Hi everyone, new member here, I've recently bought a 2009 1.4 TDI PD 1 and am already looking at changing a few bits and bobs .  One of the things I'm looking at doing is upgrading the Dance stereo system, which I have to admit is adequate enough, with something a bit more all singing all (pardon the pun) dancing.

 

I've been scouring the internet and I can see that there are a lot of Chinese manufacturers offering products that have an OEM look to them, are the correct size and shape, look almost identical to the VW/Skoda versions, running various versions of android and seemingly packed with functions.  I'd prefer to get something like this, but the reviews appear to be mixed regards particularly reliability and sound quality.  My own experience of random chinese brands has also been mixed when it comes to things such as phones and tablets.  If I can't get something that looks OEM, I'd be open to buying something Double DIN with a fascia adapter.

 

I'm way behind the times with this sort of thing, can anyone offer any advice or opinions?  Ideally I'd like something that offers a high level of customisation, with the ability to download most of the things you could download onto an android phone or tablet, but something that is reliable with decent sound quality.  Do the VW/Skoda items themselves allow any of this?  Do the bigger name brands (Pioneer/Sony/JVC etc) offer the customisation, or are they somewhat limited in this way?  Are there any Chinese brands that are better than others, or are they largely all very similar?

 

Very keen to know more.  Budget would be under £200 all in if possible.

 

Theres cheaper versions of this but i wanted the CD / DVD player. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RNS510-STYLE-ANDROID-7-1-DAB-DVD-SAT-NAV-SKODA-OCTAVIA-FABIA-RAPID-SUPERB-YETI/322424279429?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Looks absolutely ideal Kobayashi, thanks for that.  So is that one of the more reliable 'clones' (for want of a better word)? Some of them seem to be a bit of a mixed bag.  If you've had it installed for over a year it sounds like it's one of the betters ones.  Did you buy it from that seller?

4 hours ago, TheRivieraKid said:

Looks absolutely ideal Kobayashi, thanks for that.  So is that one of the more reliable 'clones' (for want of a better word)? Some of them seem to be a bit of a mixed bag.  If you've had it installed for over a year it sounds like it's one of the betters ones.  Did you buy it from that seller?

 

Yes from that seller, parking sensor works as well (as i was worried the graphic wouldnt display) - ITs great for connecting to an amp and sub as well if you are into that sort of thing.

Only downside is that as Android it takes 20 seconds to come on , whereas the skoda units come on straight away. (All android needs to boot up though - a bit like a phone)

 

I think without the DVD / CD it was £50 cheaper

3 hours ago, Kobayashi said:

 

Yes from that seller, parking sensor works as well (as i was worried the graphic wouldnt display) - ITs great for connecting to an amp and sub as well if you are into that sort of thing.

Only downside is that as Android it takes 20 seconds to come on , whereas the skoda units come on straight away. (All android needs to boot up though - a bit like a phone)

 

I think without the DVD / CD it was £50 cheaper

 

Thank you for putting me on to that seller.  I've just had a word with him and he tells me that they have them manufactured in China to their specs.  Been reading up and it looks like he offers good quality customer support.  Have also watched a video of him going through the device step by step.  Would much rather buy from someone in this country who makes the effort to check and set up each unit, rather than from a random seller who doesn't care about quality or support.

 

Looks like we have a winner already! 😁

On 15/08/2019 at 18:26, TheRivieraKid said:

 

Thank you for putting me on to that seller.  I've just had a word with him and he tells me that they have them manufactured in China to their specs.  Been reading up and it looks like he offers good quality customer support.  Have also watched a video of him going through the device step by step.  Would much rather buy from someone in this country who makes the effort to check and set up each unit, rather than from a random seller who doesn't care about quality or support.

 

Looks like we have a winner already! 😁

hi there, did you manage to swap uot your stereo?

 

i really want to change mine to something with usb.

