A Mini rep sent me some official figures for the audio systems in the R56. Here's the info:

Standard System:
4 channels
6 loudspeakers
• 2 mid-range loudspeakers in front, 100 mm [~4 inch]
• 2 bass loudspeakers in front, 150 mm [~6 inch]
• 2 bass loudspeakers in rear, 6 x 9"
Bandwidth: 50 Hz to 14,000 Hz
Max. acoustic pressure 98 dB
Amplifier power: depends on radio,
4 x 15 W (4 Ohm)

HiFi System:
8 channels
10 loudspeakers
• 2 treble loudspeakers in front, 26 mm [~1 inch]
• 2 mid-range loudspeakers in front, 100 mm [~4 inch]
• 2 bass loudspeakers in front, 150 mm [~6 inch]
• 2 bass loudspeakers in rear, 6 x 9"
• 2 treble loudspeakers in rear, 26 mm [~1 inch]
Bandwidth: 40 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Max. acoustic pressure 104 dB
Amplifier power:
•2 x 40 W (2 Ohm) Bass
•6 x 25 W (2 Ohm)

 

Good info, thanks!

 

Yeah, that's the first time I've seen the specs, that' nice. 2 ohm resistance is really low in the MCS. I don't think I ever heard of a 2 ohm speaker resistance. Guess that's why you need an amp if you add aftermarket speakers (probably all either 4 or 8 ohm).

 

Lets make this one sticky.

 

That was also true of the 1st gen Harman Kardon upgrade, and the R56 HiFi comes from Harman as well.

 

That would be nice, but actually there is little bass going to the 6x9s.

 

There are a few 2 ohm speakers available. Infinity Kappas, and JBL Grand Touring Series are 2 ohm.

I have heard it said that you can run a 4 ohm speaker on a 2 ohm capable amp, but not the other way around.

 

I'm no EE major, but I don't think the amp itself cares about what resistance the speaker is. I buddy bought a pair of 4 ohm speakers long ago (all stereo bookshelf units are 8 ohms) and used a standard Marantz amp just fine. The lower ohm speaker receives a lot more power is all, so it's easy to blow 'em up.

 

Amps DO care about the load.
A lower resistance / impedance risks overloading the amp ... some amps simply cannot operate stably with 2 ohm or lower speakers, others will overheat and shut down, and others (designed for it) can handle even down to 1 ohm.

 

That is correct, if you run a 2 ohm speaker on a 4-8 ohm system you stand to overload the amp/speaker

 

Does anyone know who makes the premium amplifier in the current MINI systems? The Owner's Lounge says that the speakers are by Harman and the head unit by Alpine, so I'm wondering if the amp would also have been done by Harman. Anyone know?

 

The premium (HiFi) amp is sourced from Harman Becker.

This photo is by MikeytheMINI:

 

Thanks for the picture! Has anyone seen pictures of the guts of this amplifier? i.e. the PC board inside there and the components on them? Yeah, I'm an engineer, so seeing what's inside the amp is really interesting to me.

 

+1 on the sticky!!

 

+1 for the engineers...I am a mechanical so the guts make me

 

I had the old H/K amplifier apart for a few minutes (sorry, no pictures) but there's not a lot to see ... surface mount with a few large parts (DSP probably), and lots of heatsink mounted transistors (actually more likely FETs).

 

GBMINI - thanks anyhow. It's the "few large parts" that I'm interested in seeing, so I might just have to crack open my own once I get it. Was it pretty easy to unmount it and slide the case open?

 

Yes - after removing the interior panels! But I don't know if the R56 HiFi amp is located in the same place

 

Has anyone made a wireing harness T connector for the HiFi Amp?? IT would be so nice to just plug in a T harness at the hifi amp to add speakers/subwoofer, amps... I can't beleive nobody has made one??? I know newministuff has a harness for the back of the radio, but who wants to take that mess apart.

 

I have the hifi option in my 2008 MCS, can anyone tell me where the stock amplifier is located?

Thanks

 

If you run 4ohm speakers with the factory amp, it will not be working as hard as it would with the factory speakers. Damping factor is probably significantly improved by moving to 4ohm units, but the achievable power output will decrease. How much it decreases depends on the topology of the amplifier.

 

Due to my limited budget I did not upgrade to the premium audio system when I ordered. Any odea how the base system sounds (I understand this is rather subjective). My dealer did not have any of the cars on the lot equiped with the standard system.

Thanks
Art

 

Let me put it this way. The "improvement" you get with the upgrade is not worth the $500. Or any amount, in my opinion. To me, an upgrade should get you: 1. cleaner sound and 2. more power. The Mini upgrade is marginal at best on the first account and worse on the second. While the amp does have more power, the cheap speakers can't handle it. At some point in the future, if you have the money, you can do much better after market.

 

I'll report back this afternoon on how the low end system sounds. Pick up my Mini at 10 am central time. I am also interested in upgrades. Have never owned a factory upgrade that was better than even a mid grade aftermarket unit so I will be doing upgrades soon.

 

If you install new speakers yourself, the HIFI + new speakers would cost less than $1,000. What can you get aftermarket for that price? I was under the impression that aftermarket upgrades would start around $2,000.