I know it's not as good, but some folks say they improved it recently?

I never used 1/8th of the bass of the HK, so I'm not as worried about that, as long as the separation and imaging and overall sound are good.

 

I gotta be honest, I'm coming from HK in a Land Rover, and an M car, and I personally feel that for a stock stereo system, it's pretty great. Doesn't have the bass response of some of the higher end stuff, but it still jams.

 

the premium sound is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the stock boost system (if that makes you feel any better) but if you listen to bass-heavy or bass-centric music then you will probably want to upgrade even on the hifi system. I tested out both extensively at the dealership and decided that I would personally not be satisfied with either but I am also extremely picky about how my music sounds (and I listen to drum&bass and dubstep which are nothing but basslines and deep sub-bass!). but to be honest, I think for your average listener, the upgraded hifi sounded acceptable (although for mini to charge that much for it and to provide such a weak stock (boost) system is a different matter altogether).

 

We have an Infinity Sound System in our '01 Dodge Durango (Gas Hog), now our MINI Molly, replacing the Durango as the commuter car, has the Hi-Fi Stereo we really like the sound, not it's not the Harmon Kardon, but I don't think you will be disappointed. We just got iPods too, very clear and crisp sound!!

 

Good taste in music

I'm a drum'n'bass addict, too... especially da jungle. The premium system clearly beats the standard sound system, but you are right about its inability to cope with the sound pressure that we need to drive the beats.

At least we won't go deaf so soon

 

awesome!! I am always surprised when people know what I'm talking about when I say drum and bass!

lol...I had to take my ipod full of different dnb tunes/mixes to the dealer and test the two systems...the bf and I just kinda agreed we would need to upgrade on our own

shameless plug for my bf's local dnb crew and internet dnb radio show: http://dirtboxradio.com/

 

The clarity of the R56 HIFI can be improved by just replacing the speakers. The amp isn't that bad. If you need more bass, have a sub added.

The only R53 system I've heard was a custom job with new amp, speakers, and sub.

 

The HK System on the R53 is one of the best stock sound systems I've ever heard. Even friends that are way into audio (Spend 3-4k on systems) sit in my car and comment on how clean it sounds and how much bass the stock system has. I was wholeheartedly unimpressed with the Hi-Fi system when I tested it out. It sounded flat, had no bass, and I didn't think it was anywhere close to the HK.

 

Honestly, I don't know whats up with the HiFi System. You would think that it would be bass heavy music that would make it screw up, but, to be honest, it seems like it does what it wants. Sometimes I listen to music with lots of bass, and it's fine, other times it distorts like nobody's business. It really seems to depend on the recording. It doesn't seem to like drum fills. It also doesn't seem to care about volume, it just distorts anyway.

As an example, it distorts a lot when I listen to Tommy (The Who), at what seems like any volume during the drum fills. But, if you have heard it, you know that the bass isn't boomy at all in that album. But some recordings with heavy bass sound fine. Overall its a pile of garbage, especially considering that I paid extra for it. BUT, the stock system is a bigger pile of garbage, so take your pick.

 

If Sir Alec had his way, you wouldn't have a radio at all in your MINI!!!

 

I never listened to the "standard" system as one of the packages I got included the "HiFi". Honestly, the problem with the HiFi is that one of the speakers in the door is too weak to handle what the system sends to it. Otherwise the system is pretty decent. If you play with the tone settings and fade to the back a little the system will almost stop distorting altogether. And it's not just the really low freq that cause it to distort in it's factory configuration which is why some bass heavy tunes sound ok but a song that has a wider use of percussion will cause the system to sound like, well, a$$.

But to answer the OP question. The H/K system was good but I always thought it was a bit "boomy". Very heavy in the lows, which are reproduced well, but to the point of overpowering the highs. It truly sounded more like a club system then an audiophiles idea of what a stereo should sound like. It is however an excellent set-up for the drum and bass fans on this board (which there seems to be a few of). I find the Hi-Fi system to be much more detailed and accurate when listening to most music at a moderate volume. Could they have done better? Very easily. The fact that it is so easy to get the system to sound like rubbish should make MINI blush and they should replace the front speakers with something a bit more substantial. I mean, it's not like we have the SC to listen to anymore so the volume on the stereo will always go up.

 

Yeah, basically the stereo has problems with mids. If you listen to some 80s metal that is mid-range heavy, the stereo distorts quite a bit. Newer recordings that tend to have much clearer highs and lows usually play ok. Though I don't think the system is greatly fond of really low lows. Most people have said replacing the speakers helps, particularly the door speakers. I'm living with it for now. As long as you don't crank it super high, the stereo plays fine. Maybe down the road I'll pick up some replacement speakers. One thing that bugs me about the radio is how there's no number value for the volume. I was so used to my old car in knowing that the "sweet spot" for it was between 13 and 15 on the volume. Now on the Mini, I kind of have to guesstimate with every CD.

 

Quite honestly, I do hear a bit of bass distortion when played at ear-splitting levels. Otherwise, I think the HiFi sounds exceptional. If I were into HipHop or Rap, where there is a lot of thumping bass, I'd be disappointed with this system. However, I'm mainly into progressive rock and feel that the high and low frequencies are represented quite well. I had a Bose system in my last car and the MINI's HiFi sounds MUCH better than it did.

 

+1

In my last car, I always knew 20 was good, 21 was too much.

"These go to eleven." -- Nigel Tufnel

 

i always thought that was weird. the stereo in my last car went to 31. i was like, "why 31? Why not 30?" i guess i didnt understand, those speakers went to 31.

