Hi all,

Im after some ICE advice for my 2002 Octavia. I personally think the ICE is the weakest aspect of an otherwise exceptional car so I want to swap out the speakers over the next few weeks. The problem is I dont really want to spend the money on a new head unit and changer (id rather spend it on performance related bits and bobs. :P ) so has anyone swapped out the eight speaker system for an aftermarket one. I'll probably be looking at swapping the two sets front and back for twosets of components unless anyone says otherwise. If the headunit is really the weakness then I may have to rethink my plans.

Many Thanks,

Lee

I did this, although I only changed the front speakers. Remarkable difference with the standard HU.

What I would do is this, change the fronts for some good components and leave the rear speakers as they are but disconnect the tweaters in the back door. Those 2 changes should see a big improvement in sound.

Be careful when changing just the speakers. Aftermarket speakers often require more power, which the headunit may not be able to supply - this then results with the sound being worse. Also OE speakers tend to have a more bassy sound, while high quality components are often designed to use with a separate subwoofer and may not have as much "bass".

As a rule, speakers sound better with more power. As such, I would recommend changing the headunit first. However, mannyo found the opposite to be true so there are exceptions, and his is most likely a good HU/Speaker match.

It's all rubbish.

The standard speakers are dire and the HU is underpowered.

I'd do the front speakers first , see how that sounds , then probably replace the HU

It's all rubbish.

The standard speakers are dire and the HU is underpowered.

Fair enough..

The kit in the furby is vastly better than the standard octy stuff.

How does the superb compare?

I think it has the same HU as the octy. WHat about the speakers?

Thats great info guys, giving it more thought my ideal situation would be to replace the speakers with aftermarket ones and then look for a superior Octavia HU which can continue to control the skoda 6 disk changer - do these exist ie was there an option at the time of purchase to get something better from the factory? I may take a look on ebay to see if there is anything about. This way Id not have to replace the HU and changer and I would keep the factory look of the HU I'd only do this however if there was a good gain to be had from a better octy HU.

Cheers,

Lee

For the octy the symphony is the best one, there are several lesser spec models. The octy Symphony is around in 2 flavours, the tape one and also a single cd version. No other after aftermarket HU can control the CD Changer, if you change the HU for non skoda you will need another changer to.

The kit in the furby is vastly better than the standard octy stuff.

How does the superb compare?

I think it has the same HU as the octy. WHat about the speakers?

I think the problem is the mountings - the speaker enclosures in the Superb and Fabia are better than those in the Octy, so even though the parts are all the same, they sound better.

I swapped my speakers first, then the headunit...the headunit made the largest difference, so if I had to pick one upgrade I'd do the HU. If I didn't have to pick, I'd swap the lot too...

Rob.

Thanks alot for the advice guys.

Speakers will be getting ordered this coming weekend and I'll try to find the technical spec on the web regarding output etc of the Symphony single CD over the cassette jobbie I have in there at the moment and go from there. If its a lot better I think I'd sacrifice outright sound for the factory look and the ability to not have to spend out on another changer but then again neither read mp3's.... :( Hmmmm, decisions, decisions.... :P

Lee

Hi

Can I ask how you got on re replacing the front speakers - what models you went for etc. I know nothing about these things, but with with a recently purchased 02 Octy - love the car but the stereo does sound poor. Thinking of doing what you were planning as I dont have much cash to spend and dont fancy replacing the HU if I can improve things with beter front speakers alone, so would be interested in hearing how it worked out. Well I hope...

Cheers

deffo octy is bad... mums octy is just appauling.

However standard symphony in fabia is bad in fabia yet putting in the sat-nav made hell of a difference and standard speakers are excellent with it.

So octy wise id swap both.

I think the symphony HU in the Fabia is excellent, and it sounds very good too. Just a little underpowered.

When you say 8-speaker system, does that mean 4 woofers and 4 tweeters? Or do you mean a complete component set?? If you'll be putting after market units, which tend to be less low-end responsive, you should go in in for a small sub to fill that low end in.

However standard symphony in fabia is bad in fabia yet putting in the sat-nav made hell of a difference and standard speakers are excellent with it.

I agree. Changing the head unit in my Fabia made a huge difference to the way the standard speakers sound, and it may be less work than changing the door speakers, so perhaps go for the head unit first?