What do you think is the most ideal system for a MINI, if I'm want to replace pretty much everything, have new head units, front and rear speakers, and a sub. The goal for my MINI is to have a system that delivers music clearly even at high volumes. Are component subs really worth it if you're gonna have a sub in the back that gets all your bass? Where do you suggest buying from? Crutchfield has a sale on Infiniti speakers, if you get one pair the second pair is half price, and also if you get any HU with any 2 pairs of speakers, crutchfield takes off 50 bucks. I'm willing to spend up to $1600 on the whole system. I'm thinkin about Infinity Kappa 6x9s for rear, Infiniti reference 5 1/4s components for front, and one 10 or 12 inch sub to give me clear bass, but not necessarily really loud bass. Also 2 amps and HU What do you think? Christmas is on the way....

 

DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR, LOOK UP "WWW.FOCAL.TM.FR" LOOK AT THE POLY KEVLAR LINE AS WELL AS THE UTOPIA 5WS FOR SUBS. UNBELIEVEABLE SOUND!

 

I would ignore this other poster who just screams in all caps in all his posts about Focal stuff. Dude, calm down.

It all depends if you want to keep your MINI looking stock, looking semi tacky all tricked out, or something in between. Price is also a major issue.

You can upgrade your MINI speakers to just about anything and still keep the stock look. I wouldn't replace the rear 6x9s with another set, go for a midrange or something... a 6 1/2 is a good choice and will give you better sound range, that is what I did.

I think one sub in the rear is enough in this tiny car. That is how I went on this.

Crutchfield isn't a great discount house at all. There are many many cheaper places on the web. You need to just spend a couple hours surfing around and looking for the deals.

For example, this is a good place to get cheap stuff:

http://www.savinglots.com/home.asp

You don't need to buy something like MB Quart or Focal to have good sound. You can definitely get something cheaper, and unless you have mighty mouse ears, you won't really notice the difference.

A lot has to do with how you adjust your amps and head unit along with the basic set up and location of the types of speakers you use.

I'll list what I did to my MINI, but in no way am I endorsing what I used or did. I think everyone has their own way of putting together a system. I kept my car looking stock for resale reasons... as very very few people want to buy a car someone has cut into or made all tacky... your picture of slick is another's picture of tackiness.

My MCS:

-Alpine CDA-7894 CD-R/RW, MP3, cd changer
-XM Radio
-JL Audio XR525-CSi 5 1/4 front component speakers and tweets
-JL Audio XR650-CXi 6 1/2s replacing the stock 6x9s
-JL Audio 10W7-3 10inch subwoofer in custom box
-JL Audio 300/4 and 500/1 amps under 4inch false floor in trunk

The sub box easily comes out of MCS and with false floor maintains full ability to use trunk of car. By glancing at my car it is really hard to tell I upgraded the sound system... just the way I wanted it. But crank it up, and you know it's there.

 

I've been looking at Infinity speakers recently, and the Crutchfield promo caught my eye. But, having looked around online, I have to agree wit highanxiety. There are much less expensive places to buy speakers.

For instance, I'm considering the Reference 6.5" components which are $199 at Crutchfield, but I've seen them for only $120 at several other places online. One place you might want to check out is http://www.etronics.com.

 

The original system is excellent. I recommend you the MiniSoundModul, its better than Harmman/Kardon.

 

>>The original system is excellent. I recommend you the MiniSoundModul, its better than Harmman/Kardon.


What's the MiniSoundModul? I think I saw some speaker grill pictures on a website with that logo on them.

Thanks,

Karl

 

just a quick note, i have not been screeming, ithe reason for the all caps in my letters is that i am new to the web, and this is is my first attempt at shareing with others on a sight. i am not saying anything other than i personally installed focal after much research and truely enjoy the sound quality. if this bothers you i appoligize. advantage

 

>>The original system is excellent. I recommend you the MiniSoundModul, its better than Harmman/Kardon.

vm, have you heard the H/K system?

 

>>just a quick note, i have not been screeming, ithe reason for the all caps in my letters is that i am new to the web, and this is is my first attempt at shareing with others on a sight. i am not saying anything other than i personally installed focal after much research and truely enjoy the sound quality. if this bothers you i appoligize. advantage

It's all good. So how are you new to the web? You must be a young kid or very sheltered?? If you are like 16 and have a MINI that's amazing.

