hi guys, just spotted this unit on the internet, Zenec ZE-MC5600, its a touchscreen with all the fuctions of a colombus {minus harddrive} how does this compare to the chinese clones we see on fleabay everyday ? have been recommended the zenec a couple of times by expert audio guys, never heard of zenec but the units look pretty good and the big advantage they have over a bolero or columbus is, they have inbuilt bluetooth ! come on skoda, i like your oem units but i dont want 'mugging' just to have bluetooth...... anyway guys heres the link, what do you think ? http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/zenec-zemc5600-bluetooth-screen-ipod-skoda-p-15523.html#

Not keen on the look of the user interface in the pictures...

If it was half the price then it might be worth a punt, but nearly £500? Forget it, save and get a Columbus.

If it was half the price then it might be worth a punt, but nearly £500? Forget it, save and get a Columbus.

i dont know the price of a secondhand columbus, but whatever it is, i would still have to find another 300 quid for the blue tooth module, so if i was lucky to find a secondhand columbus for £500, i would be looking at £800 at least, the zenec does the same job for nearly half the price..... another unit i was looking at was a pioneer avh3200bt,http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/pioneer-avh3200bt-double-touch-screen-player-bluetooth-p-11428.html, i think this is a slighty better unit than the zenex and its only £330, £150 cheaper, but its not factory fit looking, what do you guys think ?

+1

Had a copy -- been there, done that, worn the t-shirt, and very nearly got stung. It won't work properly.

Now got a Columbus, and couldn't be happier

No way would I spend that money for a clone -- I got my Columbus for £400

Mike

its made by a german company and it has a full 12 month warranty. also i would be buying it from a proper car audio centre in the uk, so if it did go wrong i think it would be a lot easier to sort the problem out as everything is uk based. i have been told that the zenec is more reliable than a chinese clone. thats why they dont sell the chinese clones. where did you get your columbus from for £400 ? was it brand new ?

HERE YOU GO IF YOUR LOOING FOR A COLUMBS

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/175358-skoda-columbus/

I have got Zenec but got the ZE-NC2010 which is listed as vw/seat but as the FL has the same canbus system as the vw golf mk6 it works a treat.

I get my climate control pop up's and OPS display and if you've got maxidot/MFSW they both work with it as well!

Is a great unit I use my Octy for work and the satnav is always spot on!

BIG Nick

I have got Zenec but got the ZE-NC2010 which is listed as vw/seat but as the FL has the same canbus system as the vw golf mk6 it works a treat.

I get my climate control pop up's and OPS display and if you've got maxidot/MFSW they both work with it as well!

Is a great unit I use my Octy for work and the satnav is always spot on!

BIG Nick

LOOKS LIKE A NICE BIT OF KIT

http://www.celstores.com/p/zenec-ze-nc2010/zenec-ze-nc2010.asp

Edited 29 September, 201015 yr by vwdan1986

I have got Zenec but got the ZE-NC2010 which is listed as vw/seat but as the FL has the same canbus system as the vw golf mk6 it works a treat.

I get my climate control pop up's and OPS display and if you've got maxidot/MFSW they both work with it as well!

Is a great unit I use my Octy for work and the satnav is always spot on!

BIG Nick

how did you find out about your zenec ? i know the chinese clones are a waste of time, but the zenec looks like better quality and more importantly shipped over here and sold in a uk outlet ready for use in the uk, unlike a chinese clone, which is shipped over from china and if you are 'lucky' it might work in the uk.....

Mate of mine who runs a Tuning company (Remaps) told me about them as he bought one for his VW Caddy.

As his in the trade I got it cheaper than most.

The Bolero is a nice unit which is what I removed, but I was after built in Satnav and with all the whoha about the Columbus in that whether it's stolen or not I went for the Zenec and have never looked back!

Is a brill unit does everything I want.

BIG Nick

Mate of mine who runs a Tuning company (Remaps) told me about them as he bought one for his VW Caddy.

As his in the trade I got it cheaper than most.

The Bolero is a nice unit which is what I removed, but I was after built in Satnav and with all the whoha about the Columbus in that whether it's stolen or not I went for the Zenec and have never looked back!

Is a brill unit does everything I want.

BIG Nick

if its not the zenec, its going to be this http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/pioneer-avh3200bt-double-touch-screen-player-bluetooth-p-11428.html at 330 quid, its a quality headunit, always liked pioneer, what would you guys go for zenec or pioneer ?

It's upto you chap!

The Zenec will give you canbus intergration if you already have OPS/climate I know some other HU's can do MFSW and Maxidot.

I have all the canbus features which I would have lost with not having an OE HU with all the added extras that the Zenec provides!

HTH

BIG Nick

The cheap Chinese clone I had (for all of 3 days) integrated with maxidot and stalk control, though once anything was displayed in the maxidot, the maxidot froze up completely, and the head unit had to be switched off, the maxidot taken out of audio display, and the unit switched back on again, every single bloody time.

