MINI Pumps up the Volume

If they are wise they would bring it over, given the lackluster and overpriced HK “system”…

However wattage doesn't mean much if it isn't a) consistent wattage, which a lot of cheaper amps can't deliver, and b) the fidelity is no better than your standard system. At ~$1600 U.S. dollars for this system, if it was available here you'd probably be better off going to a competent third-party stereo installer anyway, unless warranty issues are a concern.

~$1,600 is a lot to pay; but I've spent more in the past to upgrade my car's audio systems. I haven't touched the MINI's audio yet, but plan to soon. I'd like to see it offered in the US. However, the ultimate test will be hearing it in a demo vehicle.

Yeah, I dunno, I'm no huge audiophile, but I can definitely appreciate the difference in stereo systems, and I love my HK.

Allan, The top position in the door (the tiny one next to the door open handle) has two speakers behind it – a tweeter inside a midrange.

If they plan to offer a 660 watt stereo for the MINI (Double power of the current HK), they better also offer some substantial insulation for the interior as well. The MINI has a lot of plastic inside and adding more power to the small cabin acoustics will require some serious tweaking of the insulation among others.

It seems to me that a lot of people have a bone to pick with the Harman Kardon stereo. If you don't like it, so be it, but it is a very good stereo for a factory upgrade and price point (Regardless of what many claim to the contrary)and delivers very good sound quality, enough to keep me happy behind the wheel.

If you want the ultimate audiophile sound system, you are much better off spending the dough in a home system.

Cars are very noisy environments and at the end of the day, a car like the MINI is meant to be driven, not turned into some sort of rolling concert hall because that it will never be.

$1600? What are these people smoking???? Acapulco Gold Cannabis???

I own 2 MINIs. The '02 Cooper CVT came with the factory CD Boost stereo (HK was still unavailable at the time) and a '04 MCS with the Harman Kardon.

The only thing going for the stock CD Boost stereo is that it can develop a little bit more volume, but to my ears the basic system lacks bass and the highs and vocals are not that impressively clear. The Harmon Kardon effectively addresses my complaints with the stock CD Boost system.

The standard stereo is decent for a factory stereo, but if you like music and don't want to go the aftermarket routem, the H/K system is a very reasonable compromise for the money. Also, the H/K is pretty seamingly integrates into the car without losing precious cargo space, etc.

People that are often dissapointed with the H/K always complain about the “lack of volume” from the stereo. First of all, the H/K stereo was not designed to blow the windows of all cars around you in traffic or to create earth shattering frequency responses. the H/K is a cleverly designed and conceived system perfectly tuned to the MINI's limited cabin acoustics and made to deliver high quality sound over deafening volume characteristics.

We can be here all night long going back and forth with the HK vs CD Boost vs Aftermarket car stereos topic, but at the end of the day, people buy what they want and what they feel delivers the most of the Dollar in terms of sound quality reproduction and for me personally, the H/K stereo with 320 watts still is a cut above the stock CD Boost system.

For me and my '02 MCS, the stock cd system was flat and exhibited no dimensional aspects. After basically leaving the stereo off during my first two years of ownership I wanted to hear something in my car.

Granted the iTrip is a good device to play thru the stereo, I was disappointed with that to.

Luckily, I had a Alpine w/cass. radio from a previous vehicle ten years ago. My memory of the system was deep full bodied sound, and I remeber is sounding very sweet in of all things…a Saturn Sport Coupe. I originally payed $600 for the system and never regretted the expense.

As I said the radio has been boxed up for the past ten years almost to the day that I stopped listening to it. Having been disappointed with the stock radio (15watts) I thought that the Alpine (30 watts) would hopefully sound so much better.

Spending $130 to have the Alpine installed and with a headphone jack to plug into my iPod, I am so happy that I made the jump to put it . No regrets.

Listening to a HK system recently at the dealership, it didn't sound any better than my Alpine. Which is ok. I'm not knocking the HK, as it sounded lushcious, but for the money spent, I get to listen to my sound system that I really enjoyed ten years ago, and it sounds better.

thanks gabe! i asked this question of your email inbox last week and an answer is here already! awesome!

thanks again

I had a 2002 Cooper with the stock stereo from MINI. I have since upgraded to a MINI Cooper S Convertible with Harmon Kardon system. Let me tell you, the regular stock system in my 02 Cooper sounded noticibly better. DO NOT OPT FOR HARMON KARDON it is a COMPLETE WASTE OF $$$$. MINI needs to get it together with this upgrade cause it is BAD!!! Had I not gotten the navigation (you need Harmon Kardon with Navigation) I would never have opted for this horrendously bad waste of money upgrade. Please take it from me, this is my second MINI and I am disgusted with the low output of this system.

