Bolero sound system on Octavia RS III

[GTR27]

Does anyone have a how to for getting the front door cards off on a new octavia? I thought there were some sort of pressure sensors and only the dealer could do it?

 

Would be nice to know, i've ordered with canton, and would love to sound deaden and seal the doors.

[alancha]

I can live with doors that clank when shut with the windows open and a prop instead of gas struts for the bonnet but a poor stereo is much more diffficult.

 

Agreed - although I didn't know about the lack of gas struts for the bonnet, which shows I haven't opened it in the seven weeks since I took delivery. Also, I've just discovered that the bonnet release is on the wrong side, which it wasn't in my golf.

[pipsyp]

Agreed - although I didn't know about the lack of gas struts for the bonnet, which shows I haven't opened it in the seven weeks since I took delivery. Also, I've just discovered that the bonnet release is on the wrong side, which it wasn't in my golf.

Indeed was the same with the Mk2 in fairness so in certain respects my old (and really very nice and now somewhat missed) 2013 vRS Blackline was in certain respects better made, well more robust in feel at least.

VAGs main principle behind the MQB platform was to save massive costs in production methods...in other words simplify things but also allow them to make much greater margins in the cars they sell. Arguably theyve passed on some of this saving to the customer by throwing alot of tech onto the cars from the next segment up but personally I could live without flashy touchscreens, auto main beams and a trip computer that tells me to close my windows to save drag for a better sound system and more robust build.

I suppose however some people place a completely different value on these things...I did also used to moan like hell about the fact my 23k vRS only had 4 airbags so perhaps the grass really isnt that much greener haha

Edited 14 August, 2014 by pipsyp

[andyvee]

Yes, as pypsyp says, it is indeed a lot of trouble to go to and really shouldn't have been necessary. but if it improves my enjoyment of music in this car, which I like very much otherwise and plan to keep for some years, I hope I'll feel it was worth the effort.

 

It does occur to me though that if I'm right that the main problem is a weakness in the lower-mid-range coupled with a lack of any way to adjust this part of the spectrum, then Skoda could perhaps help us by providing a software upgrade that adds a fourth tone control focused on the 200-800Hz range, and perhaps rebalances the equalisation a bit at the same time.   I assume these adjustments are digital so no hardware changes would be required.  

 

I've had no follow-up from my call to Customer Service yet - I called them a week ago and was promised a call back within 48 hours, so that's a little disappointing.

Did you try it with Pink Noise - my understanding from balancing sound on large PA systems is that white noise is equal power across the frequency range, pink noise is reducing power across the frequency range, which matches human hearing.

 

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-04/7/colours-of-noise

 

Good work by the way, I might try this with pink noise on a Canton system to see if it is the same.

[alancha]

Did you try it with Pink Noise - my understanding from balancing sound on large PA systems is that white noise is equal power across the frequency range, pink noise is reducing power across the frequency range, which matches human hearing.

 

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-04/7/colours-of-noise

 

Good work by the way, I might try this with pink noise on a Canton system to see if it is the same.

 

That's certainly an interesting point.  I claim no particular expertise in any of this, other than A-level physics a long time ago and some musical training.  However, for the test I conducted, I'm not sure that the colour of the noise mattered very much, as it was the changes caused by the tone controls that were of interest, rather than the absolute shape of the frequency spectrum.  Apart from anything else, I'm sure the microphone in my phone provides a far from flat frequency response - as measuring equipment goes I think a phone must be pretty much the worst thing to use!

 

If someone on the forum has any professional measuring equipment they could use to repeat my tests in a more scientific way, I'd be most interested in their findings.

 

By the way, am I right in thinking that as well as adding some better speakers, Canton also provides a more complete graphic equaliser?  If we could have that equaliser on a non-upgraded system, that might help a lot.  I don't know whether this could be achieved via a software update, if Skoda chose to do it, but it might be very helpful if they did.

Edited 15 August, 2014 by alancha

[andyvee]

Canton equaliser is still just bass, middle and treble.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[Yogi-Bear]

Canton equaliser is still just bass, middle and treble.

 

Without Columbus, yes... but I was led to believe it had a 5-channel equaliser when paired with the Columbus.  I'll find out for sure in a couple of weeks, unless someone on here with Canton + Columbus would care to confirm first?

[Neily03]

Without Columbus, yes... but I was led to believe it had a 5-channel equaliser when paired with the Columbus.  I'll find out for sure in a couple of weeks, unless someone on here with Canton + Columbus would care to confirm first?

