My wife and I both have 2006 MCS Cabrios with the Harmon/Kardon package. Hers is an April 2006 build, and mine is a September 2006 build. The interesting thing is that we have different head units. Hers looks like this:



And mine looks like this (except replace the cassette slot with a CD slot):



I think mine is the "Boost" radio that has been found on the European cars for a while.

Both systems sound the same, and the menus appear to be the same as far as signal processing goes (spatial, electronic, "driver", festival, etcetera). Both head units have the same buttons - they just appear to be arranged differently on the faceplate.

Anyone else in the US get a "Boost" radio in their Harmon-Kardon system lately?

Scott

 

nevermind...

 

Our July 2006 MCS with H/K looks just like your wifes. Does either car have the Nav system?

 

No, both cars have the Chrono Pack. Except for colour choices and the fact that my car has the convenience package, both cars are pretty much identical.

The next time I'm at the dealer, I'll check and see if *all* of their Harmon/Kardon-equipped cars are now coming with the "Boost Radio" head unit.

Scott

 

I have the headunit that looks like yours, but with the CD slot. My car is an 06 DS MCS cabrio with H/K, Sept. 2006 build.

 

Looks like your car has the Euro version of the radio, the same as in the GP.

 

my july-build '06 MCS w/ h/k has the first plate. hmmm.

 

As Mark said, all the GPs came with the "euro" head unit (labelled Bose instead of Alpine)



MINI USA hinted that it's more powerful (to compensate for the missing rear speakers in the GP) but with no available specs on either HU, we'll never really know.
I'm guessing your HU was an error - but it's functionally identical so just consider it unique

 

I don't know about the Bose part, but I do know this as I have investigated it quite thoroughly....

The first unit shown above is the Alpine made boost HU. The one that GBMini is showing above was/is made by Siemans VDO. The difference is the one in GBMinis car is capable of receiving TMC here in Europe. I actually swapped my HU out (I have HK) in order to get Traffic messages on my nav. That is really the only difference between the radios above.

There is one more model radio here in Europe and that is the wave radio (not available in USA). This is a less powerful radio and an option for some buyers.

 

Ian -

The Amplifier chip in the traditional Boost CD/Radio is a FT TDA7454 chip. Rated at 4x35 eiaj or essentially an 18watt amplifier.

Care to pop the top and get some images of the amplifier chip in the GPmini headunit? Inquiring minds want to know!

-Randy

 

Mine looks just like yours, with the CD slot, that is... Just took delivery a couple weeks ago.

My MA hadn't seen one like mine roll through prior to my delivery either...

 

Looks like MINI may be moving to a single HU solution.