Head Unit

[stevie]

Hi All,

Ive just picked up my new Octavia 2.0 Elegance so im hoping you guys can answer my questions as im new to all this !

My car has a factory cd multichanger and head unit and im after keeping my changer but replacing my HU. Question is, do i have to buy a cassette HU in order for it to work with my current changer ? i would of thought fitting a single cd HU would conflict my with my changer.

Thanks in advance.

[Goochie]

The only way to retain the original CD changer is to keep the current head unit. Whilst the changer is made by Panasonic, no aftermarket units will be able to use it - no adaptors are available either.

The single CD head unit that was available in early Octavias doesnt have the button to select a multichanger (A former colleague had a Skoda CD head unit)

Not good news I'm afraid.

Personally I'm looking at head units that play MP3's - I can get my entire CD collection on 5-6 discs and change them when required. If you get a MP3 DVD head unit you can get over 1000 songs on one DVD-RW

[Sheaf]

As above, get a MP3-DVD head unit, no need for CD changers then. I've presently got a MP3-CD one, and it's great... but I plan to upgrade to DVD sometime. Much better than 6 disks.

[VRStu]

I'm merely guessing here but the OEM Skoda CD Changers are connected by Mini ISO. Many manufacturers use MINI ISO for CD Changer connection. Has anyone actually tried to connect an aftermarket unit to a Skoda headunit - Have you tried Phil??

I know for instance that Blaupunkt use Mini ISO, you may need to swap the pins in the plug but it may still work.

Edit - Just re read this and noticed it's a new car you are getting so is it an Octy II - If so they are connected via the 12 pin quadlock.

Perhaps Ipod will be an option - http://www.fabia-vrs.com/vw_ipod_interface_kit.htm

[Lummox]

The Panasonic changers in SEAT cars which are the same connect straight up to Panasonic headunits.

The Octavia 2 changers however have different wiring to the older changers.

[Sheaf]

Originally Posted by VRStu

I'm merely guessing here but the OEM Skoda CD Changers are connected by Mini ISO. Many manufacturers use MINI ISO for CD Changer connection. Has anyone actually tried to connect an aftermarket unit to a Skoda headunit - Have you tried Phil??

I know for instance that Blaupunkt use Mini ISO, you may need to swap the pins in the plug but it may still work.

Edit - Just re read this and noticed it's a new car you are getting so is it an Octy II - If so they are connected via the 12 pin quadlock.

Perhaps Ipod will be an option - http://www.fabia-vrs.com/vw_ipod_interface_kit.htm

You're probably right.. I expect with a bit of research you could make it work. A guy at work has made a lead up to go from a 3.5mm mini jack for his MP3 player to his autochanger input on his HU. (He's doing me one soon so I can play MP3s off my phone too.. easier than burning disks).
Different manufactureres simply use different sockets/plus and pin configs, but they're on the net somewhere, and the connectors are available from Maplins.
It's a bit of an effort mind, and a pain to solder up.

[MC Bodge]

What would be a good, relatively cheap, ugraded .mp3 head unit?

I'd originally thought it would do, but the sound quality is a bit lacking and flat. Noticeable when you've passengers, as you need to have the volume fairly high to hear the music properly, but then can't have a conversation....

I'd ditch the CD-changer, as it's a bit temperamental and changing an mp3 from the driver's seat is less faff than having to go into the boot.

[Goochie]

Take a look through the ICE section, there have been a few threads recently relating to head unit selection.

[Sheaf]

Take a look on www.caraudiodirect.co.uk - there's plenty on there.

Something along the lines of this:http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/prod...oducts_id=4666
would do the job fine. My Kenwood MP3 HU was around that price, sounds fine and has behaved itself for 2 years so far.

[Goochie]

This one:

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/prod...?product=21476

Has MP3 capability and green illumination to keep with the look of the other instruments in the cabin.

[orinj]

Originally Posted by Goochie

Personally I'm looking at head units that play MP3's - I can get my entire CD collection on 5-6 discs and change them when required. If you get a MP3 DVD head unit you can get over 1000 songs on one DVD-RW

I can't believe that you can get all of your music collection on just 6 mp3 compressed CDs. Either your collection is small or you have used very high compression rates.

I also asked about changing the car stereo head unit in the Octavia mark II in this thread -
http://www.briskoda.net/forums/new-o...mark-ii/52469/

Whilst I can make do without the 6-CD changer I would note that:

1) There are very few DVD head units that actually play mp3 (or other compressed music) files from the writable DVD disc itself. Most of them are only designed for DVD video playback which seems a little dumb.

