Hi All,

 

I've just picked up my new Superb Estate, an Elegance 2.0TDI DSG 140, overall I'm very pleased with the car, much different to my old '03 Superb. Very comfortable, quiet, bags of space, DSG is smooth and responsive. I went through the whole 140 vs 170 debate, but I'm glad I didn't bother spending the extra £900, the 140 seems reasonably powerful for the car.

 

However... I'm disappointed by the Columbus stereo/sat nav. Generally the unit is very slow to respond, I know the touch screen is resistive type, but often it doesn't pickup presses, I'll press twice and then it will catchup and press the option twice. When you select options, such as the phone keypad it is very slow to draw the display, and generally move around the menus.

 

My main gripe is that the sound quality is poor, there is no depth or warmth to the sound, I've asked a couple of people for their opinion and the general consensus is it sounds like it is calibrated for a subwoofer that isn't present. Does anyone know if this is possible with the Columbus?

 

I had a similar type of VW head unit in a previous car (Mk6 Golf GTI) which sounded much better. Of the recent cars I've owned (Audi A4 / Volvo V70, neither of which had a "premium" or upgraded sound system) the sound quality doesn't compare. The stereo in my wife's Vauxhall Meriva produces a much fuller and richer sound, which should be a much lesser car. It has a "transistor radio" quality to it, I've tried adjusting the tone options, which are limited, and playing from CD/DAB/SD, etc.

 

Also doesn't anyone know if this unit should support Album Art from SD card or CD text, the Skoda dealer can't give me a clear answer, so I need to go and see them.

 

Maybe I should have done more research before buying, but I assumed that this being 2014 and the Columbus being the top of the range head unit, that it would have great sound and these features. Comparing to a friends Mk7 Golf (which I know has a newer type head unit) I thought the Columbus in the Superb would have been updated with these sort of features.

 

Sorry to gripe, I just feel it's letting down a great car. Can anyone offer feedback from their experience with the Columbus?

 

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OK, mine's a 2012 car and I have no issues with the speed of the Columbus. I take it you have the standard speaker set up and did not pay more for the enhanced speakers. If so you have the same set up as me. I listen to everything from Rock to Classic and have found that it is necessary to have both the bass and treble up full and the mid range about 3/4 with the balance slighly more in favour of the rear speakers. Listening is always an individual choice but after a bit of fiddling around I have got it to my taste.

 

In the "media set up" there is a choice under AUX input level, try setting this to Low. I know that when using an ipod in particular it make a huge improvement.

 

mine does not have album art on either the MDI or when using SD's - but I don't think this is an issue, I prefer to listen than watch. If you are not sure what album/track is playing you can of course always have this in the display between the speedo and rev counter.

Hi

 

Head on over to the Superb II section and you will get far more replies to your questions

 

Basically this section is just for saying Hi

 

Regards

 

Damo

Welcome to briskoda fellow superb owner

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the responses. I'll try in the main forum if anyone has had any problems with sound quality.

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