I love my 2019 Monte Carlo, absolutely heart it, but what I don't like is the Swing Plus 6x button stereo. It just can't handle bass when at about 60%, the treble and bass fight each other and the bass loses and the volume stays the same when over 80% - my old 67 plate SE Fabia had the 8x button stereo (Bolero?) and that handled the bass very well, it still punched even when very loud?

 

Is the Swing Plus just inferior than the Bolero or is mine a one off wrongun?

 

Ps - yes virtual subwoofer and surround are both on

 

I've got the 2020 Fabia se with Swing plus

 

I was disappointed to say the least.

The stereo just sounds muddy and underpowered, no matter how much you tweak the settings.

The cd radio in my old mk2 sounded much better.... more clear and punchy.

 

I'm not expecting audiophile performance, but it should at least be listenable imo.

 

The trouble is with modern intergrated head units, you're kinda stuck with it.

I miss the old days when you could just swap it out with something decent without breaking the bank.

 

 

Both, is it the "stereo" or the speakers or perhaps both, have you asked the Skoda Dealer or Skoda UK about this?.

 

You could try asking on the 'I need Bolero Update :-)' thread or perhaps start a 'I need a Swing Plus improvement' thread.

 

Perhaps the Bolero is just very good, I used to be a (home) hi-fi nut until I run out of money and realised I was listening to the equipment rather than the music and I'd gone off the music and I find the Bolero in my wife's 2015 Fabia SE has a good sound so that might have set the bar  high for the Swing Plus but I don't know as I've never heard one. 

 

Most (perhaps younger) people seem to want far too much (vibrating and distorting) bass to my ears and I used to listen to recorded heavy (metal) rock, cathedral organs and such like so I'm not adverse to a bit of bass but it needs to be clean,

 

You'll not like this but have you tried listening to the music at a lower 'volume' level where you may be able to blend the sound better - you don't want it fully distracting the driver from concentrating on driving the car.

 

Edited 27 August, 20214 yr by nta16
ETA: more context

All i ask from a car stereo is for it to sound reasonably clear and punchy enough to overcome traffic/road/engine noise.

 

At low volumes, i find the Swing plus unit sounds muddy and compressed.

Frankly, it isn't particularly loud even when maxxed out.

It sound ok-ish with simple dance music and radio dialogue, but thats it. 

Anything more nuanced just sounds awful at any volume.

 

Like i said, the cd radio swing in my old mk2 sounded far better.

 

Interestingly i recently test drove a Polo, and the system sounded very poor... very tinny.

Mayby its just VAG cost cutting or a marketing ploy to make people go for expensive options such as Beats audio.

 

The top option on the Fabia is the the 'Amundsen' system with intergrated sat nav. 

I'm not sure if there is a difference in sound.

 

After a bit of googling, it seems the swing plus unit is manufactured by LG. 

The head unit is attached to the back of the screen rather than a separate box like the Bolero.

It does look quite small, even more so than the standard single din head units.

 

My guess is that its just too underpowered. 

It doesn't have line outs so you can't even add an external power amp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sounds like you've got it covered.  In which case unless there's a faulty a software update/upgrade probably won't help, sorry, but you could ask just in case others have found a solution.

 

Dance music, da ya mean Glenn Miller.

 

Perhaps time for some speech radio Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra, BBC World Service - or Radio 5s and LBC if your on that side of the road or up the wall.

 

Sorry I can't help other than my previous suggestions such as try asking on the 'I need Bolero Update :-)' thread or perhaps start a 'I need a Swing Plus improvement' thread.

 

Best of luck.

 

2 hours ago, nta16 said:

Sounds like you've got it covered.  In which case unless there's a faulty a software update/upgrade probably won't help, sorry, but you could ask just in case others have found a solution.

 

Dance music, da ya mean Glenn Miller.

 

Perhaps time for some speech radio Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra, BBC World Service - or Radio 5s and LBC if your on that side of the road or up the wall.

 

Sorry I can't help other than my previous suggestions such as try asking on the 'I need Bolero Update :-)' thread or perhaps start a 'I need a Swing Plus improvement' thread.

 

Best of luck.

 

 

I did wonder if it was set up correctly, maybe i'll have a chat with my dealer.

I played about with the 'virtual' surround and tone settings but it just makes it sound different rather than better.

I could ask them to demonstrate another swing plus in another car to see if there is any difference...

 

By Dance music i mean the usual fodder you normally get on capital FM.

Simple synthesised bass lines sound ok, but anything more complex or instrumental sounds compressed and muddy to my ears.

I have a tiny echo dot at home which sounds far better than the swing plus to be honest. No excuses.

I also have a Rotel/ B&W system for serious listening, although its knocking on a bit now. But it still does the business.

 

I listen to talksport sometimes plus podcasts through carplay

Radio 4 not really my cup of tea.

 

 

 

Sounds like the Swing Plus is just not very good.  Might they be more for those that listen to music through phones and computers without earplugs or headphones.

 

I think I'm a generation too old to know what Capitol Radio play but I'm certainly old enough to know Rotel and B&W, had my first set of (s/h) B&Ws in 1982 and above my head now our second set, brand new in the late 1990s IIRC but I couldn't remember all the other different speakers I've had.

 

Good luck.