Hi all,

I was thinking about getting a pair of Infinity Cappa's for
the fronts to start at least. Does anyone know what the car has for stock, and if I should upgrade the head unit as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

You should probably check out the 2nd Gen Navigation and Audio forum. The answer to the question depends on if you got factory HiFi or not which I can't tell from your profile or your post.

If you didn't get HiFi, simple speaker replacement won't work because of the way things are split/wired. The stock speakers totally suck !!!



I had my non-HiFi MINI professionally acoustically enhanced and I couldn't be happier with the sound I have now.

 

I'll have to check out that fourm. I didn't opt for the HiFi system mainly to keep my car under 21K since I had to get the automatic. I had a feeling that it wouldn't be a simple upgrade. I may just get the system from Mini but it would prob be wicked expensive.

How did you get it enhanced out of curiosity?

 

I thought I'd be ok with stock, but I changed my mind pretty quickly after taking some long drives in my baby.

It was pricey, but I don't regret it:
http://caraudioinnovations.com/installations.htm - scroll down to Mini and click on 2007 Mini Cooper for my MINI's makeover.

 

The Infinity Kappas are 2 ohm. That matches the HIFI option, but you need 4 ohm for the standard system. I believe Infinity Reference are 4 ohm, but you should check.

I don't know whether a simple speaker swap will work for the standard system. Some people claim to have done it to good success, but I've not heard it. The problem would be finding speakers sensitive enough to work well with the standard amp.

For a great system, have a high quality pro shop install an amp with the speakers, but a system like that can easily cost $2,500+.

 

Slight thread hijack, sorry. I just don't understand what the beef is with the upgraded HiFi system. I listened to one on the test drive and was sold on it. Sounded superb to me...so I have one coming in my MCS...if it ever gets on a boat that is.

 

I was quoted $1,800 for this set up: 2 Boston Acoustics Pro 60, 2 Boston SX95, the amp is the Gt40 from Boston also the price includes installetion and everything else needed. Also the Alpine ipod interface. What do you guys think about this setup?

 

Audio quality is very subjective. Also certain genres sound fine on the system, while others definitely do not. Finally you have to factor in volume (system distorts horribly at higher volumes), audio settings, etc.

If you're happy with it then that's all that matters.

I'm content with mine but wouldn't go as far as saying happy. It's good enough for the time being, but I definitely plan to upgrade once I'm finished with performance and aesthetic mods. But then again I'm on a college student's budget. If money wasn't an object, I'd have mine completely overhauled since day 1.

 

I listened to the HiFi on my test drive at a very high volume (with rock music) and didn't notice any distortion. It sounds better than the Bose system I have in my RX-8...beats it by a mile.

Subjective indeed

 

From the base non-Hi-fi system, I upgraded my fronts with JL TR-CXi coaxials not component speakers and it made a huge difference with clarity of the highs and fullness of the bass. They are efficient enough for the volumes I listen to. Starts to distort badly near 90% volume or so.

For $160 total with a DIY install, a lot of sound for the buck.

 

It seems to vary greatly with the kind of music. Certain songs that with a female vocal distorted badly. IIRC (it has been awhile), Jazz sounded fairly good. When I switched to Infinity Kappas (component for the 6.5 because it handles bass) the sound was clearer, brighter, and had much less distortion.

 

I'll see how mine sounds when I get it. I have a feeling I'll be completely satisfied with it and won't need to replace the speakers. However, you offer a good solution if it doesn't turn out to be the HiFi I expected. Thanks!!

 

Is the stock system Hi Fi or did you have to upgrade? if so I have the non Hi Fi system with the six speaker system.

 

I would advise against infinity kappa's

they have both a high pass AND a low pass filter. The crossover cuts off a lot of the bass that would go to your speakers, cleaning up the sound for the addition of a subwoofer. if you PLAN to add a sub, then this is fine. by themselves, they suck unless you leave out the exterior crossover for bass response. if you do this, then get some bass blockers for the tweeters, or they will blow.

 

The HiFi is the upgraded stereo. The premium package comes with HiFi. The stock system is what the subject of this tread refers to...I hijacked it a bit.

 

That's okay I was just a bit confused. I may end up getting the Infinity's with a subwoofer. The speakers for the Mini are okay but compared to the Infinity's I had in my last car they're not as good.

Do you recommend upgrading the CD unit as well for better amperage?

 

That's why my all-in-one coaxials work well, especially since I didn't want to deal with components, crossovers, separate tweeters, amps, or subwoofers. I didn't expect my JL coaxials to sound so good, honestly, for a simple speaker swap.

 

nope.

you could add a second head unit into the secret compartment but forget about changing the one in the speedometer.

you want more power just install an amp.

 

The Infinity Kappas are only suitable for the HIFI system because they are 2 ohm.

The Infinity Kappa 693.7i 6x9s are three-way and have two inputs -- one for the woofer, and one shared by the tweeter and mid-range driver. They come with a separate crossover that has one pair of input wires and two pair of output wires. The rear 6x9 location for the HIFI has wires for the 6x9, and separate wires for the tweeter. I skipped the Infinity crossover and connected the 6x9 wires to the 6x9 woofer inputs. Unfortunately, the MINI filters much of the base out for the 6x9s. They get mostly mid, and possibly high frequencies. If they also get high frequencies (I'm not sure whether they do) it might have been better to use the Infinity crossovers and ignore the tweeter wires. I used a separate tweeter instead. I may change it since my 6x9s are in a special cabinet where the rear seats used to be, and access is easy.

The Infinity Kappa 60.7cs 6-1/2" component speaker system comes with a woofer, tweeter, and separate crossover. The HIFI sends the bass to the large speaker location in the door, and has a tweeter in the A pillar. So, you don't need the Infinity crossover here.

The Infinity Kappa 42.7i 4" 2-way car speakers do not have a separate crossover. So, you have the internal crossover in play. Since the HIFI probably already filters this location, I'm not sure what that means. It sounds like this location is just getting mid-range and high -- like the 6x9 location.

 

Here's the speaker mod to end all speaker mods

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/542912...s_phase_sound/