[24seven]

Hi,


Just got my new 5-door diesel. To get a good deal I bought a demo-car which did not have the HK stereo option (Basic - 4 door speakers and small under seat subs). Love the car so far apart from the sound system which is really poor.


I plan to start with a building a under-boot-floor-sub, this weekend and then upgrade the door speakers later on.


My first thought was to get speaker signal from one of the rear door speakers, but I guess they have a lowcut at 100hz or so, does anyone know? I could off course remove a seat and get signal from one of the under seat subs, but I would prefere to tap in to a full frequecy source.


Any suggestions regarding tapping into the factory audio system are welcome!


Regards
Martin

 

[profiteroles]

I don't believe the underseat speakers are actually subwoofers, just normal woofers. The crossover in the basic speaker setup is integral to the head unit so I'm not convinced it's possible but could be wrong

The HK setup is completely different and takes a digital feed from the head unit into a DAC amplifier and then filters the frequencies to the various speakers and subwoofers.

 

[24seven]

I don't believe the underseat speakers are actually subwoofers, just normal woofers. The crossover in the basic speaker setup is integral to the head unit so I'm not convinced it's possible but could be wrong

The HK setup is completely different and takes a digital feed from the head unit into a DAC amplifier and then filters the frequencies to the various speakers and subwoofers.

Thanks for your reply!


I guess my best bet is to take the signal from a under seat woofer, and hope that I have enough frequency adjustment on the amp that I´m adding to make it sound decent.


Read somewhere that the door speakers where 2ohm? which narrows the selection of replacement speakers down...

 

[kyleshelton]

I don't believe the underseat speakers are actually subwoofers, just normal woofers. The crossover in the basic speaker setup is integral to the head unit so I'm not convinced it's possible but could be wrong

The HK setup is completely different and takes a digital feed from the head unit into a DAC amplifier and then filters the frequencies to the various speakers and subwoofers.

Dang! I love the quality of info on this forum! Learn something new all the time.

 

[24seven]

My aim was to finish the sub this weekend, but now the car had started popping out of first gear, so I'm not shure if I will keep it since this took all the fun out of buying a new car...

 

[fatherfork]

My aim was to finish the sub this weekend, but now the car had started popping out of first gear, so I'm not shure if I will keep it since this took all the fun out of buying a new car...

Some F56s seem to have a transmission issue where this happens. Take it back to the dealer and they'll likely swap your transmission. Still no fun, though.

 

[impactmrj]

this happened to my f56, had the whole gear shift assembly replaced.

also, if you do keep the car, can you keep us informed on your stereo upgrade? i have the same issue, have the non-HK stereo and its crap. would love to upgrade door speakers, subwoofer and add an amp. i don't have a clue on how to and what to buy...

 

[2 in the family]

Thanks for your reply!


I guess my best bet is to take the signal from a under seat woofer, and hope that I have enough frequency adjustment on the amp that I´m adding to make it sound decent.


Read somewhere that the door speakers where 2ohm? which narrows the selection of replacement speakers down...

Apart from not disliking the sound on my 4 door which I think is better then the 3 door. Am I missing some thing when you say your taking a feed from one of the woofers. I'd be surprised if the head unit has a crossover in it
and would rely on the speakers natural resonance so it would be a full range source, but surely you'd be tapping into either the left or right stereo feed and would not get the correct output for the sub.
Or have I got things wrong.

 

[jeremybingham]

I'd agree 2.

 

[Kurosh]

i went to my local dealer yesterday to ask if i could replace my under seat woofers with the ones that the HK system has, they will tell me soon, my guess is it isnt possible but **** i dont lose nothing by asking.

 

[24seven]

The biggest issue with the standard stereo besides lack of clarity, engagement and volume, is that it seems to have some sort of auto leveling loudness. Lets say you listen to a track at a certain volume, when the bass drum start playing (does not really matter what typ of music it is), the music sounds like you would expect for about 3 seconds and then the stereo cuts the lower frequencys changeing the sound drasticly. If you then lower the volume the lower frequencys are "reactivated" but if you raise the volume again they will drop after about 3 seconds. I know that this is done to eliminate distorsion, but other car stereos have a much more refined way of doing this, the inconsistansy is killing me.

All in all I would say that the standard mini stereo is about the worst sounding system of all cars In the price range.

I dont think that the under seat woofers are fullrange, there is some kind of high cut involved. Sorry the "taking feed from a underseat woofer" to get correct signal you would offcourse have to get signal from booth under seat woofers to the amp.

 

[jeremybingham]

I tried the visual boost and was quite impressed. But went for the hk any way. There's an option in settings to have speed volume control on off or higher and lower effects. Make sure that is off!

 

[Scoop]

I tried the visual boost and was quite impressed. But went for the hk any way. There's an option in settings to have speed volume control on off or higher and lower effects. Make sure that is off!

Interesting, I asked the salesman if there is an option for speed controlled volume and he said no.

