Hi guys,

Very likely buying an Elegance estate with little or no options given the cars already very high specification; most of the options being nice to haves and not remotely essential as far Im concerned.

The only one i have really been toying with is Canton. However if the standard system is pretty good (similar or at least on a par with the MK2 system which has well exceeded my expectations) ill most definitely save me the £400 as good as Canton will no doubt be its £10 per month id only spend if the standard system is utterly poo.

Be interested to hear peoples thoughts. Did also consider the winter pack but i think the lines in the screen and complexity of getting it replaced if damaged (have found getting regular windscreens sorted an ordeal of late), im not fussed about bum warmers and that washer jets shouldnt freeze if you use a decent screenwash concentrate ive decided not to bother. Not a bad option but not for me I dont think.

Standard 8 speaker system sounded pretty descent to me. But have in mind I'm coming from Mk1 Octavia which has ****ty standard speakers. Never had a chance to compare it with Canton but decided to order it anyway based on some nice reviews about it. Today is the day I'll be able to see whether it's worth that €400 or not. And for several other things as well for that matter.

 

Anyhow as for any other thing it's best to see/hear it for yourself and then decide.

 

Will post my thoughts about all the toys in coming days...

Simply put - if the mk2 standard system sounded good to you then the standard system in the Mk3 will suffice.

The Canton system is pretty awesome. I think it's worth the extra money.

The Canton system is pretty awesome. I think it's worth the extra money.

It is, without any shadow of a doubt but given what the OP said (thought the old system was good enough) then the new mk 3 8 speaker setup is even better hence he'll be happy and save the money to boot. I wouldnt order one without the Canton but im a bit of a hifi nut and DIDNT think the mk2 eight speaker setup was much cop.

I've seen mixed comments about the standard stereo on here. Some people have said it sounds better than the Mk2, others said it sounds worse, so I wouldn't make a decision without going to the showroom and listening to it yourself.

 

For me the Canton was a no-brainer as it's a very noticeable improvement for not too much money.

Do remember that the sound system needs some running in, just as the engine does. My Canton sounded quite average straight out of the box, but now after some time it has improved considerably. The sound is noticeably fuller and better defined.

 

Also, you need to take into account that it will expose the lower quality audio sources. So if you only listen to FM radio and/or mp3s with lower quality encoding, I'd say the standard system should suffice.

I have the standard system in my mk2 and for a standard system I think it is very good, however, test driving a mk3 a few weeks ago over a weekend I had chance to pay with the standard system in the mk3, its awful!!!  No bass at all, despite playing with all the settings, everything sounded 'tinny' regardless of radio, BT streaming, CD etc, it just sounded like a cheap system!  I was really underwhelmed, so when I ordered my new one, Canton was one of the first options ticked, honestly, I can understand the Elegance has lots of toys as standard, however, if you end up doing a factory order then certainly heavily consider that Canton, it could be the best upgrade you make on the car!

 

We currently have a VW Beetle demo for a few days at the moment and that has the Fender upgrade and if the Canton is as good or better than that upgrade then I can't wait for the Canton!!!

I rather doubt it's as good as the Fender system though.

I rather doubt it's as good as the Fender system though.

The Fender system is just a badge and had nothing to do with the company in terms of manufacturing. The electronics side of things is all done by Panasonic and is a similar spec to the Canton system - 400w, side mounted boot sub but no centre channel iirc. I reckon it'd be a close call but I have never actually heard one in a Fender edition VW. :(

I rather doubt it's as good as the Fender system though.

 

I don't see why not.

Most VAG cars offer a reasonably priced (£500-ish or less) upgrade to the standard stereo. It may be badged Canton, Fender, Dynaudio, or Audi/Seat Sound System but they all cost about the same and have a similar spec on paper.

If you wander over to Audi and look at the higher end B&O or BOSE options with four figure price tags you'd expect a big jump in quality, but for the more reasonable priced upgrades I doubt there's much difference.