 

would this full set up help me get an aftermarket stereo?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-MK2-5J-07-14-DANCE-Car-Stereo-Double-Din-Fascia-Cage-Fitting-Kit/263325590105

On 15/08/2019 at 15:16, Kobayashi said:

 

Yes from that seller, parking sensor works as well (as i was worried the graphic wouldnt display) - ITs great for connecting to an amp and sub as well if you are into that sort of thing.

Only downside is that as Android it takes 20 seconds to come on , whereas the skoda units come on straight away. (All android needs to boot up though - a bit like a phone)

 

I think without the DVD / CD it was £50 cheaper

hi there, you did an awesome job swapping your stereo, was wondering if i can pick your brain please?

 

i really want to change mine to something with usb.

 

would this full set up help me get an aftermarket stereo?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-MK2-5J-07-14-DANCE-Car-Stereo-Double-Din-Fascia-Cage-Fitting-Kit/263325590105

That link is just for the fascia you have posted, mine didn't need fascia as I reused original one it's also usb at front as in MicroUSB  (those tiny cards that fit into phones etc)

6 hours ago, Kobayashi said:

That link is just for the fascia you have posted, mine didn't need fascia as I reused original one it's also usb at front as in MicroUSB  (those tiny cards that fit into phones etc)

thank you for the reply  

 

the link i have put up is the fascia, cage and all the wires.

22 hours ago, froggy8 said:

hi there, did you manage to swap uot your stereo?

 

i really want to change mine to something with usb.

 

would this full set up help me get an aftermarket stereo?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-MK2-5J-07-14-DANCE-Car-Stereo-Double-Din-Fascia-Cage-Fitting-Kit/263325590105

I haven't done it yet, although what I have done is add wires for the rear speakers.

 

I didn't realise when I bought the car that it only had fronts, and when I looked at the back of the stereo it had the pins for rear speakers, and fader option was set to allow rear speakers.  What I did was buy some of the little metal clips that go into the connection block, along with some speaker wire, and added the wires to the connection block in a nice factory looking way.  That was very satisfying rather than trying to bodge them in somehow.  I'll have to post some photos up sometime.  Need to get the speakers for the rear doors next, as currently I'm running with the speakers routed to come out before the rear doors, and a couple of hi-fi speakers in the back footwells😂

 

I think buying the new stereo wont happen for a couple of months, but I'm very much looking forward to it, might end up being a Christmas present to myself.

2 minutes ago, TheRivieraKid said:

I haven't done it yet, although what I have done is add wires for the rear speakers.

 

I didn't realise when I bought the car that it only had fronts, and when I looked at the back of the stereo it had the pins for rear speakers, and fader option was set to allow rear speakers.  What I did was buy some of the little metal clips that go into the connection block, along with some speaker wire, and added the wires to the connection block in a nice factory looking way.  That was very satisfying rather than trying to bodge them in somehow.  I'll have to post some photos up sometime.  Need to get the speakers for the rear doors next, as currently I'm running with the speakers routed to come out before the rear doors, and a couple of hi-fi speakers in the back footwells😂

 

I think buying the new stereo wont happen for a couple of months, but I'm very much looking forward to it, might end up being a Christmas present to myself.

all my speakers are fine, just fed up not being able to use usb on my stereo, cant wait to swap it over but will need to do more research before i do.

anyone know which fuse i need to connect the red wire to please? in order for the stereo to work without the key.

ok guys guys, i have bought the adpater to fit a single din stereo and i also got the piggy back red wire. do i just put the red wire through behind the dashboard and plug it to any fuse?

 

2 hours ago, froggy8 said:

ok guys guys, i have bought the adpater to fit a single din stereo and i also got the piggy back red wire. do i just put the red wire through behind the dashboard and plug it to any fuse?

You want it to piggyback off an ignition live, I think mines connected to the rear wiper. 

Just now, LGM said:

 

You want it to piggyback off an ignition live, I think mines connected to the rear wiper. 

thank you very much LGM, i will find out which is my rear wipers and connected it to that  

3 minutes ago, froggy8 said:

thank you very much LGM, i will find out which is my rear wipers and connected it to that  

If it turns on without the key in then it ain’t an ignition live. Mines been in for years but I’m sure it’s the rear wiper.