 

[jeremybingham]

Pretty sure he's wrong. It was on our r56 s with std stereo our roadster s with std stereo and is on mine f56 cooper with the hk system.. Have a look in settings it's called something silly like sdc rather than svc!

 

[24seven]

Yes there is a "speed volume control" on the standard f56 sound system, I've tried it in off, max and middle position, but it does not solve the "auto loudness" issue.

The current situation with my car is that it will probably go back to the dealer next weekend at the latest. They've had it since yesterday trying to replicate the popping out of gear issue, and investigating the high fuel consumption.

There will subsequently not be a subwoofer build or audio upgrade, atleast not in this car.

However, I now drive a Countryman SD Worx loaner and find the Harman Kardon sound System in that car pretty good!

 

[jeremybingham]

Yes love the hk system in mine

 

[2 in the family]

The biggest issue with the standard stereo besides lack of clarity, engagement and volume, is that it seems to have some sort of auto leveling loudness. Lets say you listen to a track at a certain volume, when the bass drum start playing (does not really matter what typ of music it is), the music sounds like you would expect for about 3 seconds and then the stereo cuts the lower frequencys changeing the sound drasticly. If you then lower the volume the lower frequencys are "reactivated" but if you raise the volume again they will drop after about 3 seconds. I know that this is done to eliminate distorsion, but other car stereos have a much more refined way of doing this, the inconsistansy is killing me.

p.

Ok, before I contradict my self regards saying I thought the sound was good, I listen to the radio mostly and have not heard this effect you speak of.
BUT using the USB input I have, and I am so glad you've mentioned it (you cannot believe how glad, as I though I was going mad as I've had problems with my ears lately and thought it may be that).
I have in fact borrowed music on an SD card and it's the same as through my Iphone.
Is it the same for you on the radio? Although I feel it's cuts the highs and sounds less clear but it's seems more to sound like a subtle volume lowering.
It bugs the f**k out of me, if I'm not the only one! I'm going to complain to the dealer.
Thanks
Matt

 

[24seven]

Ok, before I contradict my self regards saying I thought the sound was good, I listen to the radio mostly and have not heard this effect you speak of.
BUT using the USB input I have, and I am so glad you've mentioned it (you cannot believe how glad, as I though I was going mad as I've had problems with my ears lately and thought it may be that).
I have in fact borrowed music on an SD card and it's the same as through my Iphone.
Is it the same for you on the radio? Although I feel it's cuts the highs and sounds less clear but it's seems more to sound like a subtle volume lowering.
It bugs the f**k out of me, if I'm not the only one! I'm going to complain to the dealer.
Thanks
Matt

Hi Matt,

Sorry, I never listen to the radio but I would guess the issue will be the same at louder volume. That makes atleast two of us hearing the issues with the standard sound system.

My car has been at Mini for a week due to a faulty gearbox. this, unresonably high fuel consumption, and a series of shortcommings that I guess I could have found with a more rigourus pre purchase investigation, but simply expected to work as good as other cars, has really put me off from the car.

The dealer refuse to take it back and offered me a trade in price about 3000 dollars lower than original purchase price after 3 days of use.

Will have to pour money in to it to even consider keeping it now and dont just take a loss to get it off my hands. Yes I am passionate about my cars and if the passion fades, the car goes.

Looks like there will be a stereo build after all...

 

[2 in the family]

Hi Matt,

Sorry, I never listen to the radio but I would guess the issue will be the same at louder volume. That makes atleast two of us hearing the issues with the standard sound system.

My car has been at Mini for a week due to a faulty gearbox. this, unresonably high fuel consumption, and a series of shortcommings that I guess I could have found with a more rigourus pre purchase investigation, but simply expected to work as good as other cars, has really put me off from the car.

The dealer refuse to take it back and offered me a trade in price about 3000 dollars lower than original purchase price after 3 days of use.

Will have to pour money in to it to even consider keeping it now and dont just take a loss to get it off my hands. Yes I am passionate about my cars and if the passion fades, the car goes.

Looks like there will be a stereo build after all...

That's a shame but I understand, I had issues with my vehicle but that was all down to the dealership and they had to refit the headlining to my car. This took over two days and I had an extremely long delay on collection which cost me a half days holiday. The trim of the front internal light light has dropped and the rear cab light also. The car was also dirty on collection.
But the fun over the car has overcome this, but I am still going to complain as no compensation was offered. I think they'll hope I just go away, but I think they should be proactive in offering some compensation surely they want my business again or do they sell to many to worry?
I hope they sort your car and you get to like it again. My miliage get is poorer than expected but slightly improving.

 

[24seven]

Thanks for the encouragement, good to hear that it is possible get back to liking the car again, It has not really felt that way lately...

In an effort to get the feeling back i started and finished (almost) the under boot flor sub. The space under the boot floor is 5" deep, I'm using a shallow 10" Hertz sub and a hertz amp, there will be about 15mm space between the boot floor and speaker. The box is 15 litres, which is on the small side but the speaker is made for small enclosures and has 17 litres as a sweet spot so I guess it will be close enough to sound decent.