For all those who've changed the standard stereo got a couple, or so, questions for ya....

...going to change to Sony cd/tuner (will get the changer later) so do I:

need to change any connections or should it be a straight swap?

need to get an aerial connector adapter??

need any other connectors/adapters etc ?

Ta.

Adrian.

Hi Adrian,

When I had mine changed I was charged for an aerial connector adaptor so I would guess you'd need one of those (unless I was ripped off, but I don't think I was)

Jane

Adrian

You will need one of these:

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/vw.asp

If you have a look in our web links for the Aftermarket Radio Problem, you will see why your dealer will be very wary of connecting his VAG1551/2 to a car with an aftermarket radio. The above connector provides a suuitable fix for the problem.

Adrian,

Are you just replacing the head unit but not the speakers?

Jane,

Am I right in thinking this is what you did?

The reason I ask is that I was advised to change the speakers but leave the head unit. :? Would I notice an improvement with a better head unit? I'm loathe to take off the front door panels just to change the speakers for fear of 'disturbing' something that will rattle forever.

Thanks for the info.

Thought I might have needed the Bluespot connector; was hoping to get away with it.

I asked about the aerial adapter as it said something about this on the Halfords web page. Wonder if it's the same things as the Bluespot? :scratch:

oh well..thanks again.

Adrian.

Rich

It is very straightforward to get at the front speakers. Just lever off the plastic trim covering them and all will be clear. If you fit the right size speakers, you should have no problems at all with rattles.

However, perhaps someone who has done a speaker change could advise whether an adaptor is needed to connect a replacement speaker to the vehicle's wiring loom connector.

If you fit the right size speakers, you should have no problems at all with rattles.

[/quote:0db6e8c495]

Speaking of which, does anybody know the size of these front speakers?

Rob.

Front speakers are 6.5 inches or 17cm. I suppose you might be able to get some kind of adaptor, but I just used solder and heat shrink to connect the exsiting wiring to the harness which came with the replacement speakers. (and the reverse when I took 'em out this weekend). I found that some sound deadening material (Maplin Brown Bread or similar) made a difference to the sound, too. Watch the depth of any replacement speakers -the apertures are quite shallow.

:speaker: HTH

Phil (who waved bye-bye to his Octy today) :cry:

Front speakers are 6.5 inches or 17cm. HTH

[/quote:9f267f2824]

Most certainly does - cheers Phil!

Rob.

Hi Rich,

changing the head unit because I fed up pressing the repeat button; sad but true. :oops:

I changed the head unit in my previous Octavia which although produced a better sound was still restricted to the speakers.......which I then changed.

I'm sure the new head unit will sound better but I'll ultimately have to change the speakers as well to get the full benefit of the upgraded unit. I think I'll go down the component speaker route this time and replace the tweeter (in the front door) as well. These are also quite easy to connect up if you get ones with passive cross-over (no need for an amp and active cross-over). I don't have a problem with the sound of the tweeter in the rear door as I have my speakers biased (more) to the front .

As Dennis said the front speaker are easy to do; you just have to remove the speaker grills and unscrew.

Was saving the dosh for the chip but I can live with being over taken by the odd Beemer. But a stereo without a repeat function just has to go:lol: !

Cheers.

Adrian.

Adrian

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to buy 6 copies of your favourite CD, or burn one CD with multiple copies of your favourite track if that is all you listen to? Trying to be helpful and constructive as always.

Hi Dennis,

it's funny you should mention this......I did have this thought. :lol:

But even I would eventually get bored of the particular track I was into.

Cheers.

Adrian.

That's where a re-writable CD would come in useful! Shame they don't

play all that well on the Skoda multichanger :rant:

Rob.

You see this is where the wisdom of the Briskoda massive comes in handy. I was told quite catagorically by one of Sheffield's more well known car hi-fi firms that the grilles in the front doors were dummies and that the whole door panel had to come off. If this is not the case then I think I'll start with the front pair and then move on to the rears when funds allow.

Cheers.

