If you don't like the sound I can completely understand that. But if you have sat, HD radio, regular radio, CD player and the aux for the IPOD and you still are not satisfied with the content, I don't think you will ever be. Have you looked at the line up on Sirius. Print out the list of stations and try several. You should be able to find something. Howard Stern rules.

 

IIRC, XM is owned by Clear Channel. Having worked in Independent (college) radio, I know what an influence they've been in the radio world (and not a positive one). I have XM in the home and frankly, they do as much "repeats" as SIRIUS, if not more. My wife jumps between the Starbucks and Mix22 channel and you'll hear the same song played usually with 3-4 hours, especially on the weekends. The one advantage XM has is that they do have more music channels and the different sports programming. But I just bounce around the stations to find something different. Also as a few mentioned earlier, the talk radio and specialty programming (sports, NPR, Howard Stern, etc.) are all great. It's funny how even in an era with hundreds and hundreds of choices (including having your own Ipod setup), people still find a way to complain that's there's nothing "different" on.

Now on the separate issue of the quality of the system, I do agree with most that the system is decent, but not spectacular. I do like the sound of the highs and midrange stuff for the music/programming I normally listen to - though I find it funny that some people equate more bass with better quality sound. My last car, an 03 Acura RSX Type-S, with a Bose soundsystem / subwoofer built into the trunk, may have had more bass than the MINI hi-fi system (and maybe made some people happy), it overall sounded flat, especially when you cranked the volume up. So, could the system be better? Sure, but is it as bad as some make it out to be? Definitely not ....

 

To people who are not liking the hifi upgrade, try the following settings.

Leave bass flat, not turned up.
Treble about +1 or 2.
Fader about 5 to the rear.

I really like it, well worth what I paid for it.

 

+1

I also find that the HiFi system performs markedly better with the bass flat and fader biased a few points to the rear. Never tried cranking the treble that low, however. I'll have to experiment more to see just how much I can get out it. Thanks for the tip.

That said, in my experience thus far, 'markedly better' is still in the just adequate range. Especially for an upgraded system. I'm banking (literally) on switching out the lower front door speakers to cause a nice improvement. We'll see soon enough...

 

I disagree. For someone researching the audio options for a new Mini this is the perfect place to point out the limitations of Sirius and XM's programming. Many people contemplating the satelite option have never listened to satelite radio.

On a similar note, any comment on the HD radio programming available in your city?

Rob

 

Sirius will listen to your complaints and allow you to vote on playlists.

Could you list the channels you really don't like?

I've had Sirius a long time in another vehicle, and for example, if something I don't like is on Channel 28, I just flip to 29, 36, 34, or another fav.

I'm guessing you spent quite a bit of time in the car also, but I've never noticed the repitition, even on day-long road trips. Maybe I'm just changing the channels more often....

Faction (28) and the Punk Channel (29) are reason enough for me to keep the subscription, but that's too subjective. Depends on your taste.

 

This does nothing to fix the fact that the speakers cannot handle decent power. At all flat, the speakers lose it at even moderate volume levels. With bias to the rear speakers, there is an artificial boost in bass, caused by the omni-direction qualities of bass, compared to treble, which the boost of treble will somewhat compensate. To me, it's like paying for a HD tv, but having to place it sideways in a dark corner in order to get a better picture.

 

In my city, the HD programming is quite nice.

 

Unfortunately there are only two channels available in my city, both being of a genre I far from prefer. However I live in a pretty small city. I often travel to Philadelphia and there's quite the variety there. Also the quality is superb! Would be great if HD's sound could be match with Sirius' variety... One can dream.

 

The stations that play the kind of music I like are Buzzsaw (19), Octane (20), Hair Nation (23) and Lithium (24).

I listen to these channels online in my office at work as well. So I spend a good 8 to 10 hours a day listening to these channels and I have noticed lots of repetition.

I really don't care about the Howard Stern show. The stuff they talk about on that show does not interest me the slightest bit.

 

I've had the chance to experience the R53 standard system in my Wensleydale, the HK in a loaner and the Hi-Fi in a R56 loaner.

To qualify myself, I previously worked as an audio engineer for one of DC's biggest studios. The fact is, no one is correct, it is up to the owner to determine his/her likes and dislikes.

For me, Wensleydale's standard R53 system is fantastic One mark of a good system is that there is no need to boost or cut highs and lows. With the R53 system, I have one click of treble boost, nothing else. I listen to everything from English Choir to Judas Priest to Dido to Crystal Method to Patsy Cline. For a standard system that did not cost extra it is wonderful. Everything is reproduced in nice quality. Lows won't shake the house but not all songs are engineered to do so. If you like surf music, try "Outta Limits" performed by Los Straitjackets, the sounds that come through the system are just to die for.

For me, the HK was a let down, the lows are way too boomy and the highs just to bright, almost metallic. I found myself cutting lows and highs quite a bit, even scrolliing through the preset equalization turned up disatisfaction. However, If you are into "club sound" as in your favorite club, then you will like this system. Usually club mixes pound you with lows and brilliant highs with loads of amplitude. Beware that those lows not only rattle your ear drums but the speaker grills get annoying after a while too. I almost checked off that box when I ordered and I'm glad that I did not.

For me, the 2007 system sounds decent. It appears that lows are boosted a bit and the highs were not bad. This system seemed like a cross between the standard R53 and the HK system. I would have liked a little more time with this system but the loaner went back to the dealer, but I wouldn't say it was bad to the point that I would just have to rip it out.

So, again, I want to emphasize that sound quality is up to the individual. My Mom sets her EQ both in the house and in the car with the lows boosted and highs cut to a minimal (part of getting old ?) so drastically that the mix just sounds awful......to me.....however, she loves it.

