Has anyone been able to do this or is it even possible? I would like to use the HiFi amp to run my rears or a sub, and use a better aftermarket amp I have for my fronts.

 

I don't think the factory amplifier is bridgeable, but you may be able to work out something. How many output channels are there on the HIFI amp? If there are four, you might be able to use the HIFI amp to drive two dual-voice-coil subwoofers. Of course, you'd probably lose the use of your fader, and you might run into problems if all four channels on the HIFI amp don't have the same amount of power.

 

The HiFi amp is NOT bridgeable with out MAJOR changes to its circuity.

There are 4 channels in and 8 channels out.

Also there is internal filters for each channel as follows

Right Rear Tweeter - rolls off below 3000 hz

Left Rear Tweeter - rolls off below 3000 hz

Right Rear Woofer - rolls off above 5000 hz

Left Rear Woofer - rolls off above 5000 hz

Front Right Mid & Tweeter - rolls off below 500 hz and has bumps and valleys above that.

Front Left Mid & Tweeter - rolls off below 500 hz and has bumps and valleys above that.

Front Right Woofer - rolls off above 7000 hz and has a very large increase below 200 hz

Front Left Woofer - rolls off above 7000 hz and has a very large increase below 200 hz

Now with all that said. These numbers above were different be fore i complained to the dealer about the very poor sound of the system.

This amp is a programmable. I.E. all the filters are electronic filters and not done by component selection on the circuit board. Unfortunately this is not something that MINI controls. The programing is done and change by the Harmon Becker Group for MINI and then available to the dealers for changes when someone complains. Dealers will only do an update to the programing if someone complains and then only if there is a newer update available. I have also heard that some dealers do not even know that this type of upgrade exists as they are only distributed upon request.

The above filter numbers are from actual measurements i have made on the system in my car after the update of the amp programing.

Also the OEM amp MUST stay in the car as the central computer of the car has to have it there or it will cause major problems with updating the central computer programing if it is needed for any reason.

Your best bet as mentioned in many many many threads is to leavae the OEM amp in place and splice into the X9331 connector in the front drivers foot well and take a signal from there ot an aftermarket amps and then to the speakers. Of course you will need to add the wireing to the speakers as the wire that is used for the OEM speakers is of very very small gauge and will NOT handle the power supplied by aftermarket amps (unless it is a 20watt amp).

 

So do you recomend upgrading the software to the amp or leaving as original? Was there any improvements to the sound after the upgrade?

Thanks.

 

There was a slight (very slight) change in the sound quality. The biggest thing that changed was the crackling in the tweeters while classical or jazz was playing. The crackling did disappear.

For all those who, like me wasted their money on the HiFi, it is just time to take the consequences of not doing the listening or research ahead of time to know what we were getting.

I will be adding a 5 channel amp this spring and some other upgrades to the audio system that are needed to make it worth listening to.

 

That's really a shame that the HIFI system is such a disappointment. I'm glad that threads like these exist, because otherwise, I'd have probably sprung for the "upgraded" stereo on whatever MINI I order next, based on my experience with my 2006. (On the earlier cars, the H/K upgrade actually is a significant improvement over the stock stereo.)

 

Given that the amp is programmable, is it possible to add high quality speakers, then have the programming done as needed for the frequency range of the speakers - thereby keeping the amp? How much power goes to each channel?

Thanks,

Ken

 

No this is not possible with out paying large sums of money to Mini to do the programing, and even then i doubt Mini or Harman Becker (actual manufacturer of amp) would even do it.

 

I have experienced the cracking sound coming from the tweeters at slightly higher volumes while experiencing no distortion of the door-mids. I have 3.5" & 5.5" Infinity Kappas that I am planning put in the doors sometime in the future. The crackling is very tough to hear, but it annoys me to no end. At first I thought I was crazy, but it happens on every source. Has the update continued to keep the crackling away?

 

Yes there is a amplifier software update that addresses the crackling tweeter issue. It came out sometime around may-june 2008.

 

I am very happy with the high-Fi system after just a few modifications to the system. First i replaced the front tweeter and door sub with a Diamond Audio 6.5" and 1" tweeter kit without using the Diamonds x-overs. I did use the factory Mini capacitor on the tweeter and ran the 6.5 just straight off the factory amp sub channels. I then added 200mf caps to the front door 3.5" because they were getting to much bass to them and distorting. The last thing i did was add a Bazooka 200watt 8" sub in the back. After these few and pretty inexpensive mods I can turn the system all the way up with songs on my I-Pod without any distortion and with plenty of volume and bass. I was in car audio for 13 years and come from cars with competition level soundsystems and this works very well for my needs now.