MINI2

johnlondonw3 · Feb 3rd, 2008, 11:37 AM

Appreciate views on which is best .
Just bought a one convertible with standard radio/casette and 6 cd changer.It sounds thin and Id like to improve sound quality ,so am I bestt to go for an after market head unit or change the speakers ?

GTT 280 · Feb 3rd, 2008, 01:03 PM

no point in having naff speakers with a good head, and vice versa. No point in getting 'good-enough' makes either. if you can stretch a little bit then go for the best of both that you can afford

Cheers,
K.

Tigger, Eeyore & Roo · Feb 3rd, 2008, 01:12 PM

With my original '04 Cooper, I fitted a half decent Sony headunit with the view to replacing the standard speakers when I could eventually justify the additional cost. If I blew the original speakers in the process I figured that it didn't matter, as they would only be going in the bin sooner or later anyway

To my surprise, the result was absolutely fine and a big improvement over the original set-up. The original speakers stayed in the car for the next 32,000 miles until the car was traded in and I never felt the need to change them during all that time

Tigger.

adrianpowers · Feb 3rd, 2008, 05:20 PM

do both! i had the kenwood XXV-01D headunit with standard speakers and the sound improved only a bit. But until yesterday i put in alpine s series component speakers and a small sub and its like 50 times better! i tried without the sub and it still sounds pretty good.

depends how much u wanna spend, but yeh do both if u can coz its worth it.

SteveM3 · Feb 3rd, 2008, 05:35 PM

During my upgrade for the ICE there was a few weeks when I had the upgraded head
unit with standard speakers and was pleasantly surprised how good it sounded

.
The speaker upgrade later wasn't as good as I was anticipating although adding an
amp as the next stage made a big difference. If I had limited funds I'd go for a head
unit.

coded2112 · Feb 4th, 2008, 02:11 PM

All depends on funds, i would definitely do the head first followed by speakers. Then you can just keep going, i have found the biggest difference to my set up which is an Alpine is to have it Imprinted the sound is now totally awesome!

johnlondonw3 · Feb 5th, 2008, 08:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by coded2112 (original)

All depends on funds, i would definitely do the head first followed by speakers. Then you can just keep going, i have found the biggest difference to my set up which is an Alpine is to have it Imprinted the sound is now totally awesome!

Whats "imprinted " mean ?

coded2112 · Feb 7th, 2008, 04:36 PM

It is something that Alpine offer, they put a microphone thingy in various positions in the car and it allows for the differences in materials in the car ie sound bounces off plastic and seats absorb sound, then it does its stuff and gives you the best sound curve. I know this has to be the least technical answer in the world!

But if you visit Alpines website it gives an explanation, all i can say is it lifts the sound from the footwells into the whole of the car and sounds totally awesome!

My head unit is a 9887, not sure how many head units offer this facility, also i know it is not something you can do yourself, but the sound gallery in high wycombe do it!

johnlondonw3 · Feb 7th, 2008, 05:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by coded2112 (original)

It is something that Alpine offer, they put a microphone thingy in various positions in the car and it allows for the differences in materials in the car ie sound bounces off plastic and seats absorb sound, then it does its stuff and gives you the best sound curve. I know this has to be the least technical answer in the world!

But if you visit Alpines website it gives an explanation, all i can say is it lifts the sound from the footwells into the whole of the car and sounds totally awesome!

My head unit is a 9887, not sure how many head units offer this facility, also i know it is not something you can do yourself, but the sound gallery in high wycombe do it!

Its the sort of explination I understand !
I had an Alpine HU in my last MCS and was pleased with it,might have a drive out to High Wycombe
Thanks

mikeythemini · Feb 10th, 2008, 09:57 AM

Changing the head unit makes a big difference even on stock speakers so do that first
Then once the bug has got you you can go on step by step

Feb 3rd, 2008, 11:37 AM	#1
johnlondonw3 MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2003 Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 691 Offline	New head or speakers Appreciate views on which is best . Just bought a one convertible with standard radio/casette and 6 cd changer.It sounds thin and Id like to improve sound quality ,so am I bestt to go for an after market head unit or change the speakers ?