Hope my perspective helps..........

Cheers,

Mike

 

[RANT]

FWIW, Quality sound does not always equate to volume! I have considerable experience in the after market sound system, selection and installation. These stock sound options suck for the price they are charging and personally would opt to have a vehicle built without any system in it at all. We spend all this money for a system that won't stand up to the road noise and ambient noise a car generates. We then turn it up to hear, and eventually blow out the speakers.

It's amazing that these clowns have the gall to put such poor quality in such a well designed vehicle and I'm not just talking about Mini's. If you ever take a look at the speakers behind the grill, you would quickly understand how cheap these stock components are.

[RANT/]

 

I didn't think they were that poor of quality...my SC300 with the premium stereo had paper speakers that sounded great. My Taurus SHO with the premium JBL system had paper speakers that lasted right up until the car being crushed lol. That system sounded fantastic and was a 5 or 600 dollar option at the time...which would be even more now. I like the fact that the Hi-Fi system has more speakers so I can upgrade them piece meal if need be, no custom enclosures to buy, no fiberglassing to do...i've done all that crap and for the time spent doing it...bah. lol.

 

I fully agree with the assesment of the R56 Hi Fi. This is why I run with the bass turned down a click and the treble up one click. I have been an audiophile for many many years so I want my system be sound as flat as possible. Not flat sounding but correct sounding if that makes any sense.

 

No they aren't they, like Sirius, are a separate entity from standard Terrestrial Radio Companies like Clear.

The reason people may be unhappy with Sirius is the fact that they dumped so much cash into Stern and the NFL rights that they don't have the cash to pay attention to the actual music library.

I have and prefer XM because they have MLB and O & A and decent music.

 

I guess you wish to use high volume levels, perhaps too high to safely drive with?

I can turn mine up to levels that are pretty much umcomfortable with the type of music I listen to.

 

I stand corrected, HOWEVER, Clear Channel is an investor in XM. They program I believe up to 4 (mabye more now) of the stations and are a big reason why on those channels there are commercials. They have a thumbprint on XM, whether you believe so or not.

edited to add link(s):
http://www.fool.com/investing/high-g...-salesmen.aspx

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/rec..._id=1002117590

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15875

 

Many of you may not be old enough to remember 60's and 70's (even 80's) era car systems, back then all you got was AM and a single crap speaker. We are fortunate to have the wonderful systems that are made available.

I find that my stock system not only produces nice sounds but the excellent separation, lead and rhythm guitars are where they're supposed to be, vocals centered with reverb and effects on the very outside, nice bass and kick coming from the back too. In addition, I find that I can hear small details that usually come across better in a set of head phones. Even when going down the highway, windows up.

Another song, if you want to hear what I think sounds good on my system and I find is one of the nicest recordings (IMO) of a rock band ever, without all the fancy effects, jus solid engineering (the guys playing are good too !) is "Lakeside Park" by RUSH. Give this a listen on your MINI system, you cannot go wrong. You will hear the clarity of the guitar, very clear and crisp vocals, excellent "feel" of the drums (I swear I can "feel" the hi-hat and snare like I'm touching them) nice clean bass and even some accoustic "scratching" guitar in there.

And finally, a car's interior is far from ideal for listening environment, especially with the windows down.

Cheers,

Mike

 

Before upgrading the speakers I listened to it with all settings flat. How good it sounded seemed to depend on the particular piece of music being played, and at what volume. If you are in city traffic and listening to the right kind of music, it seems fine. Change the song, or get out on the highway where you need more volume, and it distorts. Better speakers fix the problem.

You are getting bass from the rear? In mine, I get no bass from the 6x9s. Someone else did an analysis of the signal and found little bass going to the rears. The system would be a lot better if it sent bass to the rears.

 

No, I am talking about reasonable levels. Certainly quieter than my wife plays in her Expedition, which manages to handle the sound without sounding like crap. The point isn't whether I am driving safely; it's whether the sound system sounds good or not. I don't need a manufacturer telling me, "We will put in a 230 watt sound system, but we will make the speakers lose it at 11 watts because we want you to drive safely." That's just assinine.

 

What I'm saying is biasing the sound to the rear will make the lower frequency sounds more noticable in the front because the higher frequency sounds are more directional (i.e. will not travel to the front as readily).

 

With the rears louder, it would just increase the volume of the mid-range. How does that make the lows more noticeable. What am I missing here?

 

+1. I've only experimented with it to a small degree, but when I fade the music to the rear I get far less bass. However I simultaneously get less distortion, which is why I do it.

I still don't understand why just about none of the bass gets to those 6x9's. Given their size I'd assume they'd be able to handle bass much better than the smallish front lowers do. They absolutely fall apart when it comes to low(er) frequencies.

 

Personal opinion: I have been happy with the audio package: sound and content. My wife has XM and likes it, I have Sirius in my other car and wanted it for the MINI as well. I like Howard Stern, the talk shows and laugh stations. There are plenty of repeats on songs and comedy - but this is not much different from XM when we are using our Prius with XM. As for song repeats - use the AUX port and play your own tracks from your IPOD or other MP3 device or use a CD mix of your own music. You can customize as much as you like. I am interested in a speaker change though and think Robin has some excellent suggestions here. I will explore those threads further.


Steve
2007 MCSa Laser blue/white.

 

Because the poster I was posting in response to said to flatten the bass (apparently assuming it was "plussed", increase the treble to +2 and fade to rear bias. My point was simply that the fading to rear would somewhat compensate for decreasing the bass setting. I agree that at the same tone settings, fading to rear would decrease bass.