I have the 10 speaker hi-fi system. Can I just upgrade the amp and get better quality of sound from the 10 speakers? or is it more complicated than that? Thank you.

 

The major problem with the system is the speakers they are of very very poor quality.

Up grading the amp will just make the speakers sound even worse than they already do.

Search is your friend. If you search the forums then most of your question will be answered. Read more about the HiFi system by doing a search and then if your questions are not answered come back and ask away.

 

so with my research, it sounds like the way to go for a quick fix are the Infinity Kappas....

 

If price is not object then i would go with Focal's 165V3E for the front and then Focal's 690 CV1 for the rear.

If money is part of the consideration the Infinity are a good choice IMHO or you could go with the Polk MOMO series as well. THe only thing with these is that it is hard to find a component set with three drivers in the correct sizes to fit. Only the Focal's seem to have a direct fit.

Another audio mod thread you may want to monitor is this one about the frequency response to the rear speakers.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=150567

If anyone can get the wires changed in the connectors that the thread is talking about then there may even be added benefits to doing this mod as well.

 

ok I will check them out. Thank you.

 

make sure you research, someone metioned the amp has a resistor chip in it for the radio to function at all. thus you would need to keep the amp to run the deck....research but do report back.

 

Make sure the specs are compatible. The factory HiFi speakers have 2 ohm impedance.

 

You will do much better replacing the speakers. They are the weak link.

Also, the HIFI amp is tied into the MINI's computer system. So, replacing the amp may not be simple.

 

can anyone confirm for me the hifi system has different door panels to accomodate the extra speaker in the front doors please? if they have the same holes for each system, I would stick your own amp in there and save the headache.

 

There are no extra speakers in the front doors, and the door panels are the same. The extra speakers in the HiFi system are the tweeters in A pillars, and the rear speakers are coaxial. What did you have in mind?

 

I'm thinking of tapping the deck with a couple of LOCs and tossing an amp in the rear and running wiring...for new speakers on my own...knowing the Airbags deploy from the a-pillar, I might be in for a bit of trouble though unless I can find used ones.

thinking CDT for the front setup, EF series, Kappas for rear fill, maybe a JBL for the 4-way interior and another single channel amp for the sub...small 8 or 10"....stick a new battery and power wiring through the engine bay.....with some breakers...

I'm open to ideas and suggestions...if I can get interior shots of the two different pillars, I might be able to figure something out.. I don't want to deal with the AMP and it's chip not allowing me to swap the amp out and leave the stock deck useless...EDIT: Looks like a 3-way or a 2-way split into three to match up the pillar...can't be anything too good...can't see the dimensions for the speaker. I see two speakers in the back, where are the second sets, that only makes 8, missing two.

I hate the thought that another car manufacturer has yet again made it difficult to upgrade the stereo system...

EDIT #2
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=95211

Might help out....


Edit #3 Kids.

Ok...looks like a 6.5 in the lower door with a 5x7 = 6.5" kit out of 1/4" MDF...should be easy..., figure a 4" in the mid door and a 3" or 2.5 in the upper pillar..

Honestly I have some CDTs in my mazda now..and I'll probably go with them again in the front of the car..see here for kits...you build:

http://www.cdtaudio.com/custom_components_08.htm

For the rear...for now...I think either Kappas or more CDTs..

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...31&hg=65&fg=20

Might help out, it's for a 56....

For the amp, as long as it's not a PITA, Might go with a JBL 4-way for the interior...and a single JBL for the rear sub if/when it goes in or a nice 2 channel for the front and a 2.1 for the rear and sub after the fact...stock wiring should handle around or up to 200-250 watts...

So....front door replacement:
CDT HD-642 series (230 RMS)

Rear Door (provided the rears have two channels):
Infinity Kappa 680.9 series (90RMS - 270 max)

Sub:
RE Audio 10" SE Sub
http://www.reaudio.com/specs.html#sp_se

Interior Amp for just the front:
maybe something kicker...want at least 200 watts RMS at least

Rear fill amp and sub low pass option
something maybe JBL...dunno yet...

Figure amp wiring kit and a new battery, I like the Exide batteries, ...had two sets of terminals...been my starting battery for the better part of 3 years no issues.
http://www.exide.com/products/marine...eep_cycle.html


Looks like I'm into it for another $2,000....