 

>>I would ignore this other poster who just screams in all caps in all his posts about Focal stuff. Dude, calm down.
>>
>>It all depends if you want to keep your MINI looking stock, looking semi tacky all tricked out, or something in between. Price is also a major issue.
>>
>>You can upgrade your MINI speakers to just about anything and still keep the stock look. I wouldn't replace the rear 6x9s with another set, go for a midrange or something... a 6 1/2 is a good choice and will give you better sound range, that is what I did.
>>
>>I think one sub in the rear is enough in this tiny car. That is how I went on this.
>>
>>Crutchfield isn't a great discount house at all. There are many many cheaper places on the web. You need to just spend a couple hours surfing around and looking for the deals.
>>
>>For example, this is a good place to get cheap stuff:
>>
>>http://www.savinglots.com/home.asp
>>
>>You don't need to buy something like MB Quart or Focal to have good sound. You can definitely get something cheaper, and unless you have mighty mouse ears, you won't really notice the difference.
>>
>>A lot has to do with how you adjust your amps and head unit along with the basic set up and location of the types of speakers you use.
>>
>>I'll list what I did to my MINI, but in no way am I endorsing what I used or did. I think everyone has their own way of putting together a system. I kept my car looking stock for resale reasons... as very very few people want to buy a car someone has cut into or made all tacky... your picture of slick is another's picture of tackiness.
>>
>>My MCS:
>>
>>-Alpine CDA-7894 CD-R/RW, MP3, cd changer
>>-XM Radio
>>-JL Audio XR525-CSi 5 1/4 front component speakers and tweets
>>-JL Audio XR650-CXi 6 1/2s replacing the stock 6x9s
>>-JL Audio 10W7-3 10inch subwoofer in custom box
>>-JL Audio 300/4 and 500/1 amps under 4inch false floor in trunk
>>
>>The sub box easily comes out of MCS and with false floor maintains full ability to use trunk of car. By glancing at my car it is really hard to tell I upgraded the sound system... just the way I wanted it. But crank it up, and you know it's there.

So are the 6.5s components or what? How do the front components sound? I guess I don't really understand what a component speaker does, does it give more bass? How much money overall did you spend? Are you satisfied with the JL audio stuff? They seem pretty serious about what they do. Thanks for the link...
Scott

 

Oh, also.... what is THE depth of the front and rear speakers? Has anyone overshot the depth and had to get a different set of speakers?

 

>>So are the 6.5s components or what? How do the front components sound? I guess I don't really understand what a component speaker does, does it give more bass? How much money overall did you spend? Are you satisfied with the JL audio stuff? They seem pretty serious about what they do. Thanks for the link...
>>Scott

Hey Scott

The front speakers (5 1/4) are component which basically means it is a set of a 1 inch tweeter and 5 1/4 midrange speaker. A programmable crossover comes with the speakers, 1 for each side. They sound pretty good. They aren't much louder than the stock speaker, but they are more crisp and clear.

JL Audio is expensive. I saw you had a budget in mind, so these might not be the best choice, but if you get them they are very much worth the money. Here is what I paid:

-Alpine CDA-7894 CD-R/RW, MP3, cd changer ($315)
-XM Radio ($300)
-PAC SWI-X added to maintain steering wheel controls ($50)
-JL Audio XR525-CSi 5 1/4 front component speakers and tweets ($250)
-JL Audio XR650-CXi 6 1/2s replacing the stock 6x9s ($160)
-JL Audio 10W7-3 10inch subwoofer in custom box ($475)
-JL Audio 300/4 and 500/1 amps under 4inch false floor in trunk ($375 and $400)

Plus another $400 for installation and custom subbox and false floor.

Grand total: $2725

JL Audio is very sweet for sure. But if you choose to go with someone else, I'm sure you can get just as a nice system.

For prices... I shopped around the net and found the best prices and then took the print outs to my local stereo shop and had them match the prices... which they did. I found this to be a good plan.

Good luck with your project. Have fun with it.