Adrian

You will need one of these:

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/vw.asp

If you have a look in our web links for the Aftermarket Radio Problem, you will see why your dealer will be very wary of connecting his VAG1551/2 to a car with an aftermarket radio. The above connector provides a suuitable fix for the problem. [/quote:105cc89204]

I have an aftermarket Blaupunkt stereo fitted which suffers from occasional memory loss. -It sometimes resets the clock for no apparent reason after the ignition is switched off.

This doesnt really matter as i tend to rely on the clock function on the trip computer display, but will the adaptor cable prevent this from happening?

Please let us know!

Please let us know! If you aren't using the adaptor then you have 12V on a wire that you shouldn't (I think). We need g7pkf in on this one to give his expert advice... :?

OK, I've done a little research - I'm prolly gonna get my dealer to reprogram my central locking and now that I've fitted my pioneer HU, I wouldn't want him to blow up his vag com or whatever they use because of this K-line isue.

Looking at http://g7pkf.homeip.net/cars/octavia/radio.htm it appears that the infamous K-line is on connector III, pin number 3. I'll check my HU instructions and make sure that nothing goes to it, especially the 12V.

However, one other question I don't know the answer to is "aftermarket HU will overheat if you don't have the bluespot adaptor cable". I didn't buy the bluespot cable, and used the one supplied with the HU which gives you plug/sockets between the ISO connector and the HU connector, so I've swapped over the two 12V feeds to sort out the permanent 12V and ignition 12V. I'll also check the K-line issue, but not too sure where this overheating could come from :confused:

Anyone able to shed some more light on this?

I'll post the standard pioneer pin outs if that's of use to anyone so we can compare notes.

While everyone's on the subject I've had a Sony CDX-MP40 in my Fabia for a few months without the adaptor. It hasn't blown up, overheated or lost its memory. It plays MP3s perfectly so I've never felt the need for a CD changer. The blowing-up-the-dealer's-kit issue hasn't arisen yet because I haven't had cause to take the car in since I bought it.

A couple of issues though:

• The blue display is very bright so slightly distracting at night;
  
• There's no AM or LW reception (not a big problem for me because I'm not interested in cricket commentaries).
  

I seem to remember reading that getting the adaptor would cause the display to dim with the dashboard lights and would bring back AM/LW reception. Is this correct?

Please let us know! If you aren't using the adaptor then you have 12V on a wire that you shouldn't (I think). We need g7pkf in on this one to give his expert advice... :?

Sony HUs don't have anything connected to the K-line wire on their harness so you won't be blowing anything up accidentally.

I checked this very carefully when wiring mine up.

You will need to swap the red and yellow power wires round but the sony harness has bullet connectors to make this a two second job.

You *will* need the aerial amplifier adaptor thingy.

I seem to remember reading that getting the adaptor would cause the display to dim with the dashboard lights and would bring back AM/LW reception. Is this correct?

I don't know about the brightness, but it certainly would bring back AM/LW reception.

• The blue display is very bright so slightly distracting at night;
  
• There's no AM or LW reception (not a big problem for me because I'm not interested in cricket commentaries).
  

I seem to remember reading that getting the adaptor would cause the display to dim with the dashboard lights and would bring back AM/LW reception. Is this correct?

The BlueSpot Adapter will defo sort out the AM issue & IF the HU supports dimming (Which I Believe it does) it will stop you being blinded !!

:sqwink:

Graham

Again , with a Sony HU you don't need any additional adaptors for the display dimming to work.

You *will* need the aerial amplifier adaptor thingy.

I thought the aerial amplifier adaptor thingy was the thing on the Bluespot site. When I bought mine the Halfords site said it needed a small metal adaptor that looked like one that came in the box. Now it says you need this.

Again , with a Sony HU you don't need any additional adaptors for the display dimming to work.

It doesn't work on mine. Is this likely to be because my particular player doesn't have the ability to dim or could it be wired incorrectly? I have RTFM but can't see any mention of this there.

I have to confess to being a bit confused by these issues although I think I've read every post on the subject here. Maybe I should just stop being tight and buy the thing on the Bluespot site. It can't do any harm.

Incidentally, I notice that Halfords are now selling the CDX-MP40 for