I have a 2009 base R57 and I am driving a loaner 2012 S. Both seem to have the base stereo (only 6 speakers) but the S stereo sounds substantially better than mine. A few questions:

Are the base stereos in the S models different?
Did they upgrade the stereos from 2009 to 2012?

Any input would've appreciated.

 

There is no difference between the S stereo and the base sterieo. Your difference is the base stereo and the HK (Harmon Kardon) stereo.
The HK has been the only factory upgrade available.

 

There are a few things you are probably noticing. mrluckypa is correct, there is no difference between the base and S stereo's, but there IS a difference between the R56 and R57. The R57 uses 6" rears, and the R56 uses 6x9". Both handicap the rear speakers' low frequency response with a notch filter to reduce the performance compared to the h/k upgrade.

The two biggest differences you are probably noticing, however, are 1) the reduced cabin gain in the R57 vs. the R56, and 2) the drastic variability from one speaker to another due to the cheap materials, poor design, and poor quality control on the OEM speakers.

Issue 1) is a result of the soft top vs hard top, and will result in noticably reduced low freq response in the R57 vs the R56. This is a much greater difference than what results from the 6" vs 6x9" speakers.

Issue 2) results in the speaker parameters varying dramatically from one speaker to another. Designing and manufacturing a quality speaker is a precision process. The three primary areas of variability are the compliance (or stiffness) of the suspension, the weight of all the moving parts, and the strength of the magnet. Variability of these components in manufacturing - the density of a material, the ratio of compounds, varying thickness of a speaker cone or voice coil wire, the amount of glue used, the degree and consistency of magnetization of the magnet, etc - all result in changes to the final speaker parameters, performance, and sound. Wide tolerances result in a wide range of final results, and you can definitely hear them. Try it sometime - go from one MINI to another with the same factory sound system and listen to the same program material - you will notice a difference, and sometimes it is quite dramatic. This is true, by the way, for all the factory systems - standard 6 spkr, HiFi, and h/k.

 

Good Info, thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for the info. I suspected the top was a factor both in terms of sound insulation and ambient wind noise caused by the soft top. I wasn't aware of the speaker size difference and that would likely take away some range between highs and lows.

The HD function of the radio adds to the depth of the sound in the R56.

Thanks again.

Garb

 

Certainly. If you are disappointed in your standard 6 speaker system, maybe consider our Soundstage upgrade. It is life-changing, especially in an R57 where the factory system doesn't sound good AND can't keep up with road noise.

Happy to answer questions if you have any. There is a Group Buy going on through the end of September in the Group Buy Forum: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...group-buy.html

 

Actually this is not entirely true.

2007 to 2009 there was no HK Stereo so the upgrade was to a HiFi unit, with 10 speakers just as the HK has but with a very poor amplifier.

2010 had both the HK and the HiFi upgrades available.

Kevin is correct in all his statements about the

 

Don't forget the Alpine upgrade kit from base stereo... Gives you the tweets for new A pillars, replaced front speakers and an amp under seat.

 

The Alpine kit is not too well publicized. I asked MA's at several dealers and they did not even know that it existed until I opened one of the books. It does cost more than the HK upgrade (after you finish with labor and the change in speakers)