Comments?

p.s. Has anyone had trouble playing MP3s on the stock stereo? Should it be able to? I haven’t gone through enough to assess, but it wasn’t reading at least one cd. It could just be scratched …

Roger

The inability to take the responsibility and deal with it as an adult is prevalent in the childishness being displayed toward other individuals opinions…much like our political climate of today. =: O

As for the HK, I think it's worth what you pay. I don't have it, but will probably get it next time.

thanks

I'm not really defending the stock unit. I don't like it much because I'm an audiophile, but I don't want to endanger my warranty by dropping in an aftermarket system.

I don't perceive a higher fidelity in the H/K system. It does have better low-end response, and it's a bit louder, though loudness isn't a main criteria for me. I think the main problems are that the speakers are still average, and it uses the same head unit as the stock system. As they say, a system is only as good as the weakest link. The H/K is better than the stock system, but everyone has a different valuation of what's good and not and the price/value comparison didn't feel right to me. I definitely was not trying to get into an argument. I'm happy you like your H/K — I would hate for someone to order something on their MINI and then be disappointed.

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”.

distortion is very often confused with volume (loudness). a distorted signal is preceived to be louder by the ear. i don't recall the biology behind this, but it's a fact. a high-fidelity signal won't sound as loud (subjective) as a low-fidelity signal at = output.

this is what the HK system provides, Higher Fidelity than stock.

if you'll read the PDF you'll notice the HK system bests the stock system by only 3 db, therefore your not paying for volume (loudness) but fidelity.

be advised though. extended listening at >80db can result in temporary hearing loss, and anything >100db results in permanant hearing loss. maybe you don't care now, but you will. i didn't and now i have tinnitus which is a constant ringing in my ears that will never go away.

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.

To me money is better spent in home systems. I like the H/K because it gives me a very reasonable high quality sound system without having to intrude in the car's interior and introduce rattles and such while keeping the warranty.

That's my personal preference so be it.

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?

…think how cool I'll look blasting my,”Best of Donnie and Marie” CD.

“…I'm a little bit country…I'm a little bit rock and roll…”(lol)

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.

While having the installation performed, I found out that there are several third party units with built in retractable screens that enable gps navigation service. Now how nifty is that. If at some point I want to fork over the money, about the same as most built in gps, I can install the feature into my '02 MCS. Get the help from the system, press the button, and the screen retracts into the head housing….presto, poof, disappero!

For those that might want to consider the two birds and one stone thing this might be another option.

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…

The extra expense did not seem worth it at this point. The Alpine has a nifty volume control that is easy to operate, and granted retaining the steering controls would have been nice. For me, unemployment helped me to decide to opt out of the whatchamacallit. It isn't that big of a distraction having to adjust the volume. But this particuliar head unit has always been about ease of us.

Another point is that I can't control the iPod from the steering controls either unless another third party product was purchased. Yes, as most everyone, the iPod can be a challenge to operate. I listen mostly to dj mixed music so it plays for a good hour or so anyway. At which point, after an hour or so, I get tired of listening to anything anyway or I've reached my destination.

Maybe if the employment thing changes I'll consider adding the connection. In the meantime, the sound is soo much better than the stock system and the H/K.