Hi!

Anyone got a aftermarket radio fitted? Both those that are 2-din and those made especially for vw/skoda. What do you think about them?

Please post pictures as well.

/Jimmy

Edited 22 March, 201511 yr by Jimmy Swede

Search this forum for Kenwood DNX521DAB or DNX525DAB and you should find plenty of discussion about these models and alternatives.

Hi!

Anyone got a aftermarket radio fitted? Both those that are 2-din and those made especially for vw/skoda. What do you think about them?

Please post pictures as well.

/Jimmy

What info are you after?

 

Your question is vague to say the least

Ok, I will specify my question a bit.

 

I'm on the hunt for a after market radio that has bluetooth, that's my only equipment demand and the other demand I've got is that it should fit without a mounting frame.

 

I've got the swing in my MY10 today (the big one) and don't wanna change frame.

There are Chinese units available which use the existing swing facia, so no need to change. They come with a few quirks and oddities, though.

Google ans620 and the like.

I was looking at a few of the Chinese units. The videos put me off, a lot of them seem to have awful dated looking menus and the users seem to have to constantly re-press the onscreen function buttons as the touch seems hit or miss. I had a double din unit with navigation a few years ago and the screen had a milky quality to it. I see the same in some of the videos. Why in this age of retina and ips screens they can't update I don't know. I want a decent android based system that fits or I'd rather go to the trouble of fitting genuine skoda.

Genuine Skoda isn't a bad shout, they often crop up in the Classifieds here. I think there is a Bluetooth module for sale at the moment. If Bluetooth is your only criteria, it could be worth a go and will probably save you money. It'll certainly look better than most cheaper aftermarket units.

Genuine Skoda isn't a bad shout, they often crop up in the Classifieds here. I think there is a Bluetooth module for sale at the moment. If Bluetooth is your only criteria, it could be worth a go and will probably save you money. It'll certainly look better than most cheaper aftermarket units.

I've looked for some genuine Skoda HU but my biggest problem are that I'm swedish and a lot of the HU's on eBay and such doesn't ship that far. And Skodas aren't as big here as in the UK so to find a decent Hu to the right price is tricky.

 

If I could choose I'd like to get my hands on a Bolero and then retrofit BT.

 

Because I can't retrofit BT to a swing? If that was possible I probably would be satisfied with doing just that, but I don't got a touch screen on the swing and I don't got MFSW.

If all you want is BT get the X-Car link for £130, piggybacks into the existing CD changer socket, gives you BT handsfree and BT music streaming, takes 10 mins to install - job done ! I have this and it's very good.

The swing is a VW RCD 310.

 

You can actually fit a Bluetooth module and microphone to the car and retain the swing if all you want is Bluetooth.

 

Phil

Oh, didn't think that was possible! Been looking around a bit without finding an straight answer about getting bt to the swing.

Do you know if it's the same module for all bt on vw/skoda? Maybe can find one from a vw on the scrappy.

Myself and another member have both fitted Audiosources units (ANS810 and ANS620) im certainly happy with mine and have been running it for 18 months without issue

 

Google icebox audio and search on there, check out some of the videos for both units too... 620 is more Skoda alike but has a smaller screen, the 810 has an 8 inch touch screen... all the features you need and 10 mins to install!!

Myself and another member have both fitted Audiosources units (ANS810 and ANS620) im certainly happy with mine and have been running it for 18 months without issue

 

Google icebox audio and search on there, check out some of the videos for both units too... 620 is more Skoda alike but has a smaller screen, the 810 has an 8 inch touch screen... all the features you need and 10 mins to install!!

 

That'll be me, with the ANS620. 

 

Mine also does all i ask of it too, so I can't complain. Not when I think about how much an equivalent Colombus plus bluetooth module would set me back.

 

If you want perfection though, look elsewhere.

Are both of them using Android software? 

 

I do like to have that, it's nice to be able to have apps on there.

 

Also, how does it work? Are there apps already installed or do you use your phone as a wifi hotspot? 

Myself and another member have both fitted Audiosources units (ANS810 and ANS620) im certainly happy with mine and have been running it for 18 months without issue

 

Google icebox audio and search on there, check out some of the videos for both units too... 620 is more Skoda alike but has a smaller screen, the 810 has an 8 inch touch screen... all the features you need and 10 mins to install!!

 

That'll be me, with the ANS620. 

 

Mine also does all i ask of it too, so I can't complain. Not when I think about how much an equivalent Colombus plus bluetooth module would set me back.

 

If you want perfection though, look elsewhere.

 

Guys, based on your positive comments (and elsewhere on VW forums), I've just ordered the 620 from Audiosources!  Much as I am attracted by messing with one of the Android units (Linux/hacking is a hobby), I think that keeping it looking OEM is important. Reliability is also vital and the ANS units have a good reputation.  Interestingly, the ANS620 is now for sale as the AS620.  The spec on the manufacturer's web site is pretty similar though:

 

http://www.audiosources.net/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=50002&Id=153&FId=t3:50002:3

 

I'm also looking forward to fitting a reversing camera - I did this with my previous Superb.

 

When you got your head units, did they come with a GPS aerial or do I need to buy this separately?

Guys, based on your positive comments (and elsewhere on VW forums), I've just ordered the 620 from Audiosources!  Much as I am attracted by messing with one of the Android units (Linux/hacking is a hobby), I think that keeping it looking OEM is important. Reliability is also vital and the ANS units have a good reputation.  Interestingly, the ANS620 is now for sale as the AS620.  The spec on the manufacturer's web site is pretty similar though:

 

http://www.audiosources.net/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=50002&Id=153&FId=t3:50002:3

 

I'm also looking forward to fitting a reversing camera - I did this with my previous Superb.

 

When you got your head units, did they come with a GPS aerial or do I need to buy this separately?

 

Hi Rizmod,

 

Mine came with the GPS aerial but it looks like a fairly standard one anyway so if yours does not i cant see it being too difficult to buy one cheaply.. best place to stick it is behind the front heater vents.. they just pop out and you will see where to put it.

^ What he said.

Good luck with the rear view camera, as I tried and failed miserably to install one.

Hope you like the unit!

Fr0d, where did you try to take the feed for the camera from? I believe people have tried to use reverse lights as a trigger and this wont work as the stereo itself has a trigger wire.. dont ask me the specifics as ive not looked into it fully but think thats the case

Do these models dim backlighting the same as the standards when using the thumbwheel in the dash?

 

Most importantly, do you get phone and navigation menus, and navigation instructions in the maxidot?

Do any of you know anything about the Android one? 

 

Also, what does a AS620 cost? Didn't find a price :/

My memory is foggy,tbh. It might well have been the reverse light (I know it was on my previous car) but I can't be sure.

Needless to say, I couldn't fathom it in the limited timescale I had. It was also as cold as hell at the time, so I really wasn't in the best frame of mind.

I do recall it being an absolute pig trying to feed the video cable through the tailgate, though.

Does it have a separate mic output

Not that I've noticed.

The ANS series have a built in mic at the front, works well enough by all accounts and feedback ive had from people the other end...

 

Not sure about Dimming the back lighting with scroll wheel, it does however dim with lights on/off

 

Double check instructions and Google ANS810 on vw water-cooled forum as on there im sure there is something that mentions reverse camera is a pick up from the unit itself..

Where have you bought your HU? Have you bought them from Alibaba?