Hello again all,

Further to a previous post on this column, the cost of upgrading my Skoda radio/cassette to the Symphony CD unit seems pretty prohibitive. So - I am minded to go for replacing with an alterntive unit - a simple radio/single CD.

My shopping list - having read through various posts - seems to be as follows:

1. New headunit

2. Fascia adaptor

3. Wiring Harness adaptor

4. Aerial booster

5. Aerial adaptor

6. Keys / ingenuity / willpower / cunning for removing the existing unit

Can anyone advise if I have left anything off of this list? Also, can anyone recommend (perhaps having fitted in their own Fabia) a nice simple RDS Radio / single CD player which keeps a reasonably restrained look (e.g. green illumination, black finish and such like).

Also, does anyone have any insights on my dealer's comments about "fitting a non-Skoda head unit" can cause errors in the engine control unit" or some such?

Grateful for any further advise before I take the plung!

Thanks,

D.

P.S. I guess I'd still be interested to hear from anyone with an old Symphony radio/CD in their loft who would like to sell cheaply!

Hier,

I think your making a good choice, the standard speakers with an aftermarket hu sound much better.

I fitted a pioneer 4700 and am really happy with it, looks good in the fabia. I showed it to my dealer when i was there once (he's a top bloke) and he said it sounded much better and looked factory fitted

Get the skoda fascia adaptor from dealer for

There are some pics in this thread about HU...

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=23095&highlight=pioneer+4700

I have the Pioneer DEH-3700. Installed it about a week now and I'm very pleased with it. I thought I was buying DEH-4700 since on www.pioneerelectronics.com at DEH-3700 there are/were pictures of the DEH-4700. Anyway theese two are pretty much the same. The differences as far as I know are in favour of course of the DEH-4700:

- nicer design

- bigger display, but not that much of a difference

- tel mute

- maybe remote

- MOSFET amplifier. I realy wanted that MOSFET more from the tehnical posiblities but I guess if there is no plan of using the pre-outs there is no need for the MOSFET or the extra two wats per channel 4x27 nominal 4x50 max. The 3700 has 4x25 and 4x45.

Anyway the HU is extemely powerfull for decent use. I have the stock speakers and I cannot listen to more than 15-20 on the scale. 30 is max. Source amplification is on +1 but it can go to +5 i think so that would be even louder. Nice green lightning and good quality music.

Thinking now of upgrading speakers for better quality. Volume is more than enough as it is.

Maybe I'll take some night pictures of the real thing. In my opinion it looks much better as the pictures from the producer.

I found the best way to remove the HU is to push the keys into the position just before it clicks, that way the latches are pushed in the furthest. Then gently prise out the stereo from around the edge (I have the cupholder fitted so it's easy)

I've got an aerial signal amp and a genuine fascia adapter. PM if you are interested.