I don't happen to think you need to get to "great" to improve on the HK.

 

agreed

 

My two cents: I appreciate high fidelity. HK is not a two thousand dollar custom installation. It's value includes not having to find a reputable installer or risk damage to your $25,000 investment. The sound is relatively flat, but can be adjusted to suit most preferences. It sounds better to me one month later than it did on first audition.

I am using the OEM iPod adapter and the difference between AAC and lossless files is barely noticeable. I believe the vast majority of buyers would be glad they got it. Audiophiles who would not be happy know who they are and probably won't get it anyway.

 

Annette,

As a couple of others have noted, I would really point to your iTrip as a fundamental piece of the problem. When I bought mine a few years back, ipodlounge.com was heavy on the advice to avoid these like the plague. I went with the Griffin powered line out into my AUX input for a much cleaner signal and have been very happy, from a 3G iPod all the way to my 5G. This is for all types of music that I listen to from classical, jazz, pop, "progressive" rock, etc.

I would encourage you to try and find someone w/ an AUX input and connect your music source via the line out (not headphone or iTrip) and see if you hear an improvement as a first step, before you consider shelling out considerable money to upgrade the other components.

 

Impedance mismatch? That could explain quite a bit.

EDIT:

MINI door buzz fix:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/hkdoor.html
Same article as chows has bellow, but separate web page with photos
http://www.in2guitar.com/minihkreview.html

Thanks for bringing this up chows!

 

Review is here http://www.mini2.com/index.php?page=...item&newsid=10

 

I have decided that to get the most bang for the buck and best sound that I will just hire a 5-piece mariachi band to sit in the back and serenade me. Wait, I have no back seat? Oh well.

 

 

Ok time to tell my story. I have the H/k system and I have only had my Mini since may of 2004. Anyway the H/k amp has die. The dealer wants $800 for a new one and yes I'm pass warranty so what can I do. I did car audio installs a few years ago but I think the mini audio system with the H/k system is a new ball game. Does anyone know if I can remove the amp from the system and rewire from stock HU to get speakers working? If not what do I need to get the multi controls to work? I don't think I can use the HK speaker once I change the HU so anyone know for sure please let me know.

BTW if I had a standard HU then I would not have a problem with upgrades.

 

I’m no audiophile, all of my interior efforts have been to reduce unwanted outside noise, but sound deadening has improved the audio quality of the stock sound system. Deadening the interior trim pieces has been highly effective in reducing both road noise and extraneous buzzing. My gallery has more pictures of the install.

 

Magic,
Did you get answers to your questions? Been on vacation for a week so a bit silent & late ...

 

I did get some info .But if you have anything you can tell me, let me know?

Here is what I have so far. To get me by until I can get some done about this I have bypassed the amp to get my front door speakers running. I believe at this point I will be getting a 4 channel amp to run the speakers. When I was trying to local where wiring at the amp went I tested the speaker runs and I don't think I got a 1 ohm load like I was thinking I would. I believe they where 2 ohm load. So I'm going to get t amp that will handle that load.

 

Yes the speakers are 2 ohm impedance.
The problem is that there is no crossover to separate low from mid/high to the doors - instead there are two separate pairs of wires from the HK amp location, one to the low speaker and one to the mid/highs.
Of course you won't find a matching crossover (because speakers are custom to the amp).
If you drive only the low speaker you will have poor mid/high frequency. If you drive the mid/high with no filtering, you will overload the mid speaker (the tweeter in the door does have its own filter cap).
Best option - new speakers with their own crossover.


Rear speakers are designed to do low frequency and EACH SPEAKER has two x 2 ohm coils. Thus 1 ohm if you wire in parallel.
You can instead wire them in series (get the wiring the correct way round!) and get 4 ohms.

As you probably know already, there is only one set of left/right speaker signals from factory head unit to HK amp - if you don't run another set of wires, you won't be able to use the fade with the new amp (but that's fine if you keep to the HK speaker setup of only bass in the rear).
Also make sure amp takes speaker level input - or get line level converters.