The Columbus, as I've said before, being a 3T0 version I have, integrates perfectly with maxidot, with no freezing up, but does not have stalk control. I've not found this to be any problem whatsoever, it's not as if it's a long reach to the radio to change things, and it's voice activated anyway.

Another MAJOR setback of the Chinese unit was the wiring adapter that was provided to plug into the car's wiring at one end, and the head unit at the other. There not enough room at the back of the unit to fit the thing correctly (I've read on here that folks have actually cut away the plastic frame behind the dash to accommodate it -- no way for me), and because of the layout of the pins, it was impossible to connect the boot mounted CD changer to the head unit. Columbus? Plug in, and everything works.

Mike

i dont think the zenec is a chinese clone, it is made by a german company and i think it is plug and play with no modifactions needed to dash or pins ??? i hope big nick can correct me if i am wrong

No, I looked on the link about the zenec, and the photo of the back shows the connectors. It's totally different to OEM VAG units, so would need an adapter harness.

Also, the aerial socket on the zenec requires an ISO connector, not a FAKRA that's in the car, so an adapter will be needed. I'm wondering if this could cause any issues with the aerial amplifier, as it's supplied with a voltage through the central core of the aerial co-axial cable.

Mike

The aerial connection is fakra NOT ISO so it plugs straight in, granted it has an adaptor harness but this caused no problem for me and fitting it was a doddle took me 10mins.

The reason it has different connections on the back is because of the capabilities of the Zenec, It has 2 preouts, 2 av outputs for headrest monitors so you can use the "rear zone" feature, 1 video in for reversing camera, and pre outs for 5.1 dolby.

So it can do quite a bit! Like I say it's upto you what you buy.

BIG Nick

Ive just made a deal on one of these with a forum member, Ill let you know how it is!

BTW this comes with bluetooth built in so no need for extra box!

BIG Nick

The Zenec looks like a serious competitor to the Columbus and, with its Parrot BT kit built in, could be more compatible with more phones than the Columbus. When you add the Canbus integration, it looks a winner.

I wish that I had seen this before I specified Columbus and factory-fit BT on my car. I would have gone for a Bolero, with Maxidot and MFSW, replaced the Bolero the Zenec, (then probably sold the Bolero!) and saved a heap of money.

I know the European distributor of Zenec is based in Switzerland, but the Zenec unit I looked at (can't remember the model number) was actually made in China....

if its not the zenec, its going to be this http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/pioneer-avh3200bt-double-touch-screen-player-bluetooth-p-11428.html at 330 quid, its a quality headunit, always liked pioneer, what would you guys go for zenec or pioneer ?

The Zenec looks far closer to the OEM kit than the Pioneer, which would stick out a mile, I'd go for the Zenec.

i've been looking at this for my VRS, have mailed pioneer to ask if with its canbus module it'll be compatible with the Climate control and parking sensor displays.

i've been looking at this for my VRS, have mailed pioneer to ask if with its canbus module it'll be compatible with the Climate control and parking sensor displays.

yeah ive been looking at this pioneer hu, nice bit of kit but very very exspensive,and way out of my budget ! if i had the pennies it would be in my vrs, you just cant beat the quality of pioneer

BTW this comes with bluetooth built in so no need for extra box!

BIG Nick

yeah, thats another big plus for the zenec, that it has bluetooth built in, it really leaves a horrible taste in my mouth, that skoda have decent headunits, then they 'steal' another £300 out of your wallet for the bluetooth box ! come on skoda you make decent cars, with decent kit, make it even better by having bluetooth as standard like most other manufactures !

OK, I have had mine fitted for about 2 weeks now, heres a brief bit of feedback:

Installation: Easy, direct fit to standard spacing, and comes with required plug to match up to the Original loom

Looks: see my blog in my sig for a quick snap, looks good, nice and subtle my mate thought it was OEM, its got green/white lighting on the buttons and the OSD also.

Features: very good also, plays DVD/MP3/ USB & Ipod, the Bluetooth connects no bother to my Galaxy S and I can browse the call lists etc on the HU to make a call.

Bad Bits: the only probs I really have is that its a little slow to get going, boot time approx 15-20 secs, and also if you have left it on when turning off the car, it comes on when you turn the key (like standard) and then turns off while you turn the starter, making it restart again (another 15-20 secs) its no biggie really, as I turn it off before I turn off the car, and turn it on when the car has been started. Also, sound quality isnt much better than the Steam unit, although Im not an audiophile, so its no big deal to me. The last thing is the layout on the now playing screens is a little crowded with info, and could do with some way of customising it.

All in all, if you dont mind those little niggles, its good value for money with a lot of useful features, looks OEM and is easy to fit.