I am curious to see what you have done for aftermarket sound.

headunit?
Speakers?
Amps?
Sub?
Alternator?
Dynamat?
fiberglass enclosures (if you did I really want to see a pic)?
anything else its time to brag.

Lastly what were your audio goals?
looks, thumping base, sound quality, loudness, show factor(if you got more than 2 screens in a car this size you just might be showing off).

Lets hear what you put in, who did it and what you spent.
Pics are always great too.

 

We have lots and lots of similar threads on what audio upgrades we have done and are possible for the MINI.

Here are a few good ones to get you started.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hlight=upgrade
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=26083
Check out the links I listed in both (some might be the same)

MINI audio installs
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=audio+install
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=audio+install

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=audio+install
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=audio+install
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=26059
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=21883

 

This is just some info for those out there looking to upgrade the audio in the mini. My car was the 2003 show car for Diamond audio so it is a bit over the top but you can get some ideas from it. One of the things I learned was that Dynamatt is the key to the entire program. The car is so much more solid feeling and sounding. You can have the volume up at a high level but once the doors are closed it is almost impossible to even tell it is on. I use this demo constantly and people are truly amazed. The sound inside is also VERY clean and I have my system set for more the middle range all though it can " bump " with the best of them. The other unseen elements of the system are good wiring and a upgraded battery both by Scoche. All components are by Diamond Audio , with the exception of the Eclipse AV 8022 DVD/MP3 head unit and the Denson 40 gig Hd MP3 player. The Speakers are 2/ 10 " TDK Subs, 2 sets 5.5 HEX with silk dome tweeters. The mids are all in the stock locations with stock covers for a more integrated look. The power is from a single Diamond D7104 400 watt amp which is only running at 75 % as with the small confines of the car and the Dynamatt insulation is more than adequate. I have a SWI-X interface unit which allows the steering wheel controls to run the head unit as if it were stock. The rear sub enclosures are hand built and covered in matching material to fit in as best as possible.
As for my goals I wanted something clean but could boom if necessary. I really never intended to get into the show car thing but kind of fell into it and most surprising to me won my class in a couple of major shows called Hot import Nights. Its kind of funny as there are rarely any other minis there so they put me in " other Euro " which is the class they throw a lot of cars in if they don't have enough for their own category such as Ferraris and lotus etc.
My work was done by a company called Traffic Jammz in Encino Ca and the do amazing work. It was part of my deal with Diamond that I use them for the install and I am glad they insisted on it. The took care of all my electrical install needs for both the audio and a few other interesting items such as the K-40 Radar detector / laser diffuser ( jammer ) and the Power Loc personal vehicle locator system. Amazing shop with really good follow up tuning and support. As for the price well my wife doesn't read the forums but to duplicate what I have listed would be upwards fo 7k. With as much time as I spend in my toy it was well worth it. Hope this answers some of your questions and good luck with your project. If you are interested if you go to my web site under " events " there are several pages of photos showing various stages of the install in the " audio " section or " modifications "

WWW.MAXMINI.NET

Randy
Team M7
WWW.M7TUNING.COM

 

I would have liked the HK audio upgrade for $550 but it was not available and I would have needed to wait 6 months.

I did my upgrades in stages over 3 to 4 months-
1. front and rear speakers only- mild improvement but lacked power and deep bass.
2. Added amp- driving front and rear speakers, used stock headunit.
Was OK but lacked good output from headunit and deep bass.
3. Added headunit- much better sound, lacked deep bass.
4. Added subwoofer- much better overall sound and good deep bass.
5. Added sound deadening- less rattles/buzzing, quieter interior, better overall sound.

headunit?- Nakamichi CD-400 deck. No nonsense. Looks like stock. Black faceplate removable with green or orange dash illumination, sub/bass/mid/treble controls, aux out via RCA jacks to 5 ft cord on my euro parcel shelf for MP3, CD, DVD player.
Speakers?- MB Quart basic component speakers in front and two way in rears. Rears powered by headunit and fronts by Xtant amp.
Amps?-Xtant 4.4i amp 4x100W two channels to front speakers and two bridged for sub with ARC control for emphasis to front speakers.
Sub?- JL steathbox (only available through dealers) 10" sub in carpeted enclosure that fits into boot on side, takes up about 12 inches.
Dynamat?- I have Deflex which are pads in back of the magnets of each front speaker and Cascade Audio VB-max sound deadening material in my front doors (29 sq feet in three separate levels- outer door, inner door metal, inner door panel).
Clifford alarm system.

All professionally installed. $2200 total cost

Audio goal- clear clean sound with moderate deep bass with controls over sub and input from external audio sources.

Note- I had to add the amp for more power because my aftermarket quicksilver exhaust was loud and even louder with my Milltek header and I could not hear the music very well with windows up. Eventually I switched exhausts to Milltek header and cat-back which are more quiet.

Am I happy with my setup? Yes but it is costly. Is it better than HK, yes by alot but it also costs more and has no three year warranty. Would I be happy enough with HK? Probably but my audio is pretty good right now.

Note- you can add a sub and amp or sound deadening with any audio system in a MINI, stock or HK for more bass and less rattling.

