I have on order a 2008 Mini S ’Vert, Sidewalk & JCW, one of the many options being installed is the Digital Power Sound Module. I know I will require a subwoofer in back – just uncertain which direction to go in. I thought I would stop in here and get some opinions. I guess my first question is if the headunit in this car has extra outputs? I am not too interested in replacing the headunit (not yet anyway). I am wondering if I would be better off buying an amp (suggestions please) and building my own enclosure for some spare woofers I have laying around. Or just buy a tube or an equivalent? Here is a thought that should fit in the back

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-wdqDD9SZBar/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=51000&I=023THB210A

Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated. This car is in shipping now, so I probably have another 3 weeks or so. I am basically in the earliest planning stages and would like to learn from your experiences. Thanks ![/SIZE][/FONT]

 

Since it is a new car I would suggest spending some money
JL Stealth box
JL Audio 500/1 Amp
JL Clean Sweep (since you wont have RCA outs)
4 guage Amp wiring kit (yeah I know buying the wire seperate you get better stuff, but trying to make this easy)

Build a false floor in the back for the amp and clean sweep

If you want to really spend some coin go with a custom Fiberglass enclosure matched to your taste.

 

That all being said the DPSM actually has very good bass reproduction without the sub. You may just want to wait to hear it.

Heck for something different go with 8inch subs in kick panels up front (bass is omni directional) Dont really know if there is room but would be different and save your trunk space and provide the lower fill

 

I assumed there would be no space anywhere else -- something to look into tho.

 

Stealthbox doesn't fit the Cabrio and a 250/1 is the recommended amp for it (only a 10W3v2 in it)

 

I am trying to save a little money, hell – I didn’t even pay for this car yet. I can build my own stealth box long before spending several hundred on one. In that regard I am handy and can design my own baffles to deliver the punch. The Amp you’re suggesting is costly – I would want to cut that back a bit. Because I am not swapping the headunit I would install the Clean Sweep. I’ll keep researching and will return with many, many questions.

 

Here's a better question.

Any suggestions that keep the price between 400-500 dollars ? I suppose I could flex it up around $500 but realistically I woul dlike to be in the $400 range. I have 2 10" subs collecting dust, I could fabricate a box - maybe design them in a push pull set-up, low profile in the back. I am sort of blind here since I do not know what the headunit has for outputs. I know there are some powered units that let you tie into your rear speaker wires (I know nothing of these though, but might be one of the cheapest way to go?!?)

 

Could someone explain Clean Sweep to me, ie how the physical connections work?

 

read here:

http://www.audiogearreviews.com/revi...lean_Sweep.asp

 

Yes but how does it physically get wired into a Harmon Kardon radio?

 

Ah...I am not the person that can answer that. I have not yet received my mini (my first mini) so I am just guessing in the dark over here.

 

didnt even check about the cabrio thing

and yeah the amp puts out 500/1 but there is a gain for a reason

Personally I would rather have the over head in the amp than short change the speaker and 500/1 is output at a full 14.4 volts if this is runnign 12 foot of 4 gauge he is lucky to see 13.8 or so peak. with out a cap or a second battery in the back that is

 

you should read up about Slash series amps. None of the things you wrote matter due to the RIPS design. Gain is not a volume control either...it's to match input voltage. also, the 500/1 is underrated and actually puts out about 620 watts while the 250/1 does about 280 watts. The driver in a MINI Stealtbox is more than happy with a 250/1 - JL recommends this amp while for my Legacy Stealthbox, they recommended a 500/1 (10W6v2 driver)

 

OK guys...slow down. All this stealth stuff is flying over the old noodle over here. I am an old school type of a guy - I can run from the head unit and bat back to the trunk (err, boot) drop in an amp and wire up a box and tune it to my aging ears....I am NOT up to date on a lot of the newer things on the market. Now, before this thread is too high-jacked let me reiterate my plea. Right now my wife is being a real good sport – I told her the mini would be 18K and gets 35 MPG....I came home with a 47K mini on order and still didn’t get everything I wanted in it. Despite this, she knows I like my tunes – I can get away with 400-500 to install my sub’s – so I ask you, for that price and me doing the labor, can anyone offer suggestions ?

Also, what outputs are available on the Mini head unit?

 

no outputs. get a decent class d sub amp for $200....an Alpine works fine. Add a small 8" or 10" enclosure and a few bucks for cabling and a line out converter to hook up to the stock unit. DPSM is supposed to do without a sub, but in a Cabrio, you need all the help you can get.

 

All of your outputs are going to be going to the digital sound amp which I'm pretty sure will be mounted in the passenger side boot well. You may have to tap off that to get an input for your aftermarket amp.

 

Can you recommend a specific amp? I honestly don't know what a class d sub amp is.

I have yet to hear the DPSM, I know with the top down I will want more. I can push my budget to the upper limits to achieve all that I can -- no need to settle....since the wife approved a budget trust me, I want to use it all :-)

I have 2 10" subs collecting dust - so I just saved $200+ in speakers....I can put my budget towards amps and wires or into one of those bazooka tubes or the like that I know nothing about.....which is sort of why I posted here. So many new options and I am very out of the loop.

 

what brand and model 10" subs?

 

Hmm...that makes life a tad easier.

Is there units that can convert the signal from the rear speaker wires?

 

this Alpine + a box like this runs $430 MSRP total. speaker- and preamp-level inputs on the amp

+

 

they make all kinds of boxes that will fit in the trunk. you can get a box for one ten and put it on side so you still have room. you dont have to spend alot of money on it to make it sound good. then you get a pioneer premier amp and that will do more then enough. because i have two tens and it is to loud and i have no room. i only spent about $400 on everything if you want more detail please e mail me at bbig789@yahoo.com

 

I actually have several. I want to use the Rockford Fosgate Punch's but I have a few others that I wasn't pleased with in my volvo, Polk's and JBL which I am going to build towers for and replace my basement speakers -- old Bose towers that are hammered. But these are 12's and probably too large for the tight fit in the mini

 

What are your thoughts on stealing the lead form the DPSM ? do you think that would limit the DPSM in anyway? I have only installed using the outputs on the back of headunits. this owuld be something new to me.

 

DPSM runs on speaker level inputs, so not a problem to tap in for an amp for a sub

 

Excellant - all I need are the dimensions of the trunk. I'll stop in to Princeton BMW tomorrow and check that out. From there I should be good to start planning. Thank you all for your time today !! I'll keep you posted on the situation !