Currently running an 06 Octavia II L&K estate and thinking of moving to a Superb Combi next year. However....

The Symphony 12 speaker set-up on the Octavia is really duff. The main problem is the positioning of the tweeters in the doors, which disobeys all the laws of acoustics (they are directed directly towards you on each side instead of crossing ahead of you). Also, the balance is mushy and boomy if not over-bright. All in all, a great disappointment, considering what the audio upgrade cost in the first place.

So..... My question to the forum is: how good is the standard Superb II audio? Are there any worthwhile upgrades? How easy is ipod integration (yes, I know, I'm lazy and the answer is almost certainly out there already - just give me a link).

So, again, to those of you who are driving Superb IIs (and I imagine not much has changed acoustics-wise from the Mark 1) how do you find the sound? Are you happy with it? If not, have you found ways to improve it?

Not a total hi-fi fanatic, but I know what sounds good and I like, and would not like to make another error on my next purchase.

John (Home audio Linn/Arcam/B&W)

My Superb II has the upgraded sound system, with which I'm really pleased. However, asking others can never get close to listening to the system yourself. If that's what you want to do, drop me a PM and come on over, bringing with you any specific test pieces on either a CD or SD Card.

Ray

In my oponion is not very good even not good. I have upgraded sound system in 3.6 V6 and it was wrong choice. It not worth a more than 300 euro.

Now i will start rebuild whole audio system in my car (by proffesional CAR AUDIO PROFESJONALNIE - Muzyka i Multimedia w samochodzie / Sprz?t / Zabudowy / Doradztwo / DVD w aucie - strona domowa wroc?awskiej firmy EXTREME CAR AUDIO).

They will prepare doors (with dynamats), change speakers (to Infinity Reference Ref 6530cs), add amplifier ( Harman kardon CA5250E with stabilizer 1F Tec) and small subwoofer ( JBL GTO 1014).

imho the upgraded sound system is a waste of money and the speakers rattle and vibrate at the slightest prolonged bass, dealer is doing their best and it is a shame because rest of car is excellent, going to get airbox padded hopefuklly should assist bass.r

ive had my superb and its the s so the base model sound is absolutly fine better than the seat

It doesn't look like you're going to get very far, John. I've got the upgraded sound system, although I had the standard set in my previous Octy after there was a problem with supply during its manufacture.

I believe that the upgrade in my Superb II was/is worthwhile, but then I didn't get the standard fitment and then upgrade it, which is the only true way to tell if it's worth the money. I suspect that no-one on here will have retro-fitted the upgraded radio, as I believe it has to be fitted at build, hence a direct "before and after" test is not possible, as I understand it.

maltpb's post above seems not to be comparing like with like. It was probably foolish to expect the upgrade to perform like the list of dedicated separates he now lists above.

pugwash claims that the upgraded set has faults, with speakers rattling and vibrating "at the slightest prolonged bass" - but that is also a subjective opinion, as they will all be.

The offer stands to try mine out, but you'll have to come to me as I've just had my right hip replaced and I'm not allowed to drive for a while. :(

Ray

I am now on my second Superb 11, previously I had an SE with the Bolero and I thought that the sound quality on CD using the 6 CD auto changer was fantastic on the standard system, of course I am no Hi Fi expert, but you know what sound good and I have loads of new cars in the last 40 years including Jags and Mercs.

I now have upgraded to an Elegance with Columbus which no longer has the Auto changer, but I have got to grips with the SD card reader, which once mastered is incredible, again the sound IMO is as good as it gets, I wouldnt bother with an upgrade, because I couldn't imagine a significant improvement.

Some very mixed messages here! I'm going to wait until the Superb estate arrives at our local dealer "early next year" then try the basic system out for myself. I'll know in a few seconds if it's any good. If not, a hard choice between upgraded factory fit and aftermarket replacements.

Still, anticipation is half the fun....

Some very mixed messages here! I'm going to wait until the Superb estate arrives at our local dealer "early next year" then try the basic system out for myself. I'll know in a few seconds if it's any good. If not, a hard choice between upgraded factory fit and aftermarket replacements.

Still, anticipation is half the fun....

The problem is you are getting answers from two different sections of user, you have on one hand Argee's brigade who like me like to listen to some sound in the car, and on the other, the if it ain't a rave MC contest it ain't no good, personally I think if you listen to Argee you won't go far wrong.

Just to throw one more opinion in - I think Argee is right that it's all very subjective and difficult to tell without being able to compare the two systems back to back. All I can say is I have the standard system in mine and it sounds fine - I listen to both classical and pop and the bass is plenty punchy enough. Treble can be a bit ragged on occasion, but then it's a car audio system, not a hi-fi and I'm sure some of that is caused by the MP3 compression on the SD card. I don't tend to listen at high volumes very often. I certainly don't find myself wishing I had the upgrade, but then I haven't heard it! Argee isn't very far from me though, so perhaps if he turns his up loud enough I'll be able to hear it from here

It depends on what kind of music do you listen to, and in which format.

