ALLGBMINI

You will remember that, even after the terrible Tweeter experiences, I was ready to try again with GBMINI#3, again installing a Kenwood head unit and Kenwood Keg (20GB MP3 drive). The new head unit improved sound a little over the stock head unit, and of course gave me access to more than 2,500 MP3 files on the Keg, but there was still a need for more bass – so new speakers and an amplifier were required.

So on May 18 I left GBMINI#3 with Jamie Perkins, the Car Audio Specialist, in Melrose (40 minutes drive). On 21st, I picked it up again, finished. I have been waiting to get hold of the pictures Jamie took during the install, and of course I have been testing out the system.

My priorities were:
– Clean Sound
– More Bass
– Minimal loss of trunk space

I think Jamie succeeded! Only MINI fanatics will even realize there is a false floor in the trunk now, so that I have lost a couple of inches of depth – under the floor is a Rockford Fosgate P4004 four channel amplifier that drives a pair of Boston Pro 60 speakers in the doors, and a pair of JL Audio 6W0 subwoofers – the trick was for Jamie to build custom sealed enclosures and put the subwoofers in the rear 6×9 speaker positions!

Minolta DSC

Minolta DSC

And as you can see, Jamie used lots of Dynamat too – I have not noticed any vibration so far!

It took me a few days to adjust all the cross-overs and sound levels to get the sound how I like it – sometimes having too many adjustments is a bad thing! But I am now very happy with the result.

The sound will not be LOUD enough to some people, but loud was not on my list – of course the system is anyway much louder than the stock system (I don’t know if it is louder than the HK upgrade).
If you are going to MINIsOnTop, you will be able to check it out! 😉

THANKS to Jamie for doing great work, and of course to Jayson for recommending him!