I've just bought an 06 MK2 Octavia VRS and I'm looking to replace the stream OEM stereo. Scanning the forums it appears many have gone for the Skoda Columbus headunit upgrade, but my question is how does it compare to an aftermarket Alpine / Kenwood. I'm guessing that as my car is 06 it won't 'connect' with the skoda unit, ie no extra features, like reverse sensor image etc. If this is the case then I won't gain anything by going OEM and an Alpine unit would offer just as much with potentially better sound.

My main priorities are: good quality sound, bluetooth phone connection, ipod connection and DVD playback for the kids. Sat nav is a bonus, but generally would use a stand alone Garmin anyhow.

Any guidance would be great, thanks

For a start, it's widely recognised that nowadays Kenwood aren't anywhere near the same quality level as they were 10-15 years ago when they were closer to Alpine. Pioneer seems to have taken their mantel, although they're not miles behind. Sony get a beating for some reason, but no reason why.

A lot of posters on here will say that a LOT, if not nearly all second hand Columbus units will be nicked, so you take your chances. Kenwood do do a unit that's sold by dealers and does talk to the car in the same or similar way, although I don't know exactly how much, so might be worth looking into that. I'm sure someone on here will pop up with the model number...

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/vw/

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=Kenwood+DNX520VBT&_sacat=0&_from=R40

HOPE THIS HELPS columbus is rubbish

"columbus is rubbish"

Please elaborate. I thought this was supposed to be a good unit. It certainly costs enough.

Sarge.

I'm certainly happy with my Columbus.

OK, it's not really hi-fi, but its good enough in my diesel Octavia.

Sat nav, OPS, 30Gb music, MFSW control, DVD player, green illumination, possibility to feed video to rear screens, possibility to have reverse video camera feed in, connection to factory BT, etc.

All good in my book. Only possible downside is cost of having it all in a pre-FL Octavia (OPS & climate display cost 'unreasonable' amount of extra cash for most people).

Would be interested to hear why "Columbus is rubbish"

My mate has one...

whilst it looks the part its quite unsafe as you have to take your eyes off the road to look at it, specially at busy junctions

I manage perfectly well with a tom tom stuck in the cubby hole atop of the dash

Once again,,, tis only my opinion!

if the columbus was factory fit, it displays everything you need to know right in front of you in the instrument cluster which is something no aftermarket unit can currently do.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but all current aftermarket units

- don't work with MDI, I know they have their own ipod and usb connectivity, but if you already have MDI wiring, that's wasted and they need their own ipod wiring, right?

- don't work with Skoda Bluetooth wiring, I know they have their own Bluetooth, but the existing microphone wiring from Skoda factory BT is wasted and unit needs its own mic wired, right?

op:

Do you have revering sensors? My 56 plate vrs has the stream unit and the revering image is on there.

Regarding the aftermarket unit. It depends, do you want the flexibility or an aftermarket unit and do you mind it not looking 100% oem?

If you are ok with not looking oem then i'd go for a aftermarket unit BUT its not cheap getting the parts to fit one. So far i spent £62 on the adapter and £20 on iso cables. This is before including the cost of the headunit but the one thats going in i've had for years.

So, overall it all depends on your application

I defy anyone using a sat nav in anger to enjoy the low mounted columbus

For example when you have no idea where you are going and no idea what exit to take , its dark its busy on the road

You still need to look at the screen to digest the next turn

Thus it makes you take your eyes down for a few seconds and that can be pretty scary!

A sat nav higher up is best

Once again its just my opinion...

Many just put sat nav on to go to the shops or dare I say for the pose??

I defy anyone using a sat nav in anger to enjoy the low mounted columbus

For example when you have no idea where you are going and no idea what exit to take , its dark its busy on the road

You still need to look at the screen to digest the next turn

Thus it makes you take your eyes down for a few seconds and that can be pretty scary!

A sat nav higher up is best

Once again its just my opinion...

Many just put sat nav on to go to the shops or dare I say for the pose??

But as some have posted, factory and retro fit Columbus have the turn information Displayed on maxi-dot. To me I would have that every time over something stuck to my front screen.

I changed to the newer badges all 6 changed, that was because I liked them some do some don't but its my car. I understand why people debadge it gives a cleaner look etc but its not for me so I don't. If you like the blackline badge/lettering do it its your car if you like it that's what matters. I do think they could have done something themselves to give the black line real exclusivity like numbering the seats but Skoda appears to have just fired in all the excess stock pre Octy III and done a clear out. I would have bought a Blackline over a normal VRS if I had of been buying later but it would have been for the outstanding value, I would have seen it as a limited edition in the sense it is truly limited all other VRS's out there are built to the original owners specification that to me is more desirable.

Columbus all the way, dont get me wrong its not perfect, but as an OEM retrofit its great, for me, it does everything that I want from an in car system, I wouldnt pay the £1700 it is from Skoda, but at around £400 on ebay its great value.

