I listen to top 100 and hip hop, I used to have an subwoofer in my other car but it was too "ghetto" for me. I am getting older i guess. the bose system in my audi now would suffice.

Is the 2006 stock stero bad?

 

I crank the base with little issue, it handles trebele better. It beats many aftermarket systems out there but there is certainly rooom for improvement. Note: any loose objects will cause annoying rattles.

 

No. Some people even prefer it to the H/K.

 

Great! more money for performance goodies

 

I had the HK in my new CS and I am in a loaner now with the stock stereo and I think it is TERRIBLE..... the HK blows it away

 

I agree. I have the HK and think it sounds good although a little lacking in bass. However, I really came to appreciate it when I got a loaner with the base system, which just sounded really muddy by comparison. If I had not got the HK I would definitely be looking to upgrade.

 

I concur. We have two MINI's with the HK system and they both sound great (we're very happy with the system and would definitely buy it again in a new MINI if given the chance). Anytime we take the cars in for service and get a loaner MINI with the base sound system I can really tell a HUGE difference in the quality of sound between the two. The HK is MUCH better than the stock system IMHO.

Although... We once had a 2003 MCS as a loaner for a month and it had an HK system in it that was aweful (actually sounded worse than the base system and wasn't any louder). Thus, it appears that the later year HK systems were drastically improved at some point. Both of our MINIs are MY 2005.

I agree that you'll get better sound out of an after market system, but you'll also suffer with the poor looks of them in the car as well. The stock system looks so much better in the MINI. I for one can't stand all of the dazzeling lights and weird looking displays in the newer after market systems. I like the clean basic look of the stock sound system (which is one of the reasons I don't mind the fact that MINI has integrated the radio into the spedo cluster on the new new MINI's).

 

For "normal" listening, I think the stock stereo in the Cooper is fine (same as the stock unit in the MCS ?).

Now, if you're a real music buff and your stereo is a high priority for you... or if you like to listen to your music at 300 kajillion decibals, then you probably wouldn't be happy with it.

Me... I crank it up when Freddy Mercury is belting out "One Vision" and I think the sound quality is better than average. Sure does make my rear view mirror shake.

 

I have the HK, and listen to a lot of classical and jazz. I have found that if the CD is pre re-comp era (mid 90's) the there is hardly any difference between the HK and the stock system. But, if it is a new CD that has been re-done, then HK really does take advantage of the new format and does produce a better sound. IMO of course.

 

You can still put a sub in the back if you want. If you're getting to the point where you don't need your chest vibrating with thumping bass, turn the sub down and let it just grasp those delicious lows that the stock system can't.

If you have the stock system and you have the sub, put them together and I think you will be very pleasently surprised as to how good the sound quality is.

 

This is really a subjective thing from person to person.

To me the stock radio (without H/K) is great. But I am not a very big stereo person and have never had a aftermarket stereo. So its great to me.

 

I have the H/K, and I really like the H/K. However, I wish I had the stock system... but only so I could get the DPSM installed.

 

The best way to answer your question is for you to take a listen for yourself. Take you favorite CDs to the dealer and play them on the stock and HK systems. If one of the two meet your expectations, great! If not, get the stock system and upgrade to aftermarket. If you can, try taking a test drive while listening to them. Listening to it in a nice quite showroom isn't the best "real world" environment.

 

The best solution.

 

I like it, It has a very surprising amount of Bass. Crank it up, and listen to "Brass Monkey" by the beastie boys. I am surprised, but Im 16 and want more, so Im getting A Rockford P3.

 

This is one of those questions that everyone has an opinion on. For me the stock radio is great. At my advanced age my hearing isn't as acute as it used to be.

 

I like the stock unit better than the HK. The stock unit with a sub is much better than HK to me. The HK I've had in a couple loaners and never was impressed by it.

 

The next time you get a loaner with the H/K:

• Set ALL of the settings to the middle (bass, treble, fade, balance)
• Turn off driver mode
• Set the DSP to MINI h/k

And try again. Keep in mind that the loaners you had were probably "messed with" a lot by previous customers. The middle and balanced settings are the best way to demonstrate what the H/K can do.

 

The stock system is painful for me to listen to (I have very good ears). The only advantage of having it is that it's easier to upgrade to an aftermarket system later on, if you ever wanted to do that, than if you had the HK.

 

I got the stock Boost system in my car thinking full well that I'd be swapping it out rather soon to something aftermarket. Well, it's been over three years and I still have it, and this coming from someone very picky about music reproduction. Is it perfect? No, but it's more than adequate. It does lack oomph in the lower bass region, but that can be fixed with a simple sub add-on. The HU itself is very high quality.

For '07 and on, though, get used to what's in there. It's integrated.

 

I have the stock player and it's fine for me. It's MUCH better than my old stock Honda stereo, and I haven't heard the H/K. I upgraded to an aftermarket in my old Honda, and it seems similar to the stock MINI stereo. However, I don't think i'd want to hear the h/k, since I'm happy with the one I have. If you don't know what you are missing, then you won't miss it! Sometimes I can't get the bass just right, but it works.

 

nothing a JL Audio CleanSweep can't deal with. (had it in my Subaru with integrated CD and it does very well).

I'm quite happy with the stock system on my '06 MCS, but will still be putting a system in.....I need bass as I'm a huge reggae fan.

 

I've done that, but still wasn't really impressed by it. MINI h/k is the only decent setting. It's not a bad system, but I prefer the stock system and don't think the h/k is worth the upgrade. Then if you decided to replace the stock system down the road it is easier to upgrade to an aftermarket system better than the h/k. Just my personal preference.

 

I listen to mostly classis and older rock n roll. I don't listen to it very loud, unless it is "Purple Haze" or "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida", and find the standard Boost stereo system to be above average and certainly not worth changing. Besides, when I am seriously out motoring I turn it off and listen to the whine of the primary entertainment system of the MINI.

 

I agree, but personally the look of the stock system is the ONLY thing I like about it (OK, well there is that rubbery little on/off button ).