If you like to listen to, for example, electronic or classical music, like me, the Superb Sound System will sound OK. The last two records I've listened to are "Tangram" by Tangerine Dream, and Sibelius' Second Symphony (directed by Simon Rattle). And they sounded great inside the Superb But if you like hip-hop, you'll probably find the basses are poor, and need to install an enormous subwoofer, two amplifiers, neon lights, mirror glasses, and a BMW badge on the front :P (just kidding).

And also the source is important: you can't compare mp3 files with an original CD. Try a proper CD: the vocals will sound bright and clear and the basses powerful.

Just my two cents...

It depends on what kind of music do you listen to, and in which format.

If you like to listen to, for example, electronic or classical music, like me, the Superb Sound System will sound OK. The last two records I've listened to are "Tangram" by Tangerine Dream, and Sibelius' Second Symphony (directed by Simon Rattle). And they sounded great inside the Superb But if you like hip-hop, you'll probably find the basses are poor, and need to install an enormous subwoofer, two amplifiers, neon lights, mirror glasses, and a BMW badge on the front :P (just kidding).

And also the source is important: you can't compare mp3 files with an original CD. Try a proper CD: the vocals will sound bright and clear and the basses powerful.

Just my two cents...

Hip Hop = Katie Price, needs a lot of tweaking before you can show it off to your mum.

:D:D:D:D:D:thumbup:

It depends on what kind of music do you listen to, and in which format.

If you like to listen to, for example, electronic or classical music, like me, the Superb Sound System will sound OK. The last two records I've listened to are "Tangram" by Tangerine Dream, and Sibelius' Second Symphony (directed by Simon Rattle). And they sounded great inside the Superb But if you like hip-hop, you'll probably find the basses are poor, and need to install an enormous subwoofer, two amplifiers, neon lights, mirror glasses, and a BMW badge on the front :P (just kidding).

And also the source is important: you can't compare mp3 files with an original CD. Try a proper CD: the vocals will sound bright and clear and the basses powerful.

Just my two cents...

Think Superbia, Patnmand and Alvaro are on my wavelength - I'm definitely not into hip-hop or the sort of bass you can hear a block away (I once followed a Peugeot 106 with four young men in it on the motorway; the car's panels were flexing in and out an inch with the bass beat). Smoothness and clarity at all levels are what I'm after and I realise that's hard in a car environment.

Bit worried about "ragged treble" - I'm addicted to clarity, as with B&W speakers, Grado SR 60/80 headphones and Jays d-Jays earbuds (all of which I have). One of the problems with the Octavia II is that the tweeters are not only appallingly mounted but poor quality in the first place. To get a decent central image from the driver's seat they have to be set 5-6 notches to the left and lowered 4 notches on the settings. From the pictures, can't see where the Superb tweeters are - can anyone point me to a piccy?

Agree that many MP3s are poor quaity, but it depends on the settings. I use Apple's AAC ripped at 256K, and the sound - even on a high-quality system - is indistinguishable from the original. Looks like I'm going to have to take a test drive/listen....

Looks like I'm going to have to take a test drive/listen....

I think it's the better option, test it yourself with your favourite music.

Rather than open a new thread, has anyone had soundproofing fitted to their Superb? I did to our Mk II L&K 2.0 TDi Octavia, with excellent results. But all the road tests comment on how refined the Superb is, so perhaps anything more would be gilding the lily?

John, I regularly travel to canterbury, a couple of times a week maybe. I have the upgraded sound which you are welcome to have listen to if it suits you:thumbup:

John, I regularly travel to canterbury, a couple of times a week maybe. I have the upgraded sound which you are welcome to have listen to if it suits you:thumbup:

And thanks, Such, for calling in today, letting me play with the audio and giving me a drive round the block. A very impressive car, though I'm not sure how the cream leather upholstery will stand up to your family!

Sound's definitely better than the Symphony in our Octy II, but the tweeters are still wrongly positioned - facing directly at the front seat passengers - but the problem's alleviated by mid-range speakers high up in the doors providing fill-in.

Frankly, Smart have got it right with tweeters facing up to the corners of the screen and bouncing back to the passengers - not hard if it's integrated with the screen vents.

Thanks again, Such!

And thanks, Such, for calling in today, letting me play with the audio and giving me a drive round the block. A very impressive car, though I'm not sure how the cream leather upholstery will stand up to your family!

Sound's definitely better than the Symphony in our Octy II, but the tweeters are still wrongly positioned - facing directly at the front seat passengers - but the problem's alleviated by mid-range speakers high up in the doors providing fill-in.

Frankly, Smart have got it right with tweeters facing up to the corners of the screen and bouncing back to the passengers - not hard if it's integrated with the screen vents.

Thanks again, Such!

No problem John, happy to help. Good luck with your car hunting!

Rather than open a new thread, has anyone had soundproofing fitted to their Superb? I did to our Mk II L&K 2.0 TDi Octavia, with excellent results. But all the road tests comment on how refined the Superb is, so perhaps anything more would be gilding the lily?

I would like to soundproof to my new Scout. Where did you get materials from? Is it an easy job?