Am trying to spec my JCW and attempting (with difficulty) to keep the cost from getting away from me. However, I am in my car a lot (occasional long commute) and enjoy my stereo. Currently have an 04 S with the upgraded HK. Is the current upgrade worth it, or would I be happy with the standard, OR should I get the standard and try and improve on it? I am not handy so would never attempt any adjustments myself so would be at the mercy of retailers/installers here in Atlanta.
Thanks!

 

Welcome to the mob!

You've hit on one of the key questions in a lot of these things -- cash or skinned knuckles?

For me, I kept the extra $$ in my pocket and upgraded the standard system myself. Four new speakers plus amplified subwoofer, under $300.

(Not counting how much the dealer charges me to turn off the air bag light after I f'd up the last time I had the seats out... Live and learn.)

A viable alternative to retailers/installers in your area is finding mini crazies willing to help -- the hardest part of the speaker swap is pulling the panels for the door speakers, and removing all the trim pieces plus the rear seat to get to the rear speakers (but it's all very well documented here on NAM).

I know that doesn't help... For me, the HiFi system was not only not worth the extra cost, it was a negative, as it cut into my options down the road.

 

Not to hijack this thread, but you guys have me rethinking the HiFi option. Is there a list of features the stock stereo DOES have such as plays MP3s or displays and lists songs on a USB attached drive? Is all you get from the HiFi upgrade a supposedly better quality sound system?

 

I have found the HiFI option to be a waste of the money.

The sound after the pin swap on the standard system must sound better than the HiFi. Even though i have not heard it i have listened to the standard at the dealership after purchasing the HiFi and even with out he pin swap it still sounds better.

Save you money and change the speakers an add an aftermarket amp.

I am considering taking my car to the dealer and asking them to remove the amp and reprogram the car to a standard system. That is how much i dislike the HiFi system.

 

The only extra you get is a cheese horrible sounding amp that criples the system.

As i said in my previous post Save the money and get aftermarket speakers and an amp as you will save your self some money and a lot of head aches.

 

Aftermarket.

 

But how with no "no how?"
I won't do it myself and am wary of handing it over to "Joe Stereo"

 

I've owned both an R56 with the standard "boost" stereo and currently have an R56 with the Hi-Fi option. While the Hi-Fi is certainly not befitting its name, it's significantly better than the standard stereo, which is UTTER CRAP by 1990 Honda standards [also crap]. The Hi-Fi can be lived with on a daily basis listening to most music as reasonable levels. Don't expect high-end home audio [after all, it's a $500 option, not a $50k home stereo] and you'll be fine.

If you have no problem spending thousand on a car stereo, by all means get the standard stereo and install aftermarket amps and speakers. You would be very hard pressed, however, to actually improve the standard stereo to Hi-Fi stereo quality for only $500.

 

I spent the extra $500 for the factory upgraded stereo, and think it sounds good. My sense, however, is that's an unfashionable admission.

On a more practical level, before ordering, I visited a couple of local car audio shops, and discovered that $500 would buy very little.

 

I have the upgraded HIFI in my Clubman. I agree with Schatzy and the others that it could be better, but am not willing to call it Crap. One of the reasons I am glad I have it, are the tweeters built into the A pillars above the dash. That would hard to do aftermarket. (and they sound great, too) I also got the USB/iPod option which I use every day.

As I drove the car off the lot, I was sick to my stomach about how the stereo sounded. BUT, later I found that by working with the controls, I was able to tweek the system to the point where it is better than satisfactory for me.

I LOVE big bad car stereos. My last car (Dodge Durango) had a factory Infinity system that would blow you out the doors. So I know what people are complaining about with the MINI "upgrade". But if you do the following, its better than OK:
- learn that you must turn the bass setting down to -1 or -2 (especially with the iPod) to avoid the bottoming out of the bass. (in other cars, I've always had the bass near the top settings - not on the MINI)
- kick the rear speaker settings up to level 2.
- make sure ALL EQ and volume limiters are OFF on the iPod.
- use the AUX volume control settings on the MINI to increase your input volume.
- the MINI HIFI allows you to set different settings for different inputs (ie: FM, CD, AUX) This is very helpful.

I listen to rock, alternative, disco (FLAME WAR!!!), dance, techno, and jazz. You learn how to tune the HI FI as necessary.

If your still not satisfied with the system, threads here on NAM provide all the necessary instructions for modifying the system, changing the speaker pins, or even swapping out the speakers. Many seem very happy with these Mods. (Because the head unit is so integrated into the dash design, I'm not sure how easy or inexpensive it would be to change that out aftermarket)

Good luck with your decision.

 

I like the description from vendor mikeythemini: "The HiFi option is a slightly better bad sounding system"

$500 is enough for a nice upgrade in components if you can do the work yourself, but as mentioned $500 doesn't go very far at all at an audio shop.

 

I agree with the tweaks mentioned above. I am using the AUX port for the iPod with a Dock Connector/RCA/3.5 mini plug instead of the straight 3.5 to 3.5 (so that I don't have to play with the iPod volume) and the signal goes straigt to the stereo.
Link to the adapter http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-ada...9948665&sr=8-1

I do have a question though. I have a 2008 MCS with the Premium Pkg whihch included upgraded stereo (Boost?). Is that what you guys refer to as the HIFI?

 

One difference between the HIFI and the standard system might be of interest to someone wanting to do aftermarket upgrades.

Both systems have a X9331 connector under the dash just in front of the driver's door. In the HIFI system, the signals for the front speakers and rear woofers are full range at this connector. On the standard system, the signal for the rear woofers are missing bass.

 

Yes.

 

Waste of money, for $500 I will have upgraded the 6x9, 6.5 fronts, amp, subwoofer, fatmat sound deadening and will have made a custom sub enclosure.

For about $300 you can upgrade the speakers and put in an amp. Labor would be additional if you do not do it yourself.

 

I'm with you on this one. My hi-fi sounds great, and my last system (just slightly better sounding) was a factory Bose hifi in a Cadillac. I don't listen to hip-hop or bumping and I don't desire to try to impress folks outside of my vehicle...and my hearing is still intact from avoiding such. The hifi sounds great to me. Check it out in the showroom for yourself, with your own music.

 

totally understand your point, but for some folks stereo isn't just something to "spend" extra money and time on. On the '08 with Premium pkg the stereo upgrade was free, so it is good enough


RICHS10 >> thanks for your answer

 

DITTO!!!

 

Question to all: With no after market upgrades as a consideration - Would you opt for the $500.00 HiFi or go with the standard? and Why?

 

I bought the hifi upgrade for one reason.

I wanted tweeters. To make for ease of replacing them later. 500 dollars was a small price to pay without extensively modifying my A pillar.

If I had to go back in time and do it again, I'd still, do the same. Unfortunately, with the standard 6 speaker system, tweeters aren't the easiest thing to add. As the mid range speaker (e.g. the upper speaker in the door), is 3.5 inches, and I've not seen a 3.5 inch tweeter. Sure. you could effectively rig a tweeter to fit in there with a 2 way component system... However, that wasn't good enough for me.

your opinion may vary.

 

What you can do is get a set of 6" Components. Take out the 3.5" speaker and trace a piece of Blk plastic around it, cut it out and mount the tweeter on it, you are done. The cost would be maybe $130-$150 for Components, $5 in plastic. Of course you would have to take apart the door and have tools to cut plastic.

 

So, a woofer and a tweeter in the door, rather than a woofer and a full range speaker in the door and a tweeter in the A pillar? Is that really equivalent?