Can anyone offer any advice:

I took my 2002 Octavia in to fit a Sony MP3/CD changer but the nice man said the sound was coming out funny. The tape and radio play fine, but the CD sound (from the changer) was coming out scratchy and distorted. The shop sent the head unit away to be fixed but apparently there's nothing that could be done to fix the problem.

I suppose really I need another head unit. I want to keep an original Skoda branded one in the car, just because I think it looks better and isn't a security risk. I phoned the Skoda dealer in Swindon (where I work) and they said it would take 6 weeks just for Skoda to look at it, and had no idea what it might cost.

I've got 3 options I think:

1. try to get a new Skoda head unit (CD changer compatible) or 2nd hand one. Nothing on ebay though.

2. Get a new mp3 playing head unit.

3. Use a seperate mp3 playing device and plug it in to the (mostly still working) Skoda head unit via the tape slot.

Both 2 and 3 involve taking the car back to the shop to get the CD/MP3 changer removed and getting a

There are plenty of head units that can play mp3's within your "refund" budget... Take a look at caraudiodirect.com (I'm sure many others here will point you in other directions too...), and have a browse...

I think most new CD headunits come with mp3 facility on them, saving on having to have a CD changer.

Thanks for your reply. I know, I know, there are cheaper mp3 players out there. I bought one for my Golf for about

Ah... AFAIK your best place for Skoda headunits will be on fleabay... unless someone on here has one for sale...

Yes, I shall keep an eye out. I don't really know which ones are compatible with the cd changer except for the one I've got which is an MS-502 I think, and there are none of these on ebay at the mo and none here...

I thought of another reason to stick with the Symphony head unit - the 'GALA' thingy, which changes the volume based on your speed. I really like that.

I reckon it's probably an incompatibility problem with the changer rather than a HU fault. The output levels of the changer may be set for new Sony HU's but too high for you HU input. really high and it could cause damage to your head unit but unlikely. Have you tried a different changer?

If there was a changer in your car previously before you owned it there's a chance someone has removed it due to a fault developing. I've never seen a fault on a changer input when a changer has never been fitted before.

I'm pretty sure the problem is with the head unit. No, I haven't tried a different changer.

This is the 2nd company that have tried to fit a Sony cd/mp3 changer and both have independently said there were sound problems. They can't both have done it wrong can they?

I think there is an Alpine mp3/cd changer that is compatible. Maybe I can try that. I'm glad I didn't buy the bits myself and try and do it.

Does anyone have any suggestions?