No Junk In This TrunkIn the Mini's compact hatch, a JL Audio Mini Cooper Stealthbox was utilized. The vehicle-specific enclosure occupies a small footprint on the driver's side of the vehicle. In fact, the space occupied by the 10" Stealthbox is considerably less than that of most prefab 10" enclosures. Wrapped in complementary black carpet, the enclosure allows full access to the seat latches and rear power outlet while not interfering with the Cooper's rear strut bar. Though a custom enclosure was considered, Spiering's past experience with an ill-sounding custom fiberglass box led her to appreciate the Stealthbox's combination of simplicity and great sound. And we mean it when we say great sound! We highly recommend the Stealthbox; it's a superior OE upgrade product.
The muscle behind the Mini Cooper's audio system lies with MTX Audio's Thunder TA5604 4-channel amplifier. The amp was selected for its ability to integrate with OEM radios without resorting to an external high/low converter; its power output; and, embarrassingly enough, because it matches the black and red theme of the Mini Cooper S. With 75 watts per channel, the front channels of the amp were connected via Streetwires 14-gauge UltraCables to the JL Audio components in the front doors. The Stealthbox receives 300 watts of bridged power from the remaining two channels of the amp. The TA5604 resides alongside the Stealthbox in the rear cargo area. To protect the amplifier and to restore some functionality to the cargo area, a vinyl-wrapped trim panel was fabricated. Of course, with the hatch closed, the interior of Spiering's Mini appears undisturbed - which is exactly what she wanted.
Mini Cooper +Medium System = Huge SoundVisually, the sleek black exterior combined with the piano black interior is intriguing. Sonically, the Mini Cooper sounds amazing. With attention to detail and careful consideration, Spiering has successfully customized the Mini's OEM audio system without detracting from the rest of the vehicle she has methodically personalized.