Has anyone upgraded their audio system? Is there a way to get a preamp audio signal to feed an aftermarket amplifier?

 

I did mine today. Pretty simple, I bought a $100 part plug a play off amazon to get the highs to create rca jacks. My new front JBL speakers are crisp and the bass is shaking the mirror. Night ad day difference. Do the work your a self

 

Mariocart, are you working on a F56? If so, what speakers are you using? The OEM speakers are 4". The F56 does not have a 6" speaker at the bottom of the doors like the R56.

 

From what I can see, it looks like I am stuck with getting 4" speakers for the doors unless a larger driver can be fitted behind that protruding speaker pod on the door panel. My thought is that maybe I can get a pair of the OEM windshield pillar trim panels that house the HK tweeter pods, then install a nice aftermarket tweet in there. Maybe retain the stock crap under the seats for midbass, then install a shallow mount 8" or 10" in the hatch. Power all with aftermarket amps, of course. Audiocontrol makes an OEM integration piece called a DQ-61 that will convert line level to pre-amp and will also perform signal summing. Wondering if anyone has used this piece.

 

Like ZX9Rider, I am searching for total speaker upgrades to my F56, including all 4, four-inch door speakers, under-seat "subs," and tweet(s). Where exactly are the tweets in F56?
I know I'll be buying amps eventually as well. Any part numbers and advice are very welcome!

 

I ordered a set of the Morel Virtus 402 speakers. I think they'll fit without too much trouble. I will update here once I get them and install them. I also bought the Audiocontrol DQ61. I bought a shallow mount Cerwin Vega 12" and I built an enclosure for the hatch ( 37.5x15x4.25) which creates a hair less than 1 cubic foot. Wish I had a wiring diagram for the non-HK system.

 

Interesting enough, I was looking at getting the Morel Virtus 402 speakers too! They are slightly cheaper on Amazon than other vendors - hight $400s. Please keep us updated on your installation, I would love to do the upgrade myself if it's not too much trouble - the audio shop quoted me $550 for labor and shop fees.

Also, I can't quite locate the A-pillar trim from any online vendor. Not sure when they will be available.

 

Anyone tried these for the under seat Subs?


http://focal-america.com/product/ifbmw-sub/
They are the replacement for the BMW underseat subs and seem to be the same. Although box thingy is not the same part number but they will likely not mean anything.

 

Very interested.
Keep us updated with your project.
Thanks!

 

There's a company that sells an entire upgrade kit for the R56 (speakers, crossovers, amp, wiring harness with instructions as well as an optional sub). It's expensive, I think $1500 for the kit and another $700 for the sub. The guy I contacted said that if you just drop in aftermarket speakers it'll sound terrible because the OEM amp EQ is unusual. that's why they sell the whole kit with crossovers not just speakers. He says about half the buyers DYI. I forget the name.

 

My F56 is still stuck at the dealer with a defective seat track. It's been sitting there for over 2 months, so I have not been able to install the Morels. To upgrade the factory system, I bought the Audiocontrol DQ61. I am going to pull the signal before it reaches the Active Sound Design module. I'm afraid of what that module will do to the sound. If they could only figure out my seat issue I'd be in biz. If anyone knows a knowledgeable Mini parts guy, I need to talk to him because my dealer seems lost.

 

I think you were talking about this ?

http://www.integralaudio.com/index.p...ni-cooper.html

 

What, 2 months for a seat problem?!!!

So, you've been riding your ZX-9R or ?

 

That's the one. I'd love to hear it. I'm not in love with my new HK, got a buzzy bass speaker to be replaced when the get one. It's OK but my other one sounded better I thought.

 

If IntegralAudio makes a setup for the F56- order it ASAP if you love music. I have the Soundstage and Sub in my R56 and it is amazing. The system is built and designed for the MINI and it is completely stealth. It has a control **** that mounts under the dash, but other than that, everything looks totally stock. The sound is crystal clear at all volume levels and the best thing is that it is totally balanced, not boomy like some systems with a sub.
The engineer that owns the companys name is Kevin, and if he hasnt designed a system for the F56 yet, it will be coming im sure.

 

IA is a great design and Kevin is a great vendor to work with! I bet he's working on the F56 as we speak.

 

Did you install it yourself? I'm really not wanting to do that. Where is that outfit located?

 

I did. Instructions are pretty good and the kit is just about bullet proof. They are in NY I believe. It is a full weekend and knowing your way around the car is helpful. Kevin may know an installer in your area qualified on the MINI to do the install to get a quote from.

 

I have HK sound also. I'm not sure that the statement from this guy you quote is true. The tweeter and mids all run off the same wire so there must be a crossover after the amp. I'm the opposite of you - I like to install whatever I can myself doing so I often find so called experts don't make a whole lot of sense (you know -"question authority"!). I have a complete HK set up wiring diagram.
This is not to say that the frequencies sent the subs are probably different than those sent to the mids. This is the same with a lot of aftermarket amps (or you can program them this way).
It looks like the dash speaker probably has a separate feed (probably for Nav etc...). That said upgrading the HK is probably more technically challenging but would probably give you the most bang for your buck!

 

You can certainly do the research, and read up on the IA system at integralaudio.com. There is also a rather extensive thread on the Audio forum for your perusal. The F56 is still new enough everything is in exploratory mode, I should think.

 

Upgrading the HK system. After some research and testing. This is a pretty simple affair it would seem.
First the HK system is not very sophisticated. There are no high end fibre optics or data processing. The amp is line level. This means the HU is the same in all configurations. You can therefore simply ditch the HK amp (or leave it) and add another line level amp allowing you to run 4 ohm speakers. The XD700/5 is a nice amp and is definitely a step up. The only thing is that you would loose the center speakers in the dash. I honestly don't think they do much but if you leave the 7 channel HK amp in the system it could just drive these.

 

Hi guys- bringing this thread back up. Anyone have updates to share?

And can someone make any recommendations for someone like me who knows nothing. I have the HK system. Thinking about spending, say, a grand on upgrades. What's the best bang for my buck? I've never had high-end audio- the HK is the best I've had so far, and I'm pretty happy with it. I don't need crazy bass. Good, yes, thumping, no. Just looking to kick it up a couple notches. And I'd probably bring it to a shop.

Thanks for any tips!

 

So question, I have just the speakers in the doors. No rear speakers, does anyone know if the head unit has outs for rears? I have a really nice pair of jbl's that I'd like to have on the floor in the boot... That can come out of I need the space. I'd like to know if the harness has outs or something....
Thanks.

 

Yes head unit is 4 channel. On thing you have to be careful with is if you change speakers and or amp is the effect it has on the ASD. I by-passed my ASD but when it was hooked up it sounded like I has a hole in the muffler!

 

Get a dsp system like helix match pp52, it will digitally break in ur hk speakers' potential and sound great!