Finally the dealer fitted a working Audience HU into my new car (55 reg elegance) on Saturday to replace the temporary Stream installation.

I only have the 8 speakers and not the 12 speaker upgrade, so I think the comparison is good.

The audio quality from the Audience HU seems far better than the Stream. This is using the Audience amplifier remember. I dont know if it has more power or just better components.

The ability to have 6 CD's loaded into the HU instead of the boot makes changing discs much easier.

Unlike the Stream MP3, the audience changer can take six discs full of MP3's. Thats around 5GB of music in the HU. MP3 playback quality is superb, although folder navigation can be tricky.

The FM Radio has the AIM function, that records traffic news broadcasts in 2 user defined windows so that you can listen to traffic reports before leaving home/work. The early Stream didnt have this function, unsure about the MP3 Version.

Lets hope it doesnt break, like the one in the car that didnt work properly when I bought it.

I've heard both now and am still really disspointed although things are a lot better when using my mp3 player. If i could find an adapter for my multifunction steering wheel i'd bin the Stream and replace it with an aftermarket unit.

Question: I thought the Audience amp was identical to the Stream unit and built into the head unit (if not part of the 12 speaker upgrade which uses a separate amp under the drivers seat). Did they put an amp under your seat as part of the installation? If not then its probably more likely that the new stream/audience head units generally sound better than the old ones as opposed to Audience hu's sounding better than Stream h/u's.

Mine has no external amps, although the stream I had was an older one with no midbass setting.

Do you know if the sound sistem is made by Blaupunkt?

Do you know if the sound sistem is made by Blaupunkt?

It's made in Portugal by Visteon IIRC

I've heard both now and am still really disspointed although things are a lot better when using my mp3 player. If i could find an adapter for my multifunction steering wheel i'd bin the Stream and replace it with an aftermarket unit.

Question: I thought the Audience amp was identical to the Stream unit and built into the head unit (if not part of the 12 speaker upgrade which uses a separate amp under the drivers seat). Did they put an amp under your seat as part of the installation? If not then its probably more likely that the new stream/audience head units generally sound better than the old ones as opposed to Audience hu's sounding better than Stream h/u's.

I doubt you'll find a steering wheel adapter as it uses CANBUS to change the volume, unlike other systems that use a loom from the steering wheel to the radio.

does the shape of the dashboard not make it difficult to fit aftermarket sets?

What audio unit does the vRS have as standard ? Having now heard both types would you bother upgrading, or just go aftermarket, bearing in mind the vRS doesnt have a multifunction wheel.

All mk2 Octavias have the stream as standard and you can no longer get the audience at build, only after now, but they want too much for it there. As nice as it is especially with the sound system pack, I would not spend the extra money again, maybe buy an aftermarket unit and better speakers for the same extra outlay. There is a surround for aftermarket units as a member has a Pioneer sat nav unit in their mk2 Octavia

And there is loads of room for afteramarket cables and stuff in the new Octavia dash, double DIN too if you want z:thumbup:

Single DIN adaptor here:

THEBASSBIN

Fascia adaptor here:

THEBASSBIN

Quadlock to ISO adaptor here:

Car Audio Direct - The UK's leading car audio and stereo resource.

the mk1 is double din too in my works van i have a higher range stereo from a focus instead of the standard one and it does sound better. a stereo doesn't need an external amp to sound better just a better internal amp etc

Indeed it is, the difference between single and double DIN being the plastic cubby hole thats pulls out