I have a 2011 Clubman S with several options. I didn't elect to add the HK stereo to my car. While I awaited delivery of my car, I worriend that I had made a mistake. I purchased one of the original new MINIs, an R53 in 2002. The sound "sucked," in a word. It was characterized by its lack of clarity and the absence of any bass. Moreover, it lacked power to overcome any real road noise. So I replaced the speakers with Boston Acoustics, used the stock head unit and added an Alpine amp. It was such an improvement I couldn't believe it. So I worried that going with the stock stereo in my new car might have been an error or major proportions.

I was wrong to have worried. While I am not an audiophile, I do like my music and want the sound to cover a reasonable spectrum with lots of clarity -- clear highs and lows that I can feel, not just hear. After about two months with my car I want to report one owner who is very satisfied with the stock stereo and the sound experience it provides. Others may disagree, but for me it works, and I saved $750 to boot.

 

Did the same to my 06 R53 after having an 03 with HK. 06 sounded much better and the cost lower. Yes you made the right move.

 

Add a Jbl ms-8 and a set of 100 dollar(pick your fav) 6.5 inch and 4inch drivers in the doors and 1 inch tweeters in the a pillars and maybe change out the rear speakers for added depth and you will have a great sounding system for $1200 retail that will surpass anything offered by MINI.

check ebay for used a jbl ms-8 and you might be able to pick one up for 400ish and that would drop you to $700/800ish including drivers and tweeters plus supplies for install .

The Ms-8 is easy to install taking a total of 2 hours ,just wire to the speaker pick up in the drivers footwell using the factory harness and the jbl harness that comes in kit and a connection for power and ground.mount the ms-8 under a front seat or on right side of hatch on a r56.

Jbl ms-8 is 11.5 X7.5X2.5 includes a 30wattx8ch 4ohm/18wattx8ch 2ohm amp ,remote control, active sound processor with eq and is expandable giving you the option install amps,subs,center channel , a/v and still use your factory head unit and all factory controls and options like bt,nav , sat ,connect

Pm me If you have any questions on installing or info on a ms8 .

 

Very happy too with my base system. I've changed out my door speakers for Polk Audios, added a very small JVC powered subwoofer in the back and channel swapped. Did it all myself, have about $250 invested, and it'll blow away any factory HK system. I've said before, it's not how many watts you have, it's how well you use them.

 

I kinda went overboard on my final build

 

LOL, just nitpicking here, but you changed the speakers and added a sub. Would that still be considered the base system?

 

I certainly don't claim to be the arbiter of what is and what is not anything. At the same time, when I started this thread, I was talk about the base radio system that comes with the car, unmodified. I was simply saying that in my previous R53 the sound quality was so bad I needed an upgrade -- bad! The base radio (non-HK) in my new R55S has very satisfying sound. It has not been modified by switching out the speakers or adding a subbwoofer. While others might find some pleasure and value in these mods, I don't see the need to spend $ on this. There are other ways to improve my MINI that I will spend on.

 

Uh, yea...it's non H/K or Hi-Fi...so that makes it a base system, or should I be more defined by calling it "Boost", hehehe....

 

Very cool then, I'm glad you're happy. Sorry to have chimed in on my petty mods, it just provided a little definition to the sound. My fault to not have noticed the post was rhetorical.

 

I have to say that I am very dissatisfied with the sound quality in my '09 MCS with the base sound system. It is not clear and the base has no power behind it. I think I read on here that Fade function was programmed wrong so they had to reverse the signals to the front and rear speakers. If that is the case, I would like to un-reverse it even if it means the Fade function will work in reverse. Has anyone else tried this?

 

So it sounds better but also costs quite a bit more than anything offered by MINI.

 

Whcih Polks did you use in the front the db6501 or mm6501's ? Could you explain to me a bit more what you did in the rear of the car ? I don't need a lot of bass, but if I can get it at a low cost I would love to upgrade the rear too. Thanks in advance.

 

Imho, I don't think the HK system sounds good either, but better than the horrible base system. seems that the only option for good sound is to go aftermarket.

 

On the topic of aftermarket for audio on the newer MINIs, is it a fairly standard affair when showing the stock car setup to a high quality audio company or do they sctatch their heads at the MINI setup? Guessing that someplace like a Best Buy is out of the question for doing any aftermarket installs/upgrades? Would be curious to hear what kind of luck folks have had going to a specialty shop.