Personally I never use the maps on the screen of the unit, I just have the navigation on the maxidot screen, its very close to being in your line of vision when driving and a quick look at it confirms any turns etc you may need, certainly dont look away any more than checking yoru speedo for example.

Mine came from ebay and I must admit I was dubious as it came from some Eastern Block country, but it arrived within 48 hours and when I put it in the car it turned out to be faulty, and I got really worried, emailed the seller and 48 hours later a replacement arrived along with a partial paypal refund to cover the cpst of sending the faulty unit back.

Dont get me wrong the sound isnt great but that is presumably down to cheap speakers, but if you upgraded the speakers then it would probably elevate the Columbus to another level again.

Overall, the unit gets a thumbs up from me.

Think you've got the wrong thread here lol!

Mike

WOW what the heck! No idea how that happened! lololol

I defy anyone using a sat nav in anger to enjoy the low mounted columbus

For example when you have no idea where you are going and no idea what exit to take , its dark its busy on the road

You still need to look at the screen to digest the next turn

Thus it makes you take your eyes down for a few seconds and that can be pretty scary!

A sat nav higher up is best

Once again its just my opinion...

Many just put sat nav on to go to the shops or dare I say for the pose??

As said before with the maxidot integration your not looking down at the screen. In fact the Columbus does not tell you how long until next exit etc or what next turn is at all on the screen its only on the maxidot, I imagine this was done for the very concerns you say and not to have folk looking down at screen. As someone else said above you do not need to even have the map on the screen while using the navigation on it as all you need to know is displayed on maxidot (type of next turn, distance, total distance and even a count down bar that shrinks, name of road etc etc. It is actually a very well thought out system and nothing else would ever look 100% OEM than an OEM unit unfortunately. I would love something with even more features the new Kenwood unit that is in the Skoda accessories list looks awesome and I think it does work with the maxidot £995 fitted.

So a quick question chaps.Would my 2012 Octavia Greenline S have maxidot? I'm thinking of going down the used columbus route but i would want it working as it would have done when it left the factory.

Regards,

Ivor.

on the instrument pannel does it show a pic of the car and tell you which door is open? If you do then you have maxidot

on the instrument pannel does it show a pic of the car and tell you which door is open? If you do then you have maxidot

Indeed it does,thanks for that.

Thanks for all the replies, still undecided though. As I'm not really after the sat nav and as an 06 model, I don't have maxi dot I doubt the sat nav on the columbus would be that good in comparison to a stand alone.

I want basically a Bolero unit but with a dvd player / screen. Looking around its all or nothing though. Alpine have some very nice units on the market but sadly the price is £600+ and I'm guessing as a non oem unit would be a car thiefs dream when looking in the window.

Think I need to see the bolero and columbus in the flesh and have a play before parting with my cash.

Thanks again, as a newbie on here its great to see the input from so many members

Thanks for all the replies, still undecided though. As I'm not really after the sat nav and as an 06 model, I don't have maxi dot I doubt the sat nav on the columbus would be that good in comparison to a stand alone.

I want basically a Bolero unit but with a dvd player / screen. Looking around its all or nothing though. Alpine have some very nice units on the market but sadly the price is £600+ and I'm guessing as a non oem unit would be a car thiefs dream when looking in the window.

Think I need to see the bolero and columbus in the flesh and have a play before parting with my cash.

Thanks again, as a newbie on here its great to see the input from so many members

There is a thread on here somewhere with someone who bought a little circuit board thing specifically made for the Bolero on Ebay that when fitted allows you to watch video on it. I think he got a cheap freeview box for car and set it all up for TV through Bolero was a great budget thing to do. Should be easy to get a small 12volt dvd player to fire in glove box or under seat if its specifically DVD's you want. I would go for a small media player like Sumvision Micro 2 so you can put SD card or memory stick with movies etc on it in.

As if by magic here it is.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/229957-video-input-interface-on-bolero-anybody-tried-this/page__hl__+bolero%20+video#entry2824220

In fact the Columbus does not tell you how long until next exit etc or what next turn is at all on the screen its only on the maxidot

There is if you have split screen displayed!

With the maps in, press the 'Map' button and ensure 'Directions' is selected as being displayed.

You can also activate split screen via the menu options.

In fact the Columbus does not tell you how long until next exit etc or what next turn is at all on the screen its only on the maxidot,

Unless you want it to. There is an option to list the next half dozen manoeuvres with distance count downs on the side of the screen if required.

Dammit Beaten to it.

There is an option to list the next half dozen manoeuvres with distance count downs on the side of the screen if required.

Had forgotten that one as I prefer to have just the next instruction showing.

After do lots of reading up & pricing up i decided the following / the problem the poineer - alpine - kenwood stuff is the issue of all the leads & adaptors so they work & fit the car,hence why i went retro fit & not looked back.

Iv a colombus fitted to my mk 5 golf & had no issues also found it good unit,in my 2006 octavia i replaced my stream with a rns 315 amunden+ plus with builtin nav & bluetooth.

Edited 3 December, 201213 yr by *murph*