so ive been thinking of upgrading my base sound system... and ive read numerous of topics here at NAM and form what ive researched i think im going to use the integral audio instructions and buy a 10" subwoofer and front speakers, and i saw for the front speaker one that comes with a tweeter in them... thinking on getting those... an amp and no speakers for the back part of the car... cuz i read theyre useless... so what do you guys think?

 

since i dont know that mmuch... what amp would u recomend... like channels, watts and stuff like that... what would you recomend me for this project?

 

I just installed one of these. All plug & play, great sound. These folks are great to work with and know their stuff.

http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...roducts&cat=25

Jim

 

Put tweeters in the a-pillar or your soundstage will be on the floor instead of the dash.

imagine sitting in the nosebleed seats with the music coming from the floor 100 rows below.

 

get a jbl ms-8 and add 2 6.5 woofers for lower door,2 4 inch mid woofers for upper door and 2 1 inch tweeters in a-pillars and run them active with a selfpowered infinity or kenwood sub.

 

The system from newministuff, does just that, for that very reason. Comes with new "A" pillars, complete with tweeters installed and they use the Kenwood amp. Very nice set up.

Jim

 

If you buy the equipment online from dealercostaudio that newministuff offers you will spend less than half of what newministuff charges and get free shipping.

 

Not really. They supply a plug & play harness that you connect in the kick well that uses the OEM wiring, so you don't have to take the dash apart to get to the head unit. They are masters with those harnesses and everything I have gotten from them is easy to to do and works very well.

Jim

 

You can buy that harness for 30ish dollars inc shipping or you can make your own for 15 dollars.

I have been there and done that with Mike at newministuff,by the way do not purchase the newministuff rca plug harness because it is JUNK.

 

I'm not going to argue with you. I like their stuff, if you don't, then that is your opinion. I was just trying to be helpful, so the OP now has suggestions and can make their own decision.

Jim

 

Not here to argue just stating the facts.

Buy the same equipment online and have a pro install it and you will still be less then the newministuff diy kit.

Hard to argue prices in pounds vs dollars.

 

Well here ya go. Key words being "have a pro install it". I just followed the instructions and did it myself.

I don't post here much and now I remember why.

Jim

 

So install it yourself and have total of 300ish usd invested in all audio equipment that newministuff charges 479 pounds plus shipping.

last time I looked the Dollar was 1.60ish per pound.

I wont even go into a LOCAL USA WARRANTY vs a warranty in the U.K.

 

I saw them posted about favorably on this board when I was looking at upgrading late last year from the base (Boost) stereo. I wanted something not listed on their website as a specific product with a specific price. But it was pretty clearly available from what they do sell in various configurations. E mailed them several times, said I was ready to buy, described specifically what I wanted, citing to their website but basically just dropping out some pieces from one of their packages. No response. Nada, zilch.

First Mini vendor I ran into across a bunch of mods that couldn't be bothered, even though I have sourced other parts from the UK several times, and Germany once or twice. And, yep I tried again, and let time go by in case they were on a break. So, I got to where I wanted using the Mini retrofit amp and speaker kit for the front, and may use the integral subwoofer in the future. Like what they had in theory, but w/ no prospective customer follow up to what was a straightforward question, oh well...

 

Check out the wicked cas magic box for a sub.

 

other than this what else do i need to get? what cables, fuse, pretty much list me everything just to know... like i said in new to the music world... and read lots of topics but they dont answer my questions.... and what should i watch out in my project? what kind of stuff can mess up my car

 

sub woofer and tweeter go connected at the amp rite?

 

you will need a jbl ms-8 many used ones on ebay for just under 400

2 1inch tweeters

2 mini oem a-pillers for factory HI-FI

2 4inch mids

2 6.5inch mid woofers

2 6 inch sub woofers ( cheap and easy option with less sound quality buy plug and play powered sub)

2 6x9 to 6 inch adapter plates if using 6 inch subs

1 jl audio amp/stereo install kit

pm I know some websites for deals

ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY BEFORE WORKING ON CAR

 

Jim, is your car left-hand drive? I've been trying to determine if the NewMINIStuff complete upgrade is plug-and-play for British market cars, only - or if that also applies to left-hand-drive American cars.

 

I'm thinking about it, but my ability is limited. I'd like to see the instructions to see whether I can undertake the job.

Does anyone have a copy of the integral audio instructions they can post or email?

 

Ummmm, no. Just, no.

 

They are available from Integral Audio's website. Go to this link:
http://www.integralaudio.com/index.p...e#instructions
... and follow the directions under the heading "Installation Instructions"

However, these instructions may not be quite up-to-date. A newer version of the wiring harness is now being shipped with the kits, and I have not yet been able to confirm if the instructions have been updated yet. The new wiring harness is supposed to make installation easier, so it may be that some steps of the instructions no longer apply to the Soundstage installation.

BTW, I *was* very interested in the NewMiniStuff upgrade, but I gave up on them when they quit answering my emails and failed to answer some basic questions. Their "instructions" are far from complete and their website is buggy which makes me wonder if I would get the attention to details that I would require.

From what I've read New MiniStuff may be a great option for those who live on the right side of the Atlantic, but I got the impression their internet business was of secondary concern to them.

The one basic question which is still unanswered for me is this:
Does their wiring harness work on left-hand-drive cars?

It's a moot point for me now, because I just ordered a Soundstage from Integral Audio.

 

There is the factory MINI HIFI / Alpine upgrade kit for MINIs with the basic stereo system. Fits R55 R56 R57 R58 & R59 models with basic stereo (base).

Retrofit Kit For MINI HIFI / Alpine System Part # 65412153318


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/65412153318/ES1599518/



&

Installation Kit for the HIFI / Alpine upgrade.


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/65412167234/



You will also need the color / type of trim for the front L&R A pillars w/ speaker pods , for the tweeter speaker that come in the kit.

I have attached the install PDF for the R55 / R56.


Thanks and good luck.

 

I *really* wanted to buy that one. The price of the kit seems reasonable, and the DIY install looks like it would be relatively straightforward. However, I just could not commit to the MINI retrofit HIFI for several reasons.

While I read many reviews from people who liked the sound, almost no one claimed to really love it. Even those who recommended the MINI retrofit HIFI were usually a bit too quick to mention it's shortcomings and recognize the compromise they had made. A few were outright disappointed.

The lukewarm reviews, alone, would probably not have scared me away, because I don't require the world's most perfect car stereo, and, really, compromises should be expected in this price range - compromises that I was willing to accept.

But then there were several reports of defective amplifiers. One poor guy got two bad ones in a row. And also a couple of other complaints about tweeters being damaged in shipment, possibly not having been properly packaged. And the install instructions might need some editing too.

Finally, it occurred to me that this system was spec'ed by the same company that thought the system that came in my car was good enough. Fool me once ...

Regrettably, I couldn't find anyone recommending any other off-the-shelf kit or package for my R56 that was anywhere near this price range. I think there is a tremendous need for something like this; I just wish MINI had implemented the idea a bit better. Does anyone know if the kit has been improved in any way since it started shipping to the US?