7 minutes ago, LGM said:

If it turns on without the key in then it ain’t an ignition live. Mines been in for years but I’m sure it’s the rear wiper.

oh....yeah my factory stereo comes on without the key.

i will do more research as which fuse to put it in.

do you put the piggyback wire behind the fusebox or does it go in front ?

3 minutes ago, froggy8 said:

oh....yeah my factory stereo comes on without the key.

i will do more research as which fuse to put it in.

do you put the piggyback wire behind the fusebox or does it go in front ?

Factory stereo’s will come on without the key, it’s all to do with the canbus. 

You remove the fuse you’re putting the piggy back holder into, I think the slot closest to the wire is where you’ll put the fuse you’ve just removed. The one furthest away from the wire is for your stereo wire.

1 minute ago, LGM said:

Factory stereo’s will come on without the key, it’s all to do with the canbus. 

You remove the fuse you’re putting the piggy back holder into, I think the slot closest to the wire is where you’ll put the fuse you’ve just removed. The one furthest away from the wire is for your stereo wire.

ok il give it a go when i have decided which stereo to get.

3 minutes ago, LGM said:

Factory stereo’s will come on without the key, it’s all to do with the canbus. 

You remove the fuse you’re putting the piggy back holder into, I think the slot closest to the wire is where you’ll put the fuse you’ve just removed. The one furthest away from the wire is for your stereo wire.

this is the fascia that i just bought, it says if the stereo starts up without the key then i need to connect to a live wire.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-MK2-5J-07-14-DANCE-Car-Stereo-Single-Din-Fascia-Panel-Fitting-Kit/263325661737?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

4 minutes ago, froggy8 said:

it says if the stereo starts up without the key then i need to connect to a live wire.

Yep, that’s when your piggy back will come in handy.

 

how come you’re changing your headunit? 

 

EDIT: usb? Do you not have the MDI thingy m bob under the glove box? 

Edited 29 September, 20196 yr by LGM

1 minute ago, LGM said:

Yep, that’s when your piggy back will come in handy.

 

how come you’re changing your headunit?

do i connect it to live wire then? you said its not a live wire didnt you?

 

i need a stereo with a usb port.

no i did check for one but i dont have the midi thingy.

3 minutes ago, froggy8 said:

do i connect it to live wire then? you said its not a live wire didnt you?

 

i need a stereo with a usb port.

 

Theres 2 types of live wires in your car, one that’s constantly on and one that goes live once your key turns in the ignition hence the ignition live.

 

your piggy back wants to be connected to a ignition live so when you turn the key in the ignition your stereo comes to life. If it’s connected to a constant live your battery will drain all the time because it’ll never turn off.

Edited 29 September, 20196 yr by LGM

Just now, LGM said:

 

Theres 2 types of live wires in your car, 1 that’s constantly on and one that goes live once your key turns in the ignition hence the ignition live.

 

your piggy back wants to be connected to a ignition live so when you turn the key in the ignition your stereo comes to life. If it’s connected to a constant live your battery will drain all the time because it’ll never turn off.

how will i make this work as my stereo comes on without the key. if i did that to my new stereo then it will drain my battery wont it?

im stuck now 😞 

Just now, froggy8 said:

how will i make this work as my stereo comes on without the key. if i did that to my new stereo then it will drain my battery wont it?

im stuck now 😞 

Forget about your current stereo, it’s the standard one ain’t it? That’s got a little brain inside your car that controls that so forget about that.

 

your new stereo will be aftermarket yes?

 

you need a little wire that goes from your stereo to a ignition live that tells this brain “oh hang on, the stereo is trying to turn on” when you turn the key, that will then turn the stereo on. Once you have it all in front of you you’ll easily understand it don’t worry. If not, google or briskoda is your friend 😊