Which stero to go for?

Atomic Sprout · 04-04-2005, 12:17

Right, I've got a 2.0 TDI DSG Elegance on order, delivery next month

. The good news is that the boss in doors has finally relented and agreed to upgrading the stereo. My choices (assuming that I can still change the order) are :-

1. Upgrade from the Stream to the Audience MP3 stereo

Advantages:
All built in
Can control track selection from steering wheel (have ordered MFS)
Info displayed on dash etc.
Nice, integrated clean solution

Disadvantages:
Costs more than other option
No play lists, etc
limited to approx 4GB
Can only use in the car

All my songs on WMP are in WMA format so will have to convert to MP3

2. Buy a Creative Zen 20GB personal media player, using existing 'system' to connect to car stereo.

Advantages
20GB of space
Can easily copy songs, playlists etc from PC
good song, album etc navigation
Can use in any car, at Gym etc
about £100 cheaper than Audience stereo
Leaves 7 CD slots free for one-off usage

Disadvantages
has a limited battery life (although 20 hours is good)
extra bits in the car with an extra lead
Cannot select tracks etc from steering wheel.
track info not displayed on stereo or MaxiDot.

So, questions:-

Which one would you recommend, prefereably based on experience of using the MP3 audience system? I'm assuming that the audience player only has basic selection e.g. select a folder and play all track in/below it.

I'm also assuming that the audience does not add anything else e.g. bluetooth etc, other than a built in changer.

steviec · 04-04-2005, 18:20

Personally I like the Audience & Speaker Upgrade as it is all built in. Don't forget so are the reversing sensors & fan control displays into the Header Unit. Not easy to search on and doesn't without button presses display the Track Name & Details etc as my old Alpine Unit did, but I am happy with it.

BTW where you get the seven CD slots free from? there are only 6 or was it a typo?

Stimps · 04-04-2005, 18:33

6 in the changer, 1 on the head unit?

Dr Zoidberg · 04-04-2005, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by steviec

Personally I like the Audience & Speaker Upgrade as it is all built in. Don't forget so are the reversing sensors & fan control displays into the Header Unit.

Is that right?
No separate display for the climate control?
Does the reversing sensor have an audible warning as well?

If I can't replace the head unit I would have to think *very* hard about buying a new octy.

steviec · 04-04-2005, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stimps

6 in the changer, 1 on the head unit?

Nope, there is a six cd changer built into the Header Unit in the dash and no six disc stack in the boot as my dealer thought there was.

steviec · 04-04-2005, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr zoidberg

Is that right?
No separate display for the climate control?
Does the reversing sensor have an audible warning as well?

If I can't replace the head unit I would have to think *very* hard about buying a new octy.

Yes there is the two LCD Displays and Green LED's on the Climate Control it just displays on the Radio Screen as well.

And the reversing sensor does have an audible warning as well, again the display is shown on the Header Unit, it also turns the sound down when you select reverse.

**roo** · 04-04-2005, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by steviec

Nope, there is a six cd changer built into the Header Unit in the dash and no six disc stack in the boot as my dealer thought there was.

boooo

whats the sound like with the radio and speaker setup as I've ordered it on my sport.

04-04-2005, 12:17	#1
Atomic Sprout Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Which stero to go for? Right, I've got a 2.0 TDI DSG Elegance on order, delivery next month . The good news is that the boss in doors has finally relented and agreed to upgrading the stereo. My choices (assuming that I can still change the order) are :- 1. Upgrade from the Stream to the Audience MP3 stereo Advantages: All built in Can control track selection from steering wheel (have ordered MFS) Info displayed on dash etc. Nice, integrated clean solution Disadvantages: Costs more than other option No play lists, etc limited to approx 4GB Can only use in the car All my songs on WMP are in WMA format so will have to convert to MP3 2. Buy a Creative Zen 20GB personal media player, using existing 'system' to connect to car stereo. Advantages 20GB of space Can easily copy songs, playlists etc from PC good song, album etc navigation Can use in any car, at Gym etc about £100 cheaper than Audience stereo Leaves 7 CD slots free for one-off usage Disadvantages has a limited battery life (although 20 hours is good) extra bits in the car with an extra lead Cannot select tracks etc from steering wheel. track info not displayed on stereo or MaxiDot. So, questions:- Which one would you recommend, prefereably based on experience of using the MP3 audience system? I'm assuming that the audience player only has basic selection e.g. select a folder and play all track in/below it. I'm also assuming that the audience does not add anything else e.g. bluetooth etc, other than a built in changer. __________________ Studies have shown that there are 10 kinds of people in the world... those who understand binary and those that don't Last edited by Atomic Sprout; 04-04-2005 at 12:19.

04-04-2005, 18:20	#2
steviec Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Warrington, Cheshire Posts: 753 Thanks: 10 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Personally I like the Audience & Speaker Upgrade as it is all built in. Don't forget so are the reversing sensors & fan control displays into the Header Unit. Not easy to search on and doesn't without button presses display the Track Name & Details etc as my old Alpine Unit did, but I am happy with it. BTW where you get the seven CD slots free from? there are only 6 or was it a typo? __________________ Cheers Steve Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0T FSI - Black Magic, 18" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Jumbo Box, Rear Electric Windows, Xenon Headlights, MaxiDot, Light Assist, Front & Rear Parking Sensors, Rain Sensing Wipers & Dipping Rear View Mirror. Pentagon SupaGlass in Midnight, Parrot 3400LS GPS Bluetooth Car Kit.

04-04-2005, 18:33	#3
Stimps Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Colchester Posts: 5,091 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	6 in the changer, 1 on the head unit? __________________ Steve « Nature Green 1.4 16v Fabia Comfort »

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