[Tonefiend]

I just bought my 1st mini off the lot, or boat should I say as it's on it's way. It didn't have the HK upgrade and I would really like a good system. I have not heard the stock system yet other than the test drive, but it's been my experience with new cars in this price range they are pretty good but not good enough. I am in the musical instrument biz and have some discerning ears, but not allot of $$$

Can anyone recommend the best way to spend $500? I mainly listen to jazz, blues, classic rock. None of that thumping bass stuff just good clear and loud when I want to crank some AC-DC or something similar.

[Rayman]

From my experince the best mod you can do is a simple head unit swap. I was amazed the difference when i changed mine, i went from the stock cassete player and put a clarion 848 ,4x45W i think and it was hugely improved sound quality! I have the stock speakers and they seem to do ok with just a head unit swap, certainly loud enough!

[Tonefiend]

Thanks, one more thing, I have the Deluxe steering wheel with the controls, which I'd like to keep. Also iPod interface would be cool too!

[SiBradbury]

You'll have no problem keeping the steering wheel controls with an aftermarket headunit, depending on what make you buy. Over here we have a company called Autoleads who do adaptors but a lot of manufacturers ie Alpine, Sony etc also do their own too.
Rayman's right, an aftermarket headunit makes a ton of difference.

Most manufacturers now do headunits which are ipod compatible via an interface. The track info is usually displayed on the head unit and the ipod is controlled from there too.

[Root Ginger]

Yeah the speakers are actually pretty good in the MINI the HU is pretty poor to be honest.

Slap in a new HU and away you go. My recommendation is Pioneer but have a listen around at some. The sound varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and it depends on what kind of sound you like.

Alpine and Kenwood tend to be more clinical. Sony always seem to be bassy and lack realism from my experience. Pioneer has a more analogue natural sound compared to the Alpine and Kenwood units.

If you can afford it, get one that has a plug in mic to adjust the sound in the car. My Pioneer has this and it sets up the sound to suit the harmonics of the car. No more problems with those odd kick drums, bass guitar or sub bass lines in drum and bass that really resonate in the car. Also look for BBE sound processing (this may be unique to Pioneer, not sure). This makes the car sound like it has a sub in it without there being one. Brings some more punch to kicks and bass guitar for the sort of music you listen too.

After this you can go two routes. Either get a sub if you regularly listen to bassy music or change speakers if you don't. It's good to put sound deadening in at this stage too to really tighten the sound up. Once this is done it's then time to do the option you didn't choose before.

This will suffice for an excellent audiophile experience.

Good luck and happy listening.

[hugh1]

I still have the oem non-HK system in my 05 MCS, but this year, I'm probabaly going to start out by replacing just the head unit with the new '06 Alpine CDA 9857.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/product...model=CDA-9857

As you can see, it is mfsw ready and will also support an iPod connector cable, eliminating the need for the iPod adaptor. It is rated at 50 watts; 18wpc. It also comes with three outs, in case you want to upgrade speakers and add an amp at some time in the future.

I heard the Alpine CDA 9853 driving stock oem speakers without an amp last year at a show. Its power is the same as the 9857. Listening to the FM and to my burned cd's on that system, I was VERY favorably impressed with the improved sound over the stock head unit.

I'll start with just the head unit and possibly upgrade speakers and and an amp down the line.

[Tonefiend]

Thanks guys, great info exactly what I wanted to hear! Sounds like a good head unit is what I need, which is cool because the iPod adapter installed is $400. I bet that would go a good percentage of the way torwards a head unit, adapters and installation.

I'll look into the Pioneer stuff. Analogue is what I am after. I do vintage equiptment at home. Alpine sounds good too. They advertise iPod ready. If I had the $$ I'd go McIntosh but thats a dream. One of these days when I get that 911

I may just kick in a few dollars more and upgrade the speakers too after I hear the difference in head units. The stealthbok caught my eye. I am not big on bassy music though. Any good reccomendations for speaker upgrades? I do not want to mod anything I'd prefer clean simple drop in installations. I don't trust anyone tearing apart my MINI!

Oh and what about an amp? Back in the day I ran an amp and graphic EQ. http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_s...hp?fit_id=1413

Hey RG what Pioneer do you recommend?

[Root Ginger]

I recommend Pioneer DEH-P9600MP or DEH-P8600MP. Both have identical audio features but look totally different. Or try Premier DEH-P960MP or DEH-P860MP. These are identical to the normal Pioneer ones but have higher voltage pre outs and a pro mode for the pre outs too, switching them from front, rear, sub to high, mid, low outputs.

These are their top of the range single CD units and have all the features I talked about. These units are satellite radio ready and ipod adapter ready too.

As for speakers. Adaptor rings are readily available and you can fit 6.5" up front and 6x9"s in the rear. I like Infinity personally. I also recommend Infinity Bass Link system. This is a compact sub that fits neatly in the MINI's rear. Self amplified with one active and one passive subwoofer inside. Creates a heck of a punch per pound (err dollar). If you buy the Basslink II it has an optional extra amp for powering the regular speakers too

So go and have a listen to a few different HU's at your local car audio store and take some CD's that you know and love to evaluate the differences in sounds from manufacturer to manufacturer.

BTW I am in no way affiliated with Pioneer or Infinity

[Root Ginger]

Oh forgot to mention. Pioneer use MINI's as there demonstration cars too.

From the UK web site http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products.jsp?category=Minis&category_id=61&taxonom y_id=25

If you scroll to the bottom there's details of all three cars builds.

[Tonefiend]

Thanks!

[EvilN8]

Does the HK set up include any sound deadening material? I always noticed my car rattled with loud volume..

[Root Ginger]

No more than standard.

[jd72277]

Quote:

As for speakers. Adaptor rings are readily available and you can fit 6.5" up front and 6x9"s in the rear. I like Infinity personally. I also recommend Infinity Bass Link system. This is a compact sub that fits neatly in the MINI's rear. Self amplified with one active and one passive subwoofer inside. Creates a heck of a punch per pound (err dollar). If you buy the Basslink II it has an optional extra amp for powering the regular speakers too

I was thinking of buying the BassLink and am not sure how much power I should send to my other speakers. I want some 6.5s and 6X9s, but if the sub is running 200watts, how much power would be needed for the speakers to stay balanced? I saw the optional amp that fits in the bassLink sends 4 X 50, is that enough? I have not been interested in car stereos since high school (early 90s), so I have some catching up to do! Thanks

[jamiebae]

Over here we have a unit called the Alpine 9850 Ri which has built in iPod control and is a pretty nice unit, it'll work with the steering wheel controls with an interface too