 

I'm pretty sure Andyvee has both, he defo has columbus anyway.

[andyvee]

I do

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[Yogi-Bear]

I do

 

 

OK, so once again someone somewhere has fed me duff information about my new car  :S .

 

At this rate, I'll be relieved is it's got four wheels and a seat.

[pipsyp]

I think the only real difference is that the DSP is run from the amp and not the HU, same bass/mid/treble setting arrangement and not predefined DSP modes. The Canton equipped cars have a sub level control however.

[JJJ66]

OK, so once again someone somewhere has fed me duff information about my new car  :S .

 

At this rate, I'll be relieved is it's got four wheels and a seat.

You did specifically tick the "4 wheels" option on the order form didn't you? Didn't they mention that the default was 3?

[multiskoda]

Subjective, I know, but I've noticed that in FM mode the Bolero sounds truly awful, as described by the OP, but in DAB/Media modes has a much more acceptable, rounded sound.

 

It's still not great by any means, but moving the bass and mid up a touch makes it just about OK for my purposes, though I'm still tempted to amplify the thing to improve clarity.

 

I also found that moving the fader rearwards very slightly helps.

[kallekilponen]

Below I will explain the way I have overcome the shortcomings of the standard Bolero sound system in my MY15 VRS TDI, but first a little background.

 

I have been dissatisfied with the sound quality on my car since the first time I played any music in it, and have posted several times on the subject in these forums. 

 

Last week, I visited my dealer, where both the sales rep. and then the service manager spent time with me, listening to the system with a variety of musical, and also comparing my car with another in the showroom that had the same setup.

 

From this visit we concluded that

• My system is not faulty as it sounds the same as the other car we tried.
• Where the music has a very deep bass line this can come through quite strongly – enough that I could feel it as well as hear it.  If you can get hold of “Hideaway” by Keisza you hear what I mean.  I was surprised.

...

• Bass:  below 200Hz with most effect around 50Hz
• Mid:  about 800-2000Hz
• Treble:  2000-5000Hz (possibly more but my phone didn’t seem to be picking up anything above 5000Hz)

...

 

So here's my recipe for better sound:

 

How to Pre-process MP3s for the Bolero System

 

...

This made me wonder: Has anyone tried the EQ settings on an iPhone/iPod to compensate for the issues mentioned above?

 

I'm wondering, since I ordered my Octavia with the standard speakers (I need all the boot space I can get, so I didn't want to opt for the Canton system) and would like to use the music library on my iPhone. And I really wouldn't want to adjust every song in my quite extensive library just for in car use...

[GTR27]

The canton sub takes up a phone book in size. It's one of the better value options, and based on how poor even the upgraded std system is, seems like a must have upgrade.

[kallekilponen]

The canton sub takes up a phone book in size. It's one of the better value options, and based on how poor even the upgraded std system is, seems like a must have upgrade.

It also takes away the foldable hooks (which I need daily). And I'm not sure, but I'd imagine it would also be in the way of stowing the roll-up luggage compartment cover.

 

Besides, I've always found subwoofers to be overkill in car audio, door speakers are usually just fine...and apparently they are on the Octavia as well...they've just placed some odd software limitations on the equalizer... I don't want to pay over 500€ just to get over a software issue.

Edited 24 October, 2014 by kallekilponen

[pipsyp]

May have posted on here already but have a MK3 with the stock 8 speaker system and Amundsen infotainment and have to say for me other than the car being a bit dull (is an Elegance...came from a Mk2 vRS TDI) it's the single biggest disappointment.

It doesn't sound bad if you jack the bas and mid settings up but them it just does not go loud at all...the volume levelling on the system (to limit door rattles and more likely Warranty claims for blown speakers) is terrible...as soon as the baseline drops you get deafened with shrill treble.

If it can be turned off Skoda should take note as it turns a half decent (and I suspect pretty capable) system into about the poorest I've had in a car since my Mk2 Fabia.

[GTR27]

It also takes away the foldable hooks (which I need daily). And I'm not sure, but I'd imagine it would also be in the way of stowing the roll-up luggage compartment cover.

 

Besides, I've always found subwoofers to be overkill in car audio, door speakers are usually just fine...and apparently they are on the Octavia as well...they've just placed some odd software limitations on the equalizer... I don't want to pay over 500€ just to get over a software issue.

 

You must be getting a hatch, as the hooks stay in the estate

 

I listened to both systems (upgraded normal and canton) and it only took about 5 secs of the canton playing to realise it was worth it.