2) The quality of read buffer varies amongst different makes of mp3 compatible head units such that dance mixes or classical pieces have annoying lengths of silent gaps between tracks. Sony head units used to be the worst culprits of this. I listened to them all with some test mp3 loaded CDRWs before opting for a Kenwood head unit that had minimal gaps between tracks and a very good audio control and design.

[Goochie]

Does anyone know if Halfords let people take in MP3 loaded CD's to listen for the gaps ? Its something I'd never thought of before and would annoy the hell out of me.

Is there something to look for in the technical spec of a unit that would allow me to spot this ?

Yes, my CD collection is smallish, I tend to car boot them after a few months (but I guess if I MP3'd things I wouldnt get rid of them).

What kind of bit-rate do I need to use for in-car listening? Given the ammount of noise when on the move I assume you'd get away with even less than 192 ?

[VRStu]

You can edit the gaps out when burning. Use Nero and it's called Pre Gap.

[Goochie]

Ahhh.... I have to do that with normal Audio CD's. No problem then.

[LittlePaul]

Originally Posted by Goochie

Does anyone know if Halfords let people take in MP3 loaded CD's to listen for the gaps ? Its something I'd never thought of before and would annoy the hell out of me.

They let me when I bought mine a couple of years ago.

Im looking to get a Phat Box next, so cds. My Octavia cd-changer is ****e; Mechanical errors every few days. GRR.

[cheezemonkhai]

You tried dusting it off, opening it and giving it a good blowing through then dropping a cleaner CD in it. Mine was chocked full of dust, but that fixed it.

[orinj]

Originally Posted by Goochie

Does anyone know if Halfords let people take in MP3 loaded CD's to listen for the gaps ? Its something I'd never thought of before and would annoy the hell out of me.

Is there something to look for in the technical spec of a unit that would allow me to spot this ?

Yes, my CD collection is smallish, I tend to car boot them after a few months (but I guess if I MP3'd things I wouldnt get rid of them).

What kind of bit-rate do I need to use for in-car listening? Given the ammount of noise when on the move I assume you'd get away with even less than 192 ?

Goochie,

Yes you should be able to take your mp3 music CDs to any car stereo shop and ask to test them out. I went to Halfords and Sextons to try out different brands and head units. It's definitely worth doing just like auditioning different home hi-fi with music you listen to.

The technical specifications will not tell you about gapless playback as its an inherant problem with the mp3 format so the only way to find out how the head unit handles it is by trying it out. Usually models from the same manufacturer will exhibit the same capabilities.

Most people find 128kbps in Joint Stereo as sufficient for mp3 playback in their car. I use 192kbps with VBR because I was able to hear the difference in bass response. I'm considering moving over to AAC but that's another matter.

The pre-gap elimination used when burning CDRs with Nero only applies to normal CD-Audio and not mp3 CDRs or CDRWs.

[texasjohn]

Originally Posted by orinj

The technical specifications will not tell you about gapless playback as its an inherant problem with the mp3 format so the only way to find out how the head unit handles it is by trying it out. Usually models from the same manufacturer will exhibit the same capabilities.

I find my Pioneer does this, a good 1 second gap. Always takes a long time to work out the format of a non-Audio disc as well when you first put the disc in.

It is a first-generation MP3 player (2002) so the later models might not be so bad at it.

Niggles aside, the Pioneer has lasted 4 years so far, used daily (and mostly in an open top car in a hot dusty climate).

Thumbs up for Pioneer!

[Sheaf]

My kenwood has a slight gap between tracks, it's not bad though, maybe 0.5 seconds, defo less than a second... it's only noticeable on live albums where the tracks are supposed to blend into each other.

Halfords will let you play your own CDs, they have slots over the plastic covers so you can get to the hole.. and most placed are staffed by monkeys who'd never have the balls to question you playing anyway, lol.

There is a delay when loading an MP3 disk.. the most annoying feature, but you dont change disks too often so it's no problem.

I had over 14GB of MP3s in the car at last count.. tis quite handy being able to take every single piece of music you have with you. Organising it all can be a problem though.

Something like this: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/prod...oducts_id=4809 would be my choice.. £160 and plays MP3 DVDs. Bargain if you ask me. 4.7GB is a lot of music without changing disk.

[LittlePaul]

thx cheesemonkhai, will give that a go. will try an air duster.