Hello, I bought my 2004 mini cooper base about 3 years ago. The car came with the infamous HK system and I bought the car knowing the amp was already dead. I was a little short on cash at the time so I bought an aftermarket hu and had best buy bypass the amp. Only the front speakers worked and the hu eventually blew out. I'm assuming its because of the 2 ohm speakers.

Are there any reasonably good amps out there that will work with the 2 ohm speakers? Or am I better off replacing the HK speakers and buying a compatible amp? If I go the second route I know its a tight fit in the rear quarter panel where the HK amp used to be. Are there any decent amps out there that will fit? Or would it be a better idea to put the amp under the passenger seat but that would mean redoing the wiring.

Thanks in advance. I know there are a lot of questions but I want to do it right this time.

 

The only question that matters here is budget.

When it comes to audio there's budget builds that are fine for most people who just want to hear something come out of their speakers, all the way up to the audiophiles who can easily spend a couple grand pursuing sound clarity.

Example:
http://www.integralaudio.com/index.p...oofer-r56.html

Too bad they don't make anything for our beloved gen 1's.


Anyways, The h/k speakers aren't friendly to anything but the h/k amp so I'm told, due to their funky set-up with resistances.

So here's what you need to do: Install new head unit and upgrade speakers. In future address amp if you want more power or to add a sub.

If you go the second route then I can vouch for the Rockford Fosgate's PBR300 amp series. I have the PBR300x1 added onto my h/k system for my stealthbox sub. They are TINY amps that pack a big enough punch for the MINI's size. You really don't need anything over 200-300 watts RMS for the MINI because its such a small interior but this is my opinion. I focus more on clarity that absolute loudness.

You can get reasonably priced decently clear 4 ohm speakers for the mini, a set of components in the front, a couple 6x9's in the rear and the PBR300X4 amp wired up to an aftermarket headunit and have a clean sounding system.

A lot of people have searched for precision clarity with their mini's only to turn back to the h/k system. But these instances I've read have mostly been people who have tried to stay with the OE headunit.


Also, check Alpine, they make some head units with amber back-lighting that matches BMW/MINI amber interior lights closely.

 

I'm actually going to be parting with my H/K system to spend some dough on a 4.1 system.

If you still have your OE head unit and want the simplicity of just going back to factory I can sell you my H/K amp and speakers. Pm me if interested.

I'll also likely be parting ways with my PBR300X1 mono sub amp with my new system as well.

 

Can an amp be placed in the factory HK amps spot and use the factory wiring?

I don't mind getting new speakers and an amp... already have the head unit and HK enabler installed but it just never sounds right no matter what sound field I choose.

I just don't want to rip up my interior to install new wiring.

 

Yes you can. Integral audio sells a nice Arc audio 4 channel and also sells a bracket to mount that amp in the stock location.

You can reuse the speaker wires to h/k amp and lf rf signal wires from radio to amp. However, right and left rear signal wires were not run from the radio to the h/k amp so you'll need to add those regardless of what you do to replace the h/k amp. Also, the h/k amp was not powerful at all. Its stock wires for the amps power supply and ground were very thin. Any replacement amp will require heavier gauge wires to be run from battery and to ground. Again, not a big deal as the battery is already in the boot on a R53.

 

I run a Parrot Asteroid into a JL XD700/5. I use the stock speakers. I had a shop wire it up for me.

Sounds pretty good, about as good as the HK before it but with more power. The only thing I miss are the additional modes the HK had.

The shop, and all other literature I've read, say that this amp can handle 2 ohm speakers. Probably, most modern amps will be fine.