I've got the factory fit - Symphony head unit.

I've upgraded my front speakers with some Alpines. The sound has improved quite a bit , but I'm still lacking bass!. I've been thinking about getting a powered bass tube along the lines of a Pioneer or, Bazooka.

Is it worth getting a bass tube? Are they difficult to wire up? Ideally I'd like something that could be easily removed if I need the full boot space on occasion. Any advice or pointers appreciated.

Amping the existing speakers maybe a better idea to start with, you can add pre-outs to the standard Octavia Symphony quite easily.

Bass tubes tend to be a bit pony.

I have a 12" sub in the boot. The amp lives under the false floor and the sub itself is velcro'd in place so its easily removeable

Wiring is not too difficult and I believe there have been numerous threads featuring "How too" guides but before I upgraded my head unit I simply wired the amp off the rear speakers

Best off upgrading the head unit to one with proper outputs for bass amps though

Good luck!

I thought bass tubes went out about 10 years ago!

Amping the existing speakers maybe a better idea to start with, you can add pre-outs to the standard Octavia Symphony quite easily.

you can but i wouldnt bother... you will never get the same results as swoping the unit for one with pre outs already in...you will need pre out for a bass tube..

im afraid you have started on the silppy downward slope....amping the alpine speakers will give you better results from this investment across the frequecy range...but still not totaly solve your bass problem... a tube can offer an apealing package as its sub enclosure and amp all rolled into one... and will give a good amount of bass..ok SQ and SPL is certainly not revolutionary but is ample for most ears...

Joel

you can but i wouldnt bother... you will never get the same results as swoping the unit for one with pre outs already in...you will need pre out for a bass tube..

im afraid you have started on the silppy downward slope....amping the alpine speakers will give you better results from this investment across the frequecy range...but still not totaly solve your bass problem... a tube can offer an apealing package as its sub enclosure and amp all rolled into one... and will give a good amount of bass..ok SQ and SPL is certainly not revolutionary but is ample for most ears...

Joel

The standard HU does have preouts. all you need is an adaptor that costs a few pounds to convert them from the existing connector to RCA's.

Alpine do some nice Active subs:

A 6.5"

Retails for

Thanks for the heads up on the 'bass' situation guys. That 8" Alipne looks like it might do the job. EddyH , you mention:

...... all you need is an adaptor that costs a few pounds to convert them from the existing connector to RCA's.

....can you be any more specific ? i.e. part number ? URL? etc.

Again, many thanks for expert ICE advice:)

Thanks for the heads up on the 'bass' situation guys. That 8" Alipne looks like it might do the job. EddyH ' date=' you mention: ....can you be any more specific ? i.e. part number ? URL? etc.

Again, many thanks for expert ICE advice:)[/quote']

You can make one yourself with parts from the dealer (there are instructions out there but I don't have them to hand) or you can get them pre-made like this one: http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/preamp.asp

I know these definetely work on the VW Gamma which uses the exact same connectors on the rear of the unit but haven't tried on the Symphony as I've upgraded to sat nav. I'm sure I've seen a data sheet for the Symphony though that shows these pin connections but it was a year or so ago so I can't remember the site.

Alpine do some nice Active subs:

A 6.5"

Retails for

I have a Blaupunkt Velocity VBR 8 (2 x 8 inch subs) Active sub (cost nearly

Thanks for info and offer Bootleboy.....

I've just been down to my local ICE shop. I explained my requirements to the guy in the shop & he reckons my best upgrade route is to replace the head unit first, before looking at subs/tubes. He'd upgraded a few Octys and said that the factory HU was basically 'pants' and I would get a 'masssive' overall improvement from my existing speakers (new alpines already in the front).

So now I'm wondering.....which head unit to look at ! The shop offered me a discount on a Clarion (MP3/wma ID3 tags etc)....but I thought I would seek yet more expert advice here first!.....so my new question is:

Which head units are worth looking at? MP3 support required..

I have a Blaupunkt Velocity VBR 8 (2 x 8 inch subs) Active sub (cost nearly

I know these definetely work on the VW Gamma which uses the exact same connectors on the rear of the unit but haven't tried on the Symphony as I've upgraded to sat nav. I'm sure I've seen a data sheet for the Symphony though that shows these pin connections but it was a year or so ago so I can't remember the site.

The pin diagram can be found on this thread: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=28616

We did try doing this to the Symphony a few years back to use an amp to power the speakers, but it didn't go too well. It worked for about 15 minutes (and did actually sound pretty good) but then the amp blew. We checked the voltages on the pre-out, and they were pretty erratic, and also remarkably extreme.

But others have managed to get this working, so I suspect it was possibly just a dodgy head unit...

Rob.

so my new question is:

Which head units are worth looking at? MP3 support required..

I've got a Kenwood w9027

Should tick all you boxes - 3 pre outs including a dedicated sub out

Plays MP3's

Massive EQ including sub out level, full crossovers, phase selection etc.

Looks the nuts too!

Thanks Simon.

Budget doesnt stretch far enough for one of those....but I did get myself a great deal on a brand new Clarion unit from ebay....Its exactly the same as one i was offered in a my local ICE shop.... but

Easy peasy install

I think there was an issue with having to swap 2 of the wires over (yellow and red I think) cos they're backwards on the skoda loom.......I think!