Hey Guys,

I hope all is well with you! I am right now in the process of setting up a system for my Cooper S and need some help. I live in Tampa, FL and always go to Sound Advice for car install stuff but now plan to go to Tweeter here in Nashville, TN due to college. I've realized from some friends that certain pieces i.e. head units, amps and speakers can be found really cheap on online sites that are really not well known. Do you guys have any recomendations in buying high end car audio stuff at a low price? What are the actually specs on the Cooper S i.e. front and rear speakers? My guess is 5.25" compnent in the fronts and 6x9 in the rear. For the people that own the JL Stealth box...how do you like it? For everyone that has put a aftermarket system in there car where did you place the amp? Till then thank you and hope to hear from you soon.

Always,
Amit

 

Amit,
If you're about brand names, try:
http://www.thezeb.com

If you're about high quality try:
http://www.ampman.com

If you like DIY type stuff try:
http://www.madisound.com

I actually have pieces from all 3 companies destined for my mini... as soon as the weather gets nicer! I'm sticking the amps in a false floor with a small fan and plexi cover. There is some room in the rear panels for a pair of small amps (blaupunkt plastic amps?). good luck with it.

--
Cheese

 

Thanks for the information! How is http://www.purecaraudio.com? Their prices seem too good to be true for brand new sealed stuff. Anyway, if you get a chance I would like to see how things turned out for you! Till then best of luck!

 

I've never dealt with that website but they carry some nice stuff. I highly recommend the FOCAL 5WS, and there is plenty of room under the dash for it.

--
Cheese

 

www.etronics.com was excellent. the cheapest, when i bought my head unit.

 

I've got a friend that can take a couple of weeks on ebay and come out with some amazing deals. I've looked at some of the stuff he's got, and it's high quality, brand name, perfect working order.

 

I am almost done (for a while) with my audio install.

I have an Alpine CD 9815 HU w/aux in and PAC RF controller (steering wheel buttons still work).

Alpine MRV-320 amp under passengers seat - 2 channels @ 120 watts ea. driving CDT CF-61 6.5in comps w/1" silk dome tweeters

Elemental Designs Nine.2 amp under drivers seat - 400 watts @4ohms bridged driving 2 Elemental Designs 9kv.2 8" sub woofers. These are mounted in the stock 6X9 location. I managed to seal this area resulting in a .3 cu ft box.

I did not lose any boot space.
Sound is very SQ, very clear highs, and deep full bass.

Now I just need to sell my 1st attempt to obtain good bass....a pair of Tang Band 6X9's that get down to 35htz and a class T Blaupunt amp that fits in the side pannel in the boot. Worked well, but I wanted louder.

I will post pictures, although everything but the head unit is out of sight.

Cheers, Ann

 

Ann,

Can you give us some details on mounting those 8" subs in the 6x9 locations. How is the overall result? I've never heard of Elemental Designs, what brand would you compare it to in terms of sound quality?

thanks

Amit

 

The HU has an RCA sub out, which has a volume control. That's what I used for the source to the subs amp.

To mount the subs, I mounted a plate over the 6X9 speaker location with a new round hole sized for the 8" speaker. You must carefully cut this larger hole, as there is just enough room. You will be cutting the MINIs metal where the stock speaker was.

To seal the area behind, I made a long strip of foam ruber, varying the width as necessary to conform to the space. I formed this into a ring. Then I made a sleeve of fiber glass cloth and slipped it over the foam. Afted soaking the cloth in resin, I placed this donut between the outer body and inner steel panel, compressing the foam slightly and pushing it to the outer edge of this space.When the resin hardened I added a second coat. Then I added a couple of coats of liquid sound deadener.
This created a sealed space of about .35 cubic feet. depth close to 6.5 inches. I did the same to both sides. I ran new speaker wires from the amp thru the stock gromits.

As far as how it sounds...
Having a rear mounted sub should provide better sound, I did not want to give up boot space. It might be possible to mount the 8's in the boot by removing the cubby covers and bringing the face of the panel out toward the center of the car. I don't have the skills to do that, and things in the boot could block the speakers.

It would be nice to do a side by side comparison with another mini with a sub added in the boot. I am sure the quality of the subs used could also make a difference.
In the end I am very happy with the result....

Cheers, Ann