Anyone done the R56 Channel reverse?

[GCA3N]

Realistically the only way I am going to do this is by using Mike's adaptor - so the question is, is the improvement worth £45? Most of the time I am listening to the radio so would it still be worthwhile?

Trigger

I done it the DIY way so for nowt it was easily worth the 30 mins to do. Is it worth £45?......I'd say the end result is worth it, it is a marked improvement on the original set up.

[Delboy]

I done it the DIY way so for nowt it was easily worth the 30 mins to do. Is it worth £45?......I'd say the end result is worth it, it is a marked improvement on the original set up.

+1

[Gismo]

Harmon Kardon only came back to the R56 in 2009/2010. prior it was the Hi-Fi upgrade.

Yep, you're right Fi, just a slip of the tongue

[SuperCooperS]

Hi, just wondering about this.. my car is a 2008 so that means I probably have the hi-fi upgrade and cant do this? or if I do will I notice any difference if I already have the upgraded system.. and it is annoying when the phone calls are through the rear speakers?

Cheers

[ianking]

If your car has the factory upgrade then it will have the tweeters in the front A pillars. If there are no speakers in the front A pillars then its the standard set up.

[SuperCooperS]

ah ok.. standard set up it is then...thanks

p.s does it take a while to get used to the phone working through the back speakers? or does it sound ok?

[Mark M]

I did the chanel swap today. To be honest, the stereo is still a pile of cr4p.

[SuperCooperS]

i had maybe thougth as much.. i dont think ill bother then if it doesnt seem much of an improvement

[Delboy]

i had maybe thougth as much.. i dont think ill bother then if it doesnt seem much of an improvement

I disagree, it does make a difference. And I'm not alone with this opinion.

[The Dogfather]

There's a saying 'you can't polish a turd', and you can't turn the MINI's stereo into something decent for £40, its still crap it just has a bit more bass.

The MINI stereo is pants, the majority of OEM systems are pants. To get good sound you need to go aftermarket.

The best way to upgrade is to fit a good set of component 6.5" in the front and some compact subs in the rear. Tap into the rear signal at the point where you 'channel swap' and fit a line out convertor and take that feed to a 4 way amp.

The alternative to the compact sub rears is a full size boot sub. Hell, if money is no object then fit a full sound/time alignment processor like a Audison Bit One.