1 hour ago, teescom09 said:

If you do the eq on it it's pretty good. Those standard eq us hopeless, not the audio system. 

 

No matter how much you play with the mid and bass controls you can't really add any depth and the treble is harsh and brittle sounding.

 

That was a criticism of the Mk1 Octavia that they solved with the Mk2 but went backwards with the Mk3.

 

I don't expect the Mk3 Audio to match premium systems from other manufacturers, the system in the XF is amazing but costs several thousand as an option but my Mk3 had the top spec Columbus head unit and was not as good as the basic Bolero in our Mk2.

 

It has to be said the sound is pretty bad in the Skoda.

 

It does the average person listening as background music but if you enjoy turning it up a bit it just sounds bad.

 

I kinda get used to it, then get back in either of my other cars (the Mazda is a Bose system as standard and the Honda is 0% OEM, with 2 amps and a sub) and it's night and day.  

But then, I enjoy listening to music when I drive and it's my only opportunity to listen to what I want with the volume up a bit.

 

It's probably my biggest disappointment with the car tbh.  They concentrated on a very competent screen that tells you loads of stuff I don't really need to know, have never known previously and didn't miss, but totally underinvested in the actual sound.

2 hours ago, Alex-W said:

It has to be said the sound is pretty bad in the Skoda.

 

It does the average person listening as background music but if you enjoy turning it up a bit it just sounds bad.

 

I kinda get used to it, then get back in either of my other cars (the Mazda is a Bose system as standard and the Honda is 0% OEM, with 2 amps and a sub) and it's night and day.  

But then, I enjoy listening to music when I drive and it's my only opportunity to listen to what I want with the volume up a bit.

 

It's probably my biggest disappointment with the car tbh.  They concentrated on a very competent screen that tells you loads of stuff I don't really need to know, have never known previously and didn't miss, but totally underinvested in the actual sound.

 

I've heard the hardware behind the head unit is the same as VW but there is a VW an Skoda EQ selection and the Skoda selection limits the bass as the volume rises. Not sure if this is to protect the speakers or limit rattles in the doors with the lack of insulation.

 

I do long commutes and music plays a major part of making that bearable for me so the Mk3's audio was a disappointment.

 

As I've said before I don't expect a premium system sound. In my XF I have a 17 Speaker, 1200W, Bowers and Wilkins Surround System now fitted by BMW for a cool £4k and only available with the pro infotainment at £2k Ouch.

 

But I was at least expecting as good as audio as our basic Mk2 or my Peugeot Partner van.

 

 

9 hours ago, teescom09 said:

 Autocar still rate the current Mondeo as one of the best of its type . If I was to allow a mag to influence me (which I don't) that one would be up there.  They pretty much match my opinion of the Skoda models too. 

Passat , yawn yawn. 

 

Were autocar not known for doing scoop reviews on cars they hadn't actually driven? 

 

We did get in and it did move but we didn’t drive it. We’re just enthusiastic about new cars.Patrick Fuller

Haymarket’s weekly car magazine Autocar is accused of overstepping the mark with a front-page exclusive on the new Ford StreetKa convertible.

Industry insiders believe the article is misleading and suggests that the car has been test driven by journalists, when in fact it is not due to launch for another two years and is a plastic and balsawood ‘concept’ with no proper engine.