 

Thanks for the prices.... savinglots.com has some ridiculously good deals, alot cheaper than crutchfield. So does all the bass from you music flow into your sub, or does some go into your speakers too? The back speakers aren't components in your system, right? Overall, does it sound really good/ can you tell a big difference f rom the stock setup?

 

>>It's all good. So how are you new to the web? You must be a young kid or very sheltered?? If you are like 16 and have a MINI that's amazing.

im not even 16 yet and im getting a mini

(how is that amazing?)

 

Oh, also, does anyone know of a good mp3/cd 6 cd-changer and HU?

 

>>>>It's all good. So how are you new to the web? You must be a young kid or very sheltered?? If you are like 16 and have a MINI that's amazing.
>>
>>im not even 16 yet and im getting a mini
>>
>>(how is that amazing?)

That's amazing because many of us have to wait until we're 26 (or older) to be able to afford $26k car. Many (most?) of us drove clunkers in high school and college.

You would have laughed if you'd seen the rusted old Nissan I drove in college. The dealer offered me $25 to trade it in! So, I donated it to charity for the tax write-off, and when they towed it away, it left a trail of rust all the way down the street!

_________________
::Indi Blue MCS, White roof+wheels, All 3 packages:: En route to Chicago on the AIDA

 

>>Thanks for the prices.... savinglots.com has some ridiculously good deals, alot cheaper than crutchfield. So does all the bass from you music flow into your sub, or does some go into your speakers too? The back speakers aren't components in your system, right? Overall, does it sound really good/ can you tell a big difference f rom the stock setup?

Not a problem, happy to help in any way I can.

In regards to your questions...

There are a couple other web sites with cheap-o prices out there. Just can't remember them right now.

Bass flows to all the speakers. With a head unit like the Alpine CDA-7894 though you can control the amount of bass in each speaker. Also, the JL Audio 500/1 amp that powers the subwoofer comes with a control **** you can relocate to your front dash that will control the sub and bass.

Overall, the system sounds better than the stock one. Clearer and crisper. Vocals are cleaner and range is also better. Bass of course is way better.

 

Alrighty, I think I got a pretty good system set up to buy off savinglots.com, here's what I've got:
Alpine SPR-136A 5-1/4" Component Speaker System
Infinity KAPPA63.5I 6-1/2" 3-way multielement loudspeaker
KAPPA PERFECT12.1 12" Die-Cast High-Output Subwoofer
Audiobahn A1801Q 400W x 1 Mono Subwoofer Amplifier
Alpine MRP-F200 360W 4 Channel Car Audio Amplifier
I'm still looking at amp wiring kits and Head Units, do you guys think 400 W audiobahn amp will be enough to power the 12 inch kappa, the kappa has 350 RMS and 1400 peak...

 

>>That's amazing because many of us have to wait until we're 26 (or older) to be able to afford $26k car. Many (most?) of us drove clunkers in high school and college.
>>
>>You would have laughed if you'd seen the rusted old Nissan I drove in college. The dealer offered me $25 to trade it in!


also, speaking of rusted crappers

- gerbus maximus

 

oh and... this isnt a very detailed picture, but if you wanted to see a pic of my 1990 camry here she is:

:smile:

if you guys need any MINI-related pictures hosted... feel free to send me a PM asking for my email address, so that you can send me an email w/ the pic(s) attached. i'll have it uploaded right away (or at least when my webserver gets back up... should be tonight/tomorrow)

 

A good setup for this car (which I have done on my MCS) is:
- any Head unit w/ a separate SUB output w/ a good internal amp to power the factory speakers - I used a JVC MP3 Player. There really is no need to change the car speakers - too much time and $$ save that for a good sub/amp. Already w/ a new head unit the factory speakers sound much better.
- in the trunk I have a kicker 10" L7 - check out their website - price was $285... I built a custom ported box for it and set it up w/ both the woofer and port firing upwards. This takes about 1/2 of the trunk space. I put it on the passenger side to equalize weight when driving alone.
- on the other side I built a platform that covers the other half of the trunk and is elevated about 3-4 inches where I have hidden a rockford fosgate 1000.1 amplifier (way too much power ~ 1200W) for this setup... but I pulled it out of my 330i where I had 2 10".
This setup sounds great... if you want some pics I will gladly send...
Peace.