I have the HiFi (if you want to call it that) upgrade. I can semi-live with the highs and mids but not so much the bass. I just find it too sloppy/muddy/not tight enough/breaks up too easily - choose your terms.

I am not a DIY guy, so I queried Best Buy, Circuit City and Tweeter for solutions. BB and CC suggest changing the stock 6x9s and 6" speakers. The guy from Tweeter, who was way more knowlegeable, suggested that my desire for improved bass [on my budget and MINI size parameters] would best be served by an 8" sub in a Tweeter made custom enclosure and an add-on amplifier. He feels changing the stock speakers would not give me what I seek and the power requirements for the aftermarket speakers might not be a good match-up with the MINI's hifi system. Help! Where do I go from here?

 

How much are you willing to spend?

 

Add a sub! Hold out for a bit i'll have some pics of a nice new setup.

 

Preferably, spicy italian.

 

a96bimmerm3, okay, I'm in no rush, I look forward to it.

MotorMouth, I'm not sure yet. The Tweeter solution was about $600 and while le$$ is better, I'll pay for a solution that will get me what I want to hear and use the available MINI space very efficiently.

LynnEl, I had a spicy Italian last night Mmmmm

 

If you are sorta happy with the mids and highs and just want more bass, a sub is the answer for sure. If anything any aftermarket speakers you buy are going to have LESS bass than the factory speakers. They will be cleaner, handle more power, and have way better mids and highs, but are gonna have less bass becasue subs are meant to handle bass. Aftermarket speaker makers know this, and don't even bother trying to give their speakers good bass response because it would muddy up the mids and highs.

Get a sub.

 

You can fit a small powered subwoofer under the passenger seat. I haven't done mine yet, but I am about to. I'll grab the speaker level outs from the amp in the boot (amp from hifi is in side of boot), and then simply run a power wire from battery to under seat.

Bada-bing, got me some bounce!!

 

I thought you said "powdered subwoofer" at first. Gonna say, you don't look like Homer (either one of them). Let me know how that works out.

 

not as much as your passenger!

 

rattmobbins - I'm not real thrilled with the whole darn system, it just seems to be lackluster. But if I'm going to to start somewhere on a budget, it'll be with the bass. It's not so much that I desire MORE or bigger bass, it's that I want tighter, cleaner, clearer quality bass that won't fall apart at mid volume levels.

So if consensus here is that a sub/amp is the place to start, I will. I would also, in time, love to improve the quality of the highs and mids. I'm guessing that means replacing some or all of the stock speakers.

Hey Birdman, yeah I also look forward to hearing how your under the seat addition works out.

 

If you want an under seat bass speaker you should look into a Rockford frostgate. I have an 07 MCS and took some dimensions off of my 07 Titan's speaker that is under the seat and should be able to make it work. It has awesome clarity and that deep bass sound. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Post deleted.

 

What about midbase drivers?

 

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you'll get that type of response from most audio companies.

 

Does Genesis of the UK have a website? Can't seem to find em...?

 

Yeah, can't remember what it is though. You'd think as little of a company as they appear to be, they wouldn't be so freakin arrogant. I would just as well bury the idea of running Genesis, there are far too many other legit companies without the arrogance IMHO. ;-)

 

Have any you guys finished your under seat sub installs yet?

 

Please do post the results. I'm anxious to hear how it works out.

 

Rockford Frostgate? It's Fosgate.

I'm currently working on two solutions....a ten inch subwoofer under the front seat or some old school Kicker free-air 6x9 subwoofers in the sidepanels. I've also got some ED EU-700 7" subs as backups...either under each seat or in each side panel (custom enclosures for each).

My measurements show there's enough room under the seat for the 10:, the problem is box size. There are modules on the seat itself that limit the width and I'm a little undersized for the .35cu/ft I need.

I'll do some more measuring this weekend and do a testfit with a cardboard box to ensure proper clearances.

 

Wow, you think you can get a 10 underthere? I bet a 8" would sound better, with the smaller airspace requirements. I'm just going to try a pre-fab powered woofer in there (like the Clarion, Pioneer, Kenwood.....).

 

the sub I'm looking at is designed to work on .3 cu/ft (same as most 8's). Problem is depth....most subs are too deep. I wish there was a shallow, small box 8"...I'd be done by now

 

Has anybody tried a Bazooka?