KArdon stereo, I added the auxiliary audio imput, to plug in my 3rd GEN APPLE IPOD, (wich by the way ROCKS) and put a dension mount to hold my Ipod...
Turns out the stereo somehow increases the bass in the am/fm frequensies and also in my ipod, i listen to songs directly from my ipod and inmy coputer and in my stereo and they sound fine... when i put a song that has higher bass (like r&b or HipHop) it totally disorts the sound, it sounds as if the speakers were blown out.. and it has also happened with the radio...and guess what, i've takin it 2 times to BMW service and they changed the speakers... but still the problemm............ has any1 had this problem...?????? I'm 1 headache away froom puttin in a complete new sound system)) what can i do??

I'm I the only one who think there is a diference in sound of the HK to a regular car stereo, or one added to it, like a sony Xplod or , MX, or blanckpunt, or panasonic.. etc etc?? because i can really tell the diference and the HK is not good.

[arabinow]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nicooper

Hello every1, i have a 2004 cooper S, with the harman KArdon stereo, I added the auxiliary audio imput, to plug in my 3rd GEN APPLE IPOD, (wich by the way ROCKS) and put a dension mount to hold my Ipod...
Turns out the stereo somehow increases the bass in the am/fm frequensies and also in my ipod, i listen to songs directly from my ipod and inmy coputer and in my stereo and they sound fine... when i put a song that has higher bass (like r&b or HipHop) it totally disorts the sound, it sounds as if the speakers were blown out.. and it has also happened with the radio...and guess what, i've takin it 2 times to BMW service and they changed the speakers... but still the problemm............ has any1 had this problem...?????? I'm 1 headache away froom puttin in a complete new sound system)) what can i do??

if you are using a dension icelink you can adjust the output of the line out to 1/2v 2v or 4v

setting it to 2v would help.. if you are using the aux input through a headphone jack then you should most probably turn down th vol of the ipod and let the amp in the stereo do the work.

[jwardell]

You probably have the common problem where the door panel is vibrating, not the actual speakers. See my page here:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/hkdoor.html

[mikeythemini]

Make sure the equaliser in the ipod is turned off

[Berthil]

Nicooper, please report back if you found a solution. I'm also using the aux input but with a PDA mp3 player and I considered the HK to get a better sound. But I hear too many bad reports here of the HK, so I wonder if there are better and probably cheaper alternatives, but without changing the head unit because I want to keep it.

[sequence]

I'm running my 4th gen Ipod thru the aux input and H-K and have no problems, sounds great. make sure the Ipod volume is no higher than mid, and like MTM sez turn off the EQ and U should be alright. j

[glassintrepid]

Try turning down the AUX volume. If it is on 5 it WILL distort. I have mine on 2 or 3. I just dont think that the sound quality will be that great, i cant get mine very good either. I did the speaker rattle fix, and WHOA! It is awsome, i also added dynamat. I now have clear crisp bass that doesnt distort at high volumes, and high bass!

[jakemax]

Quote: Originally Posted by arabinow

if you are using a dension icelink you can adjust the output of the line out to 1/2v 2v or 4v

setting it to 2v would help.. if you are using the aux input through a headphone jack then you should most probably turn down th vol of the ipod and let the amp in the stereo do the work.

Or --- make sure the ipod is set to "flat", ie no loudness etc.

[Cooper76]

Or just turn down the bass on the h/k?

[adamlondon]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell

You probably have the common problem where the door panel is vibrating, not the actual speakers. See my page here:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/hkdoor.html

Looks like a good walkthrough. My only concern is that if something were to happen to the car, door or window and they (Mini) had to remove the interior door panel, would they kick up a fuss and say that I have voided my warranty for that area as I have worked on the car myself. Any ideas? If its definitely not a problem then I will give it a go on the weekend

NB: Aside from the speaker vibration im getting a loud, intermittent rattle from when seems like the bottom front of the door. Has anyone else had this and is it fixed by the felt and DynaMat

[jwardell]

I've heard rattles in the door and get concerned, but then find there's something in the door pocket that is doing it. Check there first. Some have reported loose screws that can be tightened from underneath the door, have a look.

As for warranty concerned, unless the felt somehow caused an accident they can't use that excuse! MINI is well aware of the issue and should appreciate you fixing it yourself.

[tomasso]

the walkthrough from jwardell just works fine to me. I've recently bought a '05 cooper with HK. Within a day I had the problem which a lot of HK owners have. With the help of the jwardell doc I'm a happy HK owner. In my previous Mini Cooper I installed a complete new hifi system myself with the original (oem) boost radio. This was an alpine 4 x 70w amp, rainbow high end set(in 2002 one of the best car speakers tested in Germany) and a Xplode active subwoofer, which filled my boot. Sound was very nice..... but now with the HK, I have space in my boot and it sound excellent!. Thought the volume can be set as high as I used to have/use.... the sound is very ok!

[Kaelaria]

OK, so why does teh passenger door panel supposedly rattle, but not the drivers?

[Cooper76]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaelaria

OK, so why does teh passenger door panel supposedly rattle, but not the drivers?

Hahahaha...isn't this the million dollar question? It's a lovely (or not so lovely) trait of the MINI. Sort of like a hologram sticker of authenticity; if your MINI doesn't have the passenger rattle, it is a real MINI!

[Nicooper]

Thanks for the replys.. still if any more good ideas let me know..

Here is what i got so far...

1. my AUX is set at 5.. will try to lower it.. but i love loud music, and I think in a 2 or 3 setting its just way too low.. but will tri it.

2. will check mi ipd if the equalisser is off, that is in itunes right?? or somewhere in the settings tab of the ipod??? humm.. will check.

3. I know there is a treblle in the door, but only with some tipe of bass not all pitch make the door sound.... The problem for me is in the front right side.. i can hear it in the speacker... not really the door. but anyway will check...

4. and have you seen on www.ipodlounge.com the news on a little thing that will amp uo the sound of the ipod without distortin the sound??? hummm but its 150 dollar i think... will look into that product..

plisssss keep those thoughts comming... and keep on motoring...