According to an MA at Prestige, the Harmon Kardan system is no longer the Hi-Fi model. Does anyone know what the new one is? Apparently it's the same specs. Probably a different head unit and/or amp.

Once I get back in touch with him I'll see if he has any details.

 

Well that's interesting, I don't think I've heard that before. I hope it's as good, if not better than the old one.

 

The "Harmon Kardon" upgrade was dropped when the second generations came out. The upgrade on the second gen cars R56/R55 is now called the HiFi System. It is believed (and i may be wrong on this) that the head unit is possibly made by Alpine. As for the Amplifier it is made by Harman Becker. Speaker are junk paper cone speakers form Phillips and marked as being from the Ukrane.

This post shows the tag on the HiFi amp.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1&postcount=12


So the 2009 will probably have the same set up as the 07's and 08's.

 

I think it was a bad decision. Many people are unhappy with this move.

I sometimes wonder if they would've been better suited to use the system used in the BMWs, from H/K Logic 7? Hyundai is even offering this system, and Buick is offering a similiar H/K setup in their new Lucerne model.

For a BMW 1 series, a H/K made system, (non logic 7, still DSP) is a 875 upgrade, and is a very good system. In the 3 series, the same system, used in the 3, 5, 6, 7 & m series is a 1200 dollar upgrade. Depending on the BMW model, it may come with it, like the 335.

The z4 uses a different system, stock, but phenomenal for that car....

Why did MINI go cheap? lol

 

I'm guessing it's because the MINI is smaller/cheaper than the BMWs and therefore doesn't need the extra oomph?

I don't know, I was kind of hoping that after all the complaints that BMW/MINI would've attempted to improve the Hi-Fi system for 2009-- that looks to be wishful thinking.

 

So is the problem the head unit or the speakers? Better speakers usually improves most stock stereos. And having them pre-wired is better than having to take everything apart... probably not worth $500 though.

 

2 words: Profit Margin

 

The head unit seems to be okay from the testing that has been done. There are two things that have been done to make a standard system sound much better. One is a pin swap to allow for full range sound to go to the rear speakers https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=151132 and the other is to upgrade the speakers.

As for the HiFi system I and others are still doing testing on the system to see where the real problem lies. Is it the amp that seems to have high and low filters in it, is it just for frequency response from the amp, is it high harmonic distortion. we are not sure at the is time but hope to have some more info with in the next few weeks.

 

The systems have adequate "oomph"
The biggest problem is the speakers are garbage and can't produce clear sound. MINI could have bought much better speakers for $10 (literally). That would have added $60-$100 to cost.

 

I think there are two problems with the audio.

1. The speakers are cheap and nasty. Just replacing them improves the system. The fronts are easy to swap. The rears are more difficult because the require taking all of the rear side panels out.

2. The rear speakers are not getting much bass. Why it was designed this way is a great mystery.

In the HIFI system the amp seems to be the problem. Signals from the head unit are full range. Although the jury is still out, it is looking like the easiest fix is going to be adding a sub that is tied into the connector just in front of the driver's door.

In the standard system, the head unit is the problem. The signal for the rear woofers, coming from the head unit, is lacking bass. The easiest way to deal with it seems to be as schatzy62 describes -- switching pins in the connector by the driver's door.

 

Yes

 

The amp *should* be ok, for most applications. It is a harman/becker amp. It's certainly not made by buffoons. (spelling?)

But I agree with the use of philips speakers. It's a cheap move.

Additionally, they didn't use proper cross overs, even in the amp, proper internal crossover, would allow for correct separation in the (hifi system), tweeters, mids and lows. The mids and "lows" are not properly crossed over. Anyone with good harmonic hearing could hear that.

Unfortunately, the systems used in the vw gti mKv and other (amplified * keyword*) vw stereos, is far better. And it's almost the same setup. And certainly not harman/becker amplification.

 

I think it's because the plastics over it will squeak. I installed a powerful bass woofer there and it did squeaks.

Is it possible that the head unit in the standard system can be programmed to the hi fi state?

 

Pretty much has to be true since there is only one "Boost" headunit and one navigation headunit used regardless of speaker system. Either you can reprogram the headunit, or there is a different set of audio outputs (speaker level and line level), or both.

 

The Non NAV head unit is the same part number for both the HIFI and Standard system

Then NAV Head unit is the same part number for both the HIFI and Standard system.

There is some kind of programing that can be done on both units and i have figured out some of it. I have put this info in this thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=151911

Also my car is going into the dealer on Monday for a bad sounding HiFi system and the dealer tells me they will fix it. SO what i plan to do is find out what the rest of the programing sections do. and i will post the results in the above thread.