 

The HiFi (which I believe is still HK) is not as bad as some people make it sound. I like it better than the Infinity 8pc system I had in my previous car. Also, I found adjusting the fade slightly to the rear and leveling off the tone improved my perception of the HiFi dramatically. It is also important to keep in mind the Mini interior is not exactly road quiet when moving. So having an even higher fidelity sound system is nice, but if you can only notice it when the car is stopped then what is the point?

 

When I replaced the speakers in the HIFI, I was slow to replace the tweeters in the A pillars. I was still getting distortion with some songs. When I finally replaced those tweeters with the ones from the Infinity Kappa 60.7cs component speaker system, the distortion was gone.

 

I am not please at all with my HI FI system. I came from a Jetta with a nicer factory system so when i paid extra for the Hi Fi I though it was going to be great. Its not.....

 

wow....I might have to start a thread in the off-topic forum (I rarely venture over there) and round up all the dnb heads! Never knew so many existed in the MINI world

It isn't a horrible setup for bass-heavy music it just isn't all-around ideal...but again, 'ideal' is simply a matter of personal preference. I don't think bass response is the only important factor to look for...the highs and mids have to sound great too.

I tested the two systems when I had to make a choice to purchase a lot car with the standard system (or just custom order which really wasn't an option). I wanted to know what I was missing and whether the additional cost was worth it. my personal opinion...yes and no. huge improvement over horribly weak stock system (my mazda 3 sounded better stock), however, still not perfect for a picky person.

I'm also just the type of person that finds it worthwhile to switch out as much oem stuff as necessary to get the car really how I want it.

 

I've been kind of worried that I will be overly disappointed in the Hi-Fi coming from my HK equipped R53 as well. I spent a good 30 minutes in one of my dealers demos, driving and stopped, windows open and closed tonight testing the Hi- Fi out a with a wide variety of music.

The Short Version:
I wound up coming to the conclusion that if I only listened to Jazz, Hip Hop, and some select clean Rock-ish stuff, I might be able to live with it. The Hi-Fi just seems to hate certain musicians / recording engineers / producers that I really like, unfortunately. I'm really hoping I can fix the Hi-Fi with only speaker swaps for under $750 or so installed. I hope this is possible...

The Long Version:
I'm used to running my HK flat and faded about 2 clicks to the rear w/ the Concert DSP for acoustic/analog music and Electronic w/ Driver on for electronic/hip hop . The best settings I could come up with on the HiFi was -4 Treble, -1 Bass, and faded 2 to the rear. I don't think I could listen to any guitar rock with the windows down and sunroof cracked with the treble > -3 for more than 5 minutes without inducing some serious ear bleeding.

The Tests:
Parking lot, windows closed, sunroof cracked, volume levels around 70 - 75db if I had to guess (loud enough to enjoy, but not blaring):

But in the Meantime... (Black Sheep) & Big Brother Beats (De La Soul): Great low mids and a bit of true lows (nowhere near the distortion free, mirror shaking power of the HK though), detailed highs and a bit less muddy in the mids and low mids than the HK. Not much distortion at any frequency.

Manic Depression (Jimi Hendrix Experience): Pretty good again, Kick and bass not quite as driving or powerful as the HK, but livable.

Cruising at around 25-40 mph, windows down around 1/3 of the way, Sunroof cracked. Volume was increased 4 taps of the MFSW over the parking lot test songs:

Democracy (remix by The Orb) OMG major distortion all over the spectrum (I was starting to wonder if this demo had a blown 6x9 w/ only 80 mi.on the clock)

Right Off & What I Say (Miles Davis Band): Back to sounding pretty darn good. No distortion. Nice warm, round sound, but still clear and detailed reproduction of the highs and high mids.

Out of Step (Minor Threat): Not too bad for the first 20 seconds or so but then the highs started getting pretty fatiguing. No significant distortion.

Stuart (Dead Milkmen): Still cruising, sounding pretty good again, more detailed highs and mids than the HK.

Back in the parking lot, volume down 3:

They Always Come (Dinosaur Jr.) and Wrong (Archers of Loaf): Ouch, just ouch. WTH is up with the distorted piercing treble in this thing. I was expecting a bit of harshness due to the lo-fi production on these tracks but this was to an extent that I just couldn't understand.

Sound System (Operation Ivy) & Lively Up Yourself/Bemshaw Swing Medley (Medewski, Martin & Wood) : Back to pretty good, highs still inducing a little bit of cringing though. No significant distortion.

All tracks ripped to 320kbps fixed bit rate MP3s and played off of my 60GB iPod Video through dealer installed iPod adapter.

Yikes, this wound up pretty long. Sorry for the waste of space.....

 

wow. That was so incredibly detailed. Thank you for spending all that time.

 

It's a binary thing. The range is 0..31, or 00000 to 11111, or 5 bits worth.

 

I checked my HK system tonight and I had it +3 treble, -2 bass, 3 clicks towards the rear, Driver turned off. Sometimes I run it a little closer to flat.

Man it sounds good.

 

i am very disappointed with the hi-fi. it has a lot of distortion when the volume is turned up. the only reason i got it was it came with the package other wise i would have never got it. i am looking forward to put a nice 3 way setup in the near future.

 

Not going to go into detail as much as some people have, but thought I'd chime in. Just picked up my R56 this weekend with the HiFi system and I'm quite disappointed in it. I had the H/K in my R53 and it was by far one of the best factory sound systems I've ever listened to.

The HiFi just doesn't have the clarity, nor is the bass as clean and powerful as it was in the H/K. I listen to nearly every type of music...but a great majority of it is electronic/dance (techno, house, trance, dnb) and it just does not sound as good in the HiFi as it did with my H/K. It's still pretty good as far as factory sound systems go I guess, but its nothing like the H/K was.