Hi all

 

I have a 2006 Octy II (pre-fl) which came with the premium sound package option (12 speakers, amp underneath passenger seat with the Audience stereo)

 

The display of the Audience unit had gone and I got an Android head unit for my car to replace it - and that is when I ran into the problem with the stock amplifier not working with a 3rd party unit (documented in this thread). I used the android unit by wiring the speakers directly, but it did not sound as good as the Audience.

 

I sold the Android HU a couple of weeks ago and now I'm looking at getting a unit with supports the amplifier without any problems. I realize that getting a Columbus is the sure shot way of making sure that it works with the amplifier, but right now it's looking like a *very* expensive proposition. And from what i gather, getting a reverse camera to work with the columbus does not seem straight forward proposition.

 

I was looking at getting an Audiosources unit since it looks so close to the original Columbus and I have read in some forums that people have gotten it to work on their VWs with premium sound systems. I am taking a guess that since it works with VW amplifiers, it should work on Skoda too? Or are Skoda amplifiers different to VWs?

 

Here are pictures of the amplifier in my car:

 

 

 

Cheers

To get the amp to work you need to find a way for the headunit to send an audio signal to the amp (normally RCA cables in aftermarket kit) then the amp to send the signal back to the speakers.


The latter should be easy, just leave the amp in place attached to the speakers but getting the aftermarket unit to send a signal to the amp is the hard bit. It will be using the cabnus system to send the signal i'd imagine which, as you probably know, is data and not voltage. Something aftermarket units wont do.

I'd guess the peak who have solved the problem have worked out what pin does what so they can send the correct audio signal to the correct pin and send a switched live to the correct pin aswell as perm live and earth.

 It will be using the cabnus system to send the signal i'd imagine which, as you probably know, is data and not voltage. Something aftermarket units wont do.

 

Hello

 

Yes, you have described the problem correctly. The factory amplifier depends on the CAN-BUS system. From what I gather, the audience head unit does not have any in built amplifier. It only sends the 'un amplified' signal into the amp. And from what I understand, all the settings for fader, EQ, bass, treble etc are controlled by the amp (and I guess when we adjust these settings in the audience head unit, it sends CAN-BUS messages to the amplifier to control these settings)

 

I have read about a work around solution to overcome this problem ( related thread), although not elegant, it does solve the problem.

 

Can anyone using the Columbus check if there is an option to switch between using it's internal amplifier and external amplifier (like the factory fitted amplifier)?

 

Cheers

Edited 8 May, 201610 yr by GamesGoblin

Yes, the Columbus is also compatible with a factory amplifier.

 

The Columbus will work perfectly well with any reverse camera that outputs RGB like most VAG cameras of the period. If you intend to fit a cheaper camera that uses composite then you'll need an adaptor.

Okay, so this saga with the factory amplifier which began in Oct 2014 is now drawing to a close (I hope lol)

 

I did not want to risk it on another unit not supporting the amplifier, so I went ahead and got a pre-owned Columbus off eBay:

 

 

And I am glad to report that I have got the amplifier to work!

 

After installing the unit, there was no sound at first - even after changing the coding in VCDS to tell the unit that there was a sound system installed  :(.  But, on the VCDS coding screen, there was an instruction stating that the unit had to be reset by pressing and holding the "<" + ">" + microphone key (key on the top right) together for the coding changes to take effect. Did that and the sound was working! 

 

Wow the difference in sound is huge! I had not listened to music through the original amp for close to a year and half and now it feels I am in another car! Pretty chuffed with the result overall, even though I will not have access to navigation (no India maps for the Columbus). And I have some other problems as well, but I guess that is for another thread.

Hello,

I am trying to retrofit an RNS510 in an Octavia 1Z pre-fl (Laura) with 12 speakers set up and an amplifier under the passenger's seat. Unfortunately, I am unable to get sound output.

Would it be possible for you to share the coding done by you?

Does the aux input in the armrest work for the Columbus in your car?

Any help would be highly appreciated. 

Thanks!