Hi All,

I own a 2008 MCS. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this forum and assisted me with getting my stock base stereo to something acceptable. 15 years ago on college budget, I used to run premium soundstream amps and subs, V12 amps, MB Quarts. These days I am too old and lazy to spend time in the car besides going to and from work. However the base stereo from Mini is pathetic. I want to share what a whopping $200 got me. Wiring and crimps was borrowed from work.

Two years ago, I upgraded the door speakers to Infinity Reference 4" and 6.5" Coaxials (Amazon ~$90 total) while I left the X9331 front and rear channel swap alone.

Last night I added a slim 8" amplified Pyle subwoofer (Amazon $110) to rear trunk and tap into the X9331 connectors as a high level signal source (note: connect high level black wire to ground amp terminal). I also used the cigarette power socket as a power (12v+ and Ground) and remote source. The amp only turns on when the car is running though. I have faded the head unit to the front to mute the rear stock 6X9s.

The Boss Bass600 and SSL8 has been discontinued. The current Boss Bass900 has been getting many bad reviews so I went with Pyle PLBass8.

The original Bass600 thread was a great help:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...subwoofer.html

Also the Infinity Reference thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-thinking.html

Well thanks fellow Coopers for the research and advice. The sound quality is much better. I may not have Rainbows, Focal, Morel or Integrals brand speakers, but I am very happy with this upgrade. Enjoy the phone camera pics.

 

Hi Rambo and others,

I'm new to MINI and new to the forum. My 2009 which I've owned since January has the stock stereo (which is crap), and I want upgrade it.

Advice welcome. I assume I can't change the head unit since it seems to be integrated into the speedometer on this model year, but who knows?

Thanks in advance!

 

Welcome kcrobin. The sticky threads and the two links in my thread above are great place to start researching. Also search the X9331 connector for reference if you are interested in the Front and Rear Channel Swap.

 

Thanks Rambo, will do.

 

Rambo thanks for your advice. I just installed a Pyle plbass8 8" subwoofer in the spare tire-tool area in the boot of my 2012 clubman. That plus Infinity Reference 6032si 6.5",and Infinity Reference 4032cf 4-Inch, in the doors.

HUGH improvement over the base stereo set up!

 

Your welcome. I'm glad it worked out for you. We owe thanks the prior pioneers in my links above who did the research and testing

I'm debating if I should replace the rear 6x9s. Currently the stereo is faded to the front. In a r56, the rear speakers are harder to get to.