New f55 - Need to upgrade stereo

32677 Views 39 Replies 13 Participants Last post by 24seven, Mar 3, 2015

24seven

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2015

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

Save

1 - 3 of 40 Posts

2 in the family

· #8 · Jan 30, 2015

24seven said:
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.

Save

2 in the family

· #17 · Feb 4, 2015 (Edited)

24seven said:
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

Save

2 in the family

· #19 · Feb 7, 2015

24seven said:
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.

Save

1 - 3 of 40 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month