I have gotten fed up with the radio these days and a bit pi$$ed off with carrying 30 / 40 CD's around so was thinking about going down the iPod extension attachment do da road for my Symphony.

That was until a friend told me that I can get a single din, front fit USB / iPod enabled, semi decent radio cd for around £85 - £125 these days, I know the kit for rear mounting on the Symphony is around the same price, so, any suggestions?

I don't really want to spent anymore and my iPod has about 2 weeks continues play available (just about my complete music collection) so I'm looking for info and opinions please.

Has anyone else had the same dilemma and what did you do about it? 

Does yours have a cassette deck in it? If so I bought a tape adapter from Poundland and connect my phone to it and play the music on my phone through that.

Connects2 kit or something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/JSG-Accessories%C2%AE-Transmitter-Players-SAMSUNG/dp/B00387NFWC/ref=sr_1_11/276-6555424-1123453?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1398800204&sr=1-11 I've got one and it's alright for what I use it for but if I were to buy again I might go for a higher quality Belkin TuneCast

I had the same problem, i hated the symphony stereo because it blew my door speaker haha.

 

Now I got an alpine ida 305s, its just a receiver so no cd's or anything, just plug my iPod into the cable (supplied) and leave it in the secret bottom draw thing of the glove box.  I can scroll through all my iPod music and just forget about carrying anything else around.  Theres loads of different versions around that can do the same thing.  I spend a little extra to have one that showed me the album art work, if I'm honest i wish i never bothered with that feature because i never look at it, i have the time on the display so bit of a waste.  Also, if you want to use it for calls and stuff it doesn't come with a mic, you need something else Alpine and £££ for that.

 

This is a nice stereo tho, i put one in my mates car a couple of moths ago, has bluetooth, a microphone, iPod etc.  I'd have one of these if i hadn't have bought mine. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_868945_langId_-1_categoryId_165655

Does yours have a cassette deck in it? If so I bought a tape adapter from Poundland and connect my phone to it and play the music on my phone through that.

No Lee, mine has the Cd player.

I had the same problem, i hated the symphony stereo because it blew my door speaker haha.

 

Now I got an alpine ida 305s, its just a receiver so no cd's or anything, just plug my iPod into the cable (supplied) and leave it in the secret bottom draw thing of the glove box.  I can scroll through all my iPod music and just forget about carrying anything else around.  Theres loads of different versions around that can do the same thing.  I spend a little extra to have one that showed me the album art work, if I'm honest i wish i never bothered with that feature because i never look at it, i have the time on the display so bit of a waste.  Also, if you want to use it for calls and stuff it doesn't come with a mic, you need something else Alpine and £££ for that.

 

This is a nice stereo tho, i put one in my mates car a couple of moths ago, has bluetooth, a microphone, iPod etc.  I'd have one of these if i hadn't have bought mine. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_868945_langId_-1_categoryId_165655

Looked at going double Din too, but decided that would attract too much of the wrong type of attention from the light fingered brigade.

I don't need the hassle to be honest and single Din is easier to fit to boot.

Will look into the Alpine Ida 305S though, looks cool and would be perfect, no doubt it will cost more than my budget being Alpine but, thanks for the heads up! 

I like this Alpine unit - it's not too blingy. Anyone know how best to secure a double din that doesn't have  removable faceplate??

 

Chip

I elected to stick with the Symphony due to standard stereos being too easy (and tempting) to nick.

 

I've got the connects 2 attached and use Rdio on my phone to play music. If my better half decides she wants control of the stereo she just swaps my phone for hers and uses Spotify.

 

Sound quality's pretty good, although i don't really play it too loud. I think I paid around £29 for my connects2 off ebay... http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=ctvskx001&_sop=15

 

It does benefit from using a high quality audio cable on the input though... These cables on Amazon are excellent for the price... http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Stereo-Phono-Plugs-Cable/dp/B003PTXD0W/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1398852479&sr=8-11&keywords=pure+ofc

 

This is how mine's set up...

 

I dare say you could route the cable through to the glovebox if you prefer though, or just copy music to your phone memory card/memory rather than use a streaming service. My phone mounts on the X-shaped thing on the vent.

 

My phone even has an FM radio built in, which actually works better than the built in one, without the constant interruptions from traffic announcements that seem to turn themselves on randomly! I dare say you could even plug a portable DAB in there as well if you wanted too.

Edited 30 April, 201412 yr by inventory-photo

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?/topic/275503-Fitting-AUX-kit-to-Fabia-54-plate---Symphony-Head-Unit This may be of use to you!

Bowen has a nice alpine head unit for sale, Bluetooth, green illumination etc!

I've got a Kenwood KDC-W4257 in the garage you could have cheap if you wanted it.

 

 

Took it out of the Fabia when it got written of but have no use for it given the Ibizas built in stereo.

 

Comes complete with genuine aux in cable which I ran down the back of the stereo and out the bottom into the cubby hole under the dash (much like Inventory Photo's photo above)

 

Your's for £50 if you want it

Bluetooth/USB/mic in etc

£100 posted next day delivery, recorded.

I've got a Kenwood KDC-W4257 in the garage you could have cheap if you wanted it.

 

 

Took it out of the Fabia when it got written of but have no use for it given the Ibizas built in stereo.

 

Comes complete with genuine aux in cable which I ran down the back of the stereo and out the bottom into the cubby hole under the dash (much like Inventory Photo's photo above)

 

Your's for £50 if you want it

Pm sent.

I'm all about OEM look, so I did this:

 

 

Connects 2, and made a 3.5mm socket on the dashbhoard.  Looks neat.

Edited 30 April, 201412 yr by Benjiman

Bluetooth/USB/mic in etc

£100 posted next day delivery, recorded.

Pm sent.

Kenwood KMM361SD or similar mechless head unit. Does all that ipod stuff too.

I'm all about OEM look, so I did this:

 

 

Connects 2, and made a 3.5mm socket on the dashbhoard.  Looks neat.

That does look very neat and O.E. too!

Going to add a switched USB socket (for charging only) later this year.  Then I'll have one blanking plate left for the ejector seat.

Edited 30 April, 201412 yr by Benjiman

Ha!

 

How do you do the usb thing?? Would be interested in that

Ha!

 

How do you do the usb thing?? Would be interested in that

 

Basically:

Get a pair of blanking plates, buy a 12v usb socket, buy a switch. dremel multi a usb socket shaped hole in one, hot glue gun a socket in.  Drill a switch shaped hole in the other, install switch.  Wire up switch & socket appropriately, find power (probably take off stereo), attach.

Sounds easy enough although I'm not a pro DIY'er. Anyone else done this??

Edited 30 April, 201412 yr by ChipUK

That's the idea!  Except I want to be switched, so its not constantly live, and the location of the usb on the dashboard. 

 

I reckon the hardest bit will be finding space behind the stereo for (more) wires.

 

I feel a write up thread coming on.

That's why I removed the link cos its dependent on the switches being next to the lighter socket. No good for the Fabia!