That is correct, but I've not found that annoying personally. The sound is all I need.

Was going to purchase this head unit today but now been told that not only does it not talk to the maxi dot but also my reversing sensors will not show up on the display, can anyone confirm if this is correct.

Cheers

Shakey

you will need to buy the correct harness for the steering controls to work. This harness (for the octavia at least) fixes the canbus issues meaning you dont need any extra wires from the fuse box

Any idea what 'integration' enhancements the 521 has over the 520 Nick?

ie. Does it now work with the maxidot and allow dialling from the MFSW?

Ryan - I didn't have to buy any extra harness? As it came out of the box mine works fine with my steering wheel controls. Also, there are no canbus issues or extra wires going to my fuse box for the head unit. Not sure where you've got that idea? The installation was simple with no extras to buy or modifications to make.

John - take a look on YouTube for demos of the 521. It does look better.

so this is a canbus ready headunit with a quad block connector as standard?

Ive got that idea because im doing just that with my car. The choise was run a cable from switched live in the fuse box or get a steering wheel adapter harness which sorts out the lack of switched live in canbus issue

Edited 6 February, 201313 yr by ryan-re

so this is a canbus ready headunit with a quad block connector as standard?

It comes with a quadlock loom as standard. It's designed specifically for putting in a VAG (lol).

OK, just to put a fly in the ointment.....

Skoda have just fitted the same Kenwood unit in my VRS as a replacement for the second failing Columbus. It's a disaster;

The maxi dot display works with the phone but the phone does not work, ( main Kenwood display says it is disconnected, maxi dot says it is connected. )

Parking sensors display in the screen but only work when car is first started, ie. reversing out of the garage, but not when returning.

The navigation is very slow to start and leaves a little blue "trail" line ( or track) on the map. I now have little blue lines showing all the roads I have used in the past week. Trying to zoom in whilst driving is likely to cause an accident as one get so distracted from watching the road as the picture changes unexpectedly if one touches the screen in the wrong place.

The iPod player displays on the screen and plays perfectly but no audio.

The failing Columbus that was removed was better than this, maybe I have been unlucky........

I have asked them to put a working Columbus back in so that will restore the resale value of the car.

@nick p

So it is canbus ready and designed by kenwood for vag cars only. Never heard of that before

Skoda have just fitted the same Kenwood unit in my VRS as a replacement for the second failing Columbus. It's a disaster;

What year is your car?

Dont pioneer avic units work with canbus?

The pioneer site implies it does?

what does it say?

The unit will work BUT you must sort the problem with turning it off. Canbus cars have no switched live but Connects2 make a harness for octavias with steering wheel controls which fixes the canbus issue

Hi guys

Thanks for all the advice & information, in the end I went for the DN521DAB which looks like been the right decision, maxi dot works reversing sensors show up on screen DAB Works well, the DVD picture is great quality.

Thanks again

Shakey

Hello John999boy, My Octavia VRS is 2012, 7 months old, 6k miles.

So far two failing Columbus units and now the poor Kenwood.

The rest of the car is brilliant.

The car is superb the kenwood DNX521DAB is pretty go too

Would this be compatible for a 2008 Octavia? I'm a total noob with car electronics and compatibility!

yes

Cheers Nick!

Just bought one of these but I'm not sure if my wiring setup is different when compared to newer cars. Do i need to buy an adaptor for this to plug in to my 2008 Octavia?

Mu connection options are;

Is the first image the 'quadlock' you are referring to?

Am I being utterly stupid in thinking that I need an adapter for this?

that is a normal iso connector.

The op had an adaptor in the box with the headunit. Otherwise you will need one of these two:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/con-ct20sk01-ct20sk01-harness-adapter-for-skoda-octavia.html

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/ctssk002-can-bus-steering-control-adaptor.html

If you choose the cheaper on you will need to find a switched live from the fuse box, the 2nd option is just plug 'n' play

Thanks for the info. When buying the cheaper option, is it a difficult job to find a switched live from the fuse box?

Take it you bought it second hand? Did you not get the loom shown on the left of this picture?

I think the parrot Bluetooth is part of that loom too iirc? EDIT - maybe it's the steering wheel control bit actually.

Thanks for the info. When buying the cheaper option, is it a difficult job to find a switched live from the fuse box?

you need to go through your empty fuse slots using a multi meter and find one which only shows 12v when the ignition is on. Then use a fuse tap and run a cable from the behind the dash into the headunit area then find the correct pin to attach it to

I chose the more expensive option personaly

Edited 3 March, 201313 yr by ryan-re

You'll need an aerial adapter too. Personally, I'd get hold of the proper Kenwood loom.

It was new. From a guy who works for vw. The contents are exactly as listed in the installation manual.

Proper Kenwood loom it is then!

Cheers gents