Here's the important excerpts from Edmunds.com

In spite of the massive number of aftermarket audio systems available, you don't have to take your newly purchased set of wheels to the local Circuit City or Best Buy to get some thumpin' sound in the cabin. More than ever, carmakers know that a given vehicle's sound system is a high-priority item for many shoppers. A good audio system is one of those rare things that can be fully enjoyed…

…Mini Cooper
Apart from the hard-to-grasp volume knob that is about the size of a small pencil's eraser, there is little to criticize with this Harman Kardon system. With eight high-grade speakers and plenty of power, it has no trouble filling the Mini's small cabin with big sound. There's plenty of punch to the bass, yet delicate highs come through crystal clear. Digital Sound Processing (DSP) breaks the music down into individual signals, allowing more accurate separation that keeps the sound from getting muddy when you tweak the volume. There's a choice of four preset equalized modes that allow you to tailor the settings for more realism whether you're listening to a live rock recording or a lush instrumental piece. A Driver Optimization mode focuses the sound around the driver at the touch of a button. If you order just one option on your new Cooper, make it this one and you'll be able to enjoy your Mini even when stuck in traffic.

This is the first award that I know of for the HK system in the MINI. You can read the entire article (and see who else made the top ten) here. Further you can check out a full review of the system on this site here.