 

Realistically (in australia its a $600 AUD option - around 420 euro) you would have to spend that much at least to get similar quality sound aftermarket. No doubt you can easily spend more and get much better, but for a factory solution its pretty good for the price.

 

If you dont care about music (or dont listen to it often) then I could see why you wouldnt bother. I listen to music all the time, so it was an easy sell.

[kallekilponen]

You must be getting a hatch, as the hooks stay in the estate

 

 

If you dont care about music (or dont listen to it often) then I could see why you wouldnt bother. I listen to music all the time, so it was an easy sell.

 

No, I'm getting an estate. The options list didn't make a distinction between the estate and HB so I assumed the hooks get removed from both...

 

...that said, I don't listen to so much music in the car I'd be ready to fork out cash for the top of the line sound system anyway. (I listen to podcasts and talk radio about 80% of the time). And I especially dislike the idea of being duped into pay more to get around an artificial problem in the standard system.

[Yogi-Bear]

No, I'm getting an estate. The options list didn't make a distinction between the estate and HB so I assumed the hooks get removed from both...

 

How odd... I have Canton + boot hooks... four of them, no less!

[robpok]

Hi all,

 

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I'd be interested to hear of anybody who has tried any of the aforementioned fixes to the sound, such as new speakers, subs etc. 

 

Like many others I'm really disappointed by the sound. Coming from a 2006 Nissan Note with a £40 Phillips head unit (which had 7 band EQ and could read the iPhone through the USB socket), its a real downgrade (!) - not what I expected at all. I listen to primarily jazz, soul, latin and funk. The music has totally lost depth, and I can never get a satisfactory sound with the EQ or the fader options. Totally gutted as this is the only negative thing I have to say about the car. I didn't even think to test the sound at the test-drive either. Just assumed a killer sound system it was a given!

 

Like others on this thread I've contacted Skoda to register my disappointment. I wrote to ask about any firmware updates that would take into account a higher band EQ setting (to solve the issue where the music sounds 'flat' at certain frequency bands) and to see if it could encompass iPhone connectivity through the USB connection (totally embarrassing surely for a car not to read Apple products in 2014?!). The customer service guy was really helpful, but said there were no plans for such updates to the Bolero system.  

 

Thinking of going to a decent car audio specialist and getting advice and *gulp* quotes. 

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[Yogi-Bear]

.. to see if it could encompass iPhone connectivity through the USB connection (totally embarrassing surely for a car not to read Apple products in 2014?!).

 

Believe it or not, but proper USB connectivity to iPhones is still a premium (i.e. additional cost) feature on most European cars.  The Japanese (Nissan, Mazda etc.) include it as standard, but then they don't really do option lists in the same way that VAG / BMW / Mercedes do.  I can't speak for Mercedes because I've never really looked into them all that closely, but certainly all 'standard' VAG and BMW head units require some optional extra to get proper iPhone connectivity.  The more expensive units (Columbus for Skoda) come with it as standard.

[Redboy]

My wife's Daihatsu Sirion audio soundsi better than my Stream so it is no surprise that the Bolero is similarly tinny. It is why I have ordered Canton.

[robpok]

Believe it or not, but proper USB connectivity to iPhones is still a premium (i.e. additional cost) feature on most European cars.  The Japanese (Nissan, Mazda etc.) include it as standard, but then they don't really do option lists in the same way that VAG / BMW / Mercedes do.  I can't speak for Mercedes because I've never really looked into them all that closely, but certainly all 'standard' VAG and BMW head units require some optional extra to get proper iPhone connectivity.  The more expensive units (Columbus for Skoda) come with it as standard.

 

Thanks! Interesting to hear - the only cars I've ever tried the iPhone through have been two Nissans and a Honda, so that would explain it!

[999rigger]

I have been tinkering with my sound setup quite a bit recently (Amundsen) and I have now found a pretty good listening experience.

I play all my music from an SD card and when i first got the car the sound was lacking in bass. The first thing I did was use Media Monkey convert all my mp3 tracks to a high bit rate (320kb) which certainly improved things.

The second thing I did was use a program called Audacity to boost the bass frequencies on all the tracks. This took a lot of fiddling around but I now actually have too much bass and I can turn the settings down a bit.

The standard speakers can cope pretty well with bass when they get it but for some reason (firmware settings possibly) it is not utilized very well (weirdly there is a lot more bass when listening to DAB radio).