I choose not to get a video system at this time due to the high prices but it can easily be put indash at a later time.

Boot showing JL stealthbox on the left and Xtant amp mounted to rear seatback. Cargo net on the boot floor and rubber mat. Switched the tools to the right fender space.

Indash Nakamichi CD player with trimkit, aux in cord on shelf

 

hey maxmini,

i was looking at your gallery and had a question as to what the last two pics were. one was under your seat and the other was to the left of your steering column. is that the mp3 player? and is the dash unit for your cds/dvd's?

i know that you have a combo dvd/mp3 player head unity from eclipse. my p/u has a eclipse cd/tuner headunit along with lots of customizing that was done back in the mid 90's. but i'm partial to eclipse now because of that install and intend to stick with it for my mini. but i'm interested in getting a mp3 option along with cd's and perhaps dvd's. mp3 cause that's kinda the current technology and cause they're just so much more compact than 30-40 cds.

i don't plan on getting an elaborate setup, something more reasonable like minihune's. but i'd like the mp3 capability. could you tell me how much your player alone costs?

i'm kinda deciphering all the new technology and am looking at either your combo player or a regular cd/tuner headunit with the icelink/apple ipod accessory hookup.

thanks for your help. and great mini!

kyle

 

Thanks for the kind words and I do have some info for you on the Mp3 player. Yes the unit under the seat is the hard drive. It rests in a little enclosure which you pull out and plug into your home PC to load. The unit on the dash is the controller for the unit. The system is by Denson and I have provided the link. As for the price ball park retail is $ 800 if you do not have a aux input or $600 if you do. This is for the 40 gig unit.The Eclipse unit has a aux input BTW. The ability to store apporx 1000 hrs of MP3 music makes this a slam dunk value wise IMHO.

Dension site
http://www.densionusa.com/x/index.php

Randy
Team M7
www.m7tuning.com

 

I have a 1600 watt SPL amp. Two 800 watt Digital Audio Subwoofers. It is kind of a ghetto set-up, but I got the whole system for $300 and just wanted it in. I will eventually clean it up a bit.

 

i have spent some money here
1. eclipse head unit(pricey but worth the 8v)
2.alpine type r components
3.dynamat
4.jl audio stealthbox
5.jl audio 500/5 amp, 250 to the sub 75 to the fronts 50 to the rears
6. eclipse cd changer
7.custom floor that sub is on and amp is built into flush, so the top of the amp sits evenly with the floor.
another good thing is the eclipse hu has an auxil. jack so i can hook my ipod up.
this system has good overall sound quality and if you want it to you can boom the bass with the big boys.

 

i dont have a monitor as of yet but plan on one in the future

 

I have a Pioneer 9400mp radio w/xm tuner, a/d/s components up front, DEI 2 way 6x9's in back, a JL stealthbox and an old Soundstream Reference 705s that runs everything. I was going for sound quality, and the system sounds real nice, but it could use a little more midbass up front. I also have the PAC SWI-X so my MFSW still works. I still need to dynamat the doors, and some day I'd like to add a Pioneer touchscreen nav under the row of toggles.

 

First of all, I had three main goals.

1) I had to be to use a good part of my trunk
2) I or even more of my concern was that Mini Service had to be able to get to my battery in the trunk.
3) The system could not take away from the looks of my mini but It had to kick A%^&** s soundwise.

System consist of :

Alpine 7998 head unit. (Matches look of car, day and nite.)

Lightning Audio Storm 5.25 components in doors

Lightning Audio Strike s2.500.4 amplifier

Lightning Audio strike 10 sub in customer enclosure





Strike hp cable & capactor
Pax sw1-x steering wheel controller integrated with factory mfsw
Alpine XM receiver

For me all goals were achieved. System sound great at low and break ear drum volumes playing everything from Bela Fleck & the Flecktones to D-12 to Elvis Costello. And.... to top it all off Greta's Ice looks NIIIICCCEEE.

Later

 

System upgrades include the following;
Alpine IVS-d300 Touch Screen CD/DVD/MP3 Controller with Navigation and CD Changer

Polk Momo 6" Component w - Crossovers Front, 6.5 Component w - Crossovers Rear, Jl Sub Enclosure with Alpine V-Series Amps running them all.


Entire system was installed by Doc at Sound Advice in Plantation, FL. I-595 and University.

 

I am currently following a path that seems to have no end. This is a perfect 100 from a SQL sound competion. I currently have Boston Accoustic Pro Series V60 6.5" componets in the doors with the tweeters mounted on the factory side window defrosters, I have Boston Acoustic SL95 6x9 in the rear pannels, I have a Clarion DXZ945MP touch screen head unit w/sirius, I have a JL Audio 12w6 sub with a JL 500/1 amp pushing that little monster. Needless to say it sounds very good but the mids and highs are begging for an amp. Oh and spl is on up there too with 140 db. In the works is 5.1 surrond sound. Mounting the 5th channel on the dash where the factory air vent is. Also am planning to have two JL Audio 8w0 subs custom installed in the kickpannels with a JL 500/5 amp for a little more juice. Oh and over $450 dollars worth of dynamatt, dynashield, and dynasord have been installed. Saved several hundreds by installing it all myself.