Feb 3rd, 2008, 01:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
GTT 280 The Power Cube My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2002 Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 2,503 Offline	no point in having naff speakers with a good head, and vice versa. No point in getting 'good-enough' makes either. if you can stretch a little bit then go for the best of both that you can afford Cheers, K. Too many mods to list, PM me if the cat needs killing...

Feb 3rd, 2008, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tigger, Eeyore & Roo I'm Back! My Classifieds Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kernow, near England Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 4,637 Offline	With my original '04 Cooper, I fitted a half decent Sony headunit with the view to replacing the standard speakers when I could eventually justify the additional cost. If I blew the original speakers in the process I figured that it didn't matter, as they would only be going in the bin sooner or later anyway To my surprise, the result was absolutely fine and a big improvement over the original set-up. The original speakers stayed in the car for the next 32,000 miles until the car was traded in and I never felt the need to change them during all that time Tigger. Unintimated and I'm back!! For sunshine, fun and Cornish Pasties: New MINI Kernow Cornish Oggy Run 2009!

Feb 3rd, 2008, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
SteveM3 MINI2 Master Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Malmesbury, Wilts Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 1,807 Offline	During my upgrade for the ICE there was a few weeks when I had the upgraded head unit with standard speakers and was pleasantly surprised how good it sounded . The speaker upgrade later wasn't as good as I was anticipating although adding an amp as the next stage made a big difference. If I had limited funds I'd go for a head unit. Some people are like a Slinky ........ not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs

Feb 10th, 2008, 09:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
mikeythemini I can't get no sleep My Classifieds Join Date: May 2002 Location: Capital of Culture Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 9,278 Offline	Changing the head unit makes a big difference even on stock speakers so do that first Then once the bug has got you you can go on step by step Lakes Tour 2008 coming soon Are you ready for Lakes 2008 - details soon

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Feb 3rd, 2008, 05:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
adrianpowers MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Melb Local Time: 05:42 AM Posts: 44 Offline	do both! i had the kenwood XXV-01D headunit with standard speakers and the sound improved only a bit. But until yesterday i put in alpine s series component speakers and a small sub and its like 50 times better! i tried without the sub and it still sounds pretty good. depends how much u wanna spend, but yeh do both if u can coz its worth it.

Feb 4th, 2008, 02:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
coded2112 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bucks Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 299 Offline	All depends on funds, i would definitely do the head first followed by speakers. Then you can just keep going, i have found the biggest difference to my set up which is an Alpine is to have it Imprinted the sound is now totally awesome!

Feb 5th, 2008, 08:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
johnlondonw3 MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2003 Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 691 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by coded2112 (original) All depends on funds, i would definitely do the head first followed by speakers. Then you can just keep going, i have found the biggest difference to my set up which is an Alpine is to have it Imprinted the sound is now totally awesome! Whats "imprinted " mean ?

Feb 7th, 2008, 04:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
coded2112 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bucks Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 299 Offline	It is something that Alpine offer, they put a microphone thingy in various positions in the car and it allows for the differences in materials in the car ie sound bounces off plastic and seats absorb sound, then it does its stuff and gives you the best sound curve. I know this has to be the least technical answer in the world! But if you visit Alpines website it gives an explanation, all i can say is it lifts the sound from the footwells into the whole of the car and sounds totally awesome! My head unit is a 9887, not sure how many head units offer this facility, also i know it is not something you can do yourself, but the sound gallery in high wycombe do it!

Feb 7th, 2008, 05:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnlondonw3 MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2003 Local Time: 07:42 PM Posts: 691 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by coded2112 (original) It is something that Alpine offer, they put a microphone thingy in various positions in the car and it allows for the differences in materials in the car ie sound bounces off plastic and seats absorb sound, then it does its stuff and gives you the best sound curve. I know this has to be the least technical answer in the world! But if you visit Alpines website it gives an explanation, all i can say is it lifts the sound from the footwells into the whole of the car and sounds totally awesome! My head unit is a 9887, not sure how many head units offer this facility, also i know it is not something you can do yourself, but the sound gallery in high wycombe do it! Its the sort of explination I understand ! I had an Alpine HU in my last MCS and was pleased with it,might have a drive out to High Wycombe Thanks

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