Finally:
Sometimes, you will find someone selling HK parts removed from a MINI; check eBay and the marketplace ... you might get lucky!


Good luck.

 

So is the pin out on the back of the HK Head Unit the same as the Standard? I guess what I'm asking is where would I get the rear channel speaker level for the HK Head Unit or is it not available on the HK head unit. I have remove the Head Unit and looked at the back and did some testing but did not come up with rear channel outputs.

 

Effing A, Cotton, EFFING AAAAAAAAAAAA!

Didn't I start a thread on this exact same subject?

I'm looking for the exact same thing as mentioned above in other's comments. More Bass (not alot, but quite a bit), and MORE VOLUME. I am afraid that if I go and rip out the HK I will get an aftermarket system that looks ricer, or takes away from the "classy" feel of the inside of the MINI. Really ripping out the system seems to be the only option unfortunetly.

Don't know if anyone else has noticed it but... if you have the stereo cranked to the max, and you go outside the car you can catch every word and nearly every sound to come out of the speakers. I washed my car in a self-serve wash bay the other night singing along with Kenny Chesney. I have also had my friends who know about this also, pull up next to me at a stoplight with their windows down signing the words of the song I'm playing and I have all my windows up. That was kinda freaky at first.

Mikey

 

Yes, the head unit pinouts are the same whether you have HK or not.

You can read about an extreme HK upgrade here (not GBMINI!)

Dynamat will probably reduce exterior sound (I've heard an aftermarket upgraded MINI blasting 120+ dB inside, and you can't hear it outside). Also some people claim Dynamat will improve their cars bass levels.

 

I am having the DPSM installed. Actually should be picking it up today I will let you know how I like it.

 

I can't wait. You will be the very first that I have heard of with the DPSM.

So I am eager to hear about it.

I assume you have the stock non-HK in your MINI now.

 

Yes, please give us a detailed report once you have tried it out!

 

I have just had the DPSM installed in my 03 MINI S. It has the regular boost radio/cd player. I had a loaner from the dealer over the weekend that had a HK system in it so I was happy to have some exposure and something else to compare to.

I noticed with the HK system the song I was listening to when cranked to a high level made the back-end vibrate like mad! It did go loud but at certain times during the song it would rattle too much for enjoyment. I did notice a big difference from the regular boost system to the HK system.

I dropped off my MINI on Friday for regular service and 30,000 check etc. and also had Ipod adapter installed which was the reason I ordered the speakers

My Ipod has not worked yet. I have to try charging it first but I thought that the adapter charged it while in the MINI Or I imagine it is possible that if the Ipod's completely dead it will not work at all? I'm new to Ipod's and having it installed in the car.

The DPSM was absolutely amazing compared to both systems I previously listened to by a very noticeable difference. I am very happy with it thus far but it is still new. The same song that made the rattling like mad on the HK system sounded massively different and did not produce the rattling to near the same degree. It sounded more solid to me. very bold. strong. It had substance.

My concern on Friday was that this was the first DPSM system that the dealer had installed. It took slightly over the 5 hour estimate and they told me the did some experimenting. They lined the window thingy's where the wires run with fuzzy tape for me as to reduce the rattle noise.

I will keep you updated as it's still new to me

 

Just wondering how your DPSM is going now that it has been a month or so?

 

I am still very pleased with the DPSM I recently made a roadtrip to FL and it has now passed its 30 hour break in period. I have had no issues with performance or sound quality. The system will turn off before damaging itself as well as it being under warranty for 2 years. I also went to VA Beach this past weekend to show it off.... I'm not sure what everyone thought as I didnt stay very long but the MINI folk that were there seemed quite impressed.

 

I am running an Eclipse 8445 HU with an old Audiobahn amp and a sub. I'm running two Clarity speakers up front but no rears (except the sub in the trunk of course. The sound is not to be believed.

I FINALLY took pix of the HK DrivePlay I use (installled) - you can find them here: http://www.taylorsmith.biz/Galleries...lay/index.html