I've got my 05 mini cooper s on order for jan production with the hk system i think for the money its an exellent system i also have harmon kardon speakers on my computer so all in all i think its money well spent

MOTOR ON

Chris… I have an '05 MCS with Nav and HK. I am very happy with the HK upgrade, but I am perplexed by your comment that you have to have the HK to get Nav. I didn't have to get the HK, I simply happen to want it though. Wonder why you would have been told that.

Okay… Regarding the new stereo available in the UK… I remember reading (or hearing) once that if you have a 100 watt sound system, you need 1000 watts to be twice as powerful. So bringing the new system to 660 from the 300+ for the HK, does not make it twice as powerful based on that data. HOWEVER, I only recall hearing or reading about that. I never researched, therefore I have no idea if I am speaking the truth.

Okay. Been busy lately, haven't posted in a few days. Was gettin' itchy to do so. :o)

G.

Trust me, the regular system is head and shoulders above the HK system. I have had both! H/K sucks! They make great computer speakers but for the convertible it sucks!

Yeah I'm kinda surprised as well. If some of you out there are considering the HK as an option and would like a fairly subjective opinion read the review in the review section on the right side of this page.

Ryan:

There's plenty of adapters to use MFSW, read MINI2.com, one guy who's hardcore into MINI's electrics sells adapters cheap for most aftermarket stereos (forgot his nick)

I forgot to mention that the head unit matches the inside just right.

About ten years ago, Alpine had it so the background colours could be selected from two selections. The traditional green cast like most cars or the orange lit background. Choice is good.

The orange lighting fits right in…

Wow, you H/K owners are so defensive. People can't give an opinion without you saying they are wrong. I'm not trying to change anyone's opinion — if you like your H/K, great. A friend of mine has the H/K and I have the stock, so I've had plenty of opportunities to compare, and I think it's not worth the extra money. Then again, I don't think most car manufacturer stereo upgrades are worth the price.

The bigger problem I see is that MINI USA likes to threaten everyone with warranty violations for installing aftermarket stereo equipment. I never had that problem with my Audi; in fact, dealers used to ask me where I got mine installed so they could refer clients. As hard as MINI's marketing people have tried to create such an “individualist” brand, MINI corporate (and/or dealers) seems to try equally hard to do everything they can to stop customizations of our cars. So I can see why a lot of people would want to go with the H/K system. There's not much other choice if you want to maintain the warranty.

I think the only touchy people here are the H/K bashers that can't take comments that don't agree with thier views.

To each his or her own, if you think the stock stereo rocks (yeah right!) then so be it, if you trash the H/K, then so be it.

Facts speak for themselves and at the end of the day everyone chooses what sounds better to their ears and wallets.

I repeat again…. My stock '02 stereo has volume but it lacks depth, bass and clear highs in other words it doesn't sound extremely high quality to me (May be the stock speakers are to blame). The H/K fixed those problems found in the H/K stereo.

All I know is that my Jazz recordings sound fantastic in my H/K and get lost in the stock stereo.

So who's feisty?

At one point in my life, I installed aftermarket car stereos for a living. I used to be convinced that was the only way to go. Then, I realized that no matter what I did, it would never match even a reasonably priced home system. Plus, some other things came into play:

1) People started breaking into my cars to steal the stereo. I find it a pain to have to remove the radio or faceplate or whatever any time I get out of the car. Having a factory headunit means I don't have to.

2) Friends in the used car business told me they automatically deduct money from a car if it has (or ever had) an aftermarket stereo system. They just assume it was put in poorly.

Since I bought my car off the lot, I didn't have a choice of H/K or not. If I had ordered my car, I would have auditioned both systems and made my decision based on my choice of music and my listening preferences. If this system becomes available in the US, I plan to give it a tryout.

GSKChicago…

For every 3db increase, you have to essentially double the previous total wattage output.

As Matt mentioned, the HK only adds 3db over the stock system. That is one reason why the HK system doesn't sound “louder”.

i have a question regarding compatibility with the HK system. My mini is H/K equipped, and i wish to add the digital power sound module in order to improve the bass response for that really thumping bassline without compromising what is an extremely sweet sound system right now. when i have my system cranked to the max it doesnt distort, it is pure sweet signal. i am just missing the body moving thumps that a couple of 12″ subs would provide. Gabe, do you know if its a choice of dpsm or h/k or if they are both happy to live in the same car?

thanks

I just read somewhere(MINI2?)that it takes 5 hours to install this system. The $1800 better include installation.

Chris it seems to me that you are the type of guy who is impressed and perfectly happy with cheap beer….

For what it’s worth I ordered my MCS this week and did a close comparison between the stock & H/K sterios in 4 Minis. I like the stock better based on the sound of some of my ‘reference’ CDs and FM.

Roger