... and that washer jets shouldnt freeze if you use a decent screenwash concentrate ive decided not to bother...

 

The jets don't freeze due to the liquid you use, but the condesated water that will be on them, no matter what washer liquid is in the tank. Then again, I guess UK winters are not the ones we have hre, in the real north

Did also consider the winter pack but i think the lines in the screen and complexity of getting it replaced if damaged (have found getting regular windscreens sorted an ordeal of late),

 

Why would a heated screen be complex to replace ? Phone insurance, get windscreen fitted, pay excess - job done.

I've had 2 fitted in my Focus this year due to motorway stone damage. Exactly same procedure to replace as a standard screen. If you have an ordeal getting yours changed perhaps you need to question the insurance company you are using. Just a thought ?

Why would a heated screen be complex to replace ? Phone insurance, get windscreen fitted, pay excess - job done.

I've had 2 fitted in my Focus this year due to motorway stone damage. Exactly same procedure to replace as a standard screen. If you have an ordeal getting yours changed perhaps you need to question the insurance company you are using. Just a thought ?

 

Absolutely right...now the pano roof is a different matter entirely with most insurers.  Although granted, significantly more difficult to damage

To add winter pack and canton is going to add a good £18/20 per month to the payments, im not desperate to have them so will leave it i think.

RE the windscreen issues, appreciate heated screens arent exactly a new thing but Id rather keep that side of things less complicated....last normal windscreen I had changed they damaged the a pillar paintwork; they could forget to hook up the screen electrics worst case which would be a bit of a mare. Also as useful as it is I still think £200 for a single pane of glass when you can furnish the whole rear end of the estate with sunset glass (7 pieces of glass) for £140 its a bit rich for me.

If it was me and budget constraints meant I had to choose between winter pack and Canton I'd choose the winter pack every time. Just this morning with frost on the windscreen it was melted in less than a minute. Heated seats are nice and snug as well, wouldn't have bothered previously with fabric seats but they warm me up a lot quicker than the heater does from cold start!

Having both on mine, I'd do the same as Tim!

The system in my Mk2 Blackmline is pretty good. I've had BOSE and B&O in previous Audi's and whilst it doesn't have the staging of the B&O it is very comparable with them. I would say better then the BOSE.

 

The MK3 i test drove with standard speakers was terrible. Nothing like the MK2. Canton was easily the first upgrade for me.

As far as sound goes my friend owns 2010 Superb with standard system and compared to MK3 Canton he said it is like day and night after hooking up his favorite playlist from Spotify over bluetooth. I have also heard 8 speaker Bolero play in MK3, which is decent, but that extra 400 EUR I spent gives a nice depth to quality. So my suggestion is this: if you are going to keep the car for longer period of time, definitely get that upgrade (I plan to keep mine for at least 5 years - so I took everything I felt was missing from standard Elegance). If you are deeper HiFi head and plan to do something custom (this will cost you more than 400 EUR/quid), then keep in mind that Canton system has it's own amplifier, which might get in your way - so you will be better off with standard 8 speakers as base.

The system in my Mk2 Blackmline is pretty good. I've had BOSE and B&O in previous Audi's and whilst it doesn't have the staging of the B&O it is very comparable with them. I would say better then the BOSE.

 

 

Im absolutely gobsmacked by that comment so I guess it just goes to show that everyones hearing and tone preferences are different.  

It depends also what kind of music do you like. i like trance and to be honest original woofer is not for me. I like to hear more lower bass thats why i will replace original one with custom.

 

It depends also what kind of music do you like. i like trance and to be honest original woofer is not for me. I like to hear more lower bass thats why i will replace original one with custom.

 

The original woofer? Do you mean the one installed as part of the Canton speaker upgrade?

The original woofer? Do you mean the one installed as part of the Canton speaker upgrade?

Correct, canton woofer is not for me:)