Well after my CD multi changer packed up and died i decided to change the HU for something that could play MP3`s and still look in tune with the Fabia interior. After reading the wealth of information available here at Briskoda i decided on a Blaupunkt Queens HU ordered from here Blaupunkt Queens MP56 .Not the cheapest of head units, and hasn`t got the wealth of features that £80 HU`s have on E-Bay but it does what i need.My requirements were>

I have a Parrot CK3000 bluetooth hands free car kit fitted. This had to work inconjunction with the new HU and it does.

It has to play MP3`s. (32 GB limit on size of hard drive or Memory stick). It does

Easy to install. Most units are nowadays. But i did this install so it has passed the idiots test.

It had to look OK. It has changeable colours and the buttons light up red which match the speed / rev counter, again a pass on this one.

I plan to place the USB connector in the blank switch slot next to the ASR button once i borrow my mates dremmel, then it`s just a case of popping a memory stick in there.

Overall i`m well pleased with the radio, the only minus is the price.

Delivery was very quick and BlueSpot are recomended.

I bought the antenna booster, tapped into the blue aerial wire and changed the orange wire to red on the ISO connector. Also bought the £2.30 trim for the radio from Skoda

Just a last thought the original Symphony is a pretty good unit with well thought out buttons, and good sound, although a little bland.

Hello Mouse

Well it works for me,looks very oem,no flashing lights or scrolling"mega bass" logos.

Good job sir:thumbup:

if anyone's interested I can get Blaupunkt stuff dirt cheap

Aha! Somebody to probe for information!

I'm still considering my options for USB mass storage based HUs and I've looked at the MP57 (which looks v similar to the MP56 - in fact I can't tell the difference) and the Alpine iDA-X001.

There seems to be limited info on the web about the USB navigation on the Blaupunkts, have you tried this with a USB stick yet? Have you got any pics of the display when it's playing mp3s off a mass storage device? Does it show id3 tags? Is the navigation easy? (e.g. folder based, artist/album based etc)

Cheers!

Babs, I'm after a Blaupunkt Hamburg MP57 40GB Pack.

How much can you get it for?

Cheers.

Will get photos in daylight for you M8. The navigation seems pretty simple but not folder / windows orientated. It does show album name / track name and position.

Basically it works like this. Tracks are played in the order that you burnt them to CD. Up arrow changes album / folder as does down arrow. Left and right arrow lets you move forwards and backwards within the folder. Pressing next gives you folder list, pressing ESC gives you the grahic equaliser. Will post up pics.

Hope this makes sense.

Not tried with USB stick yet. Only CD with MP3`s burnt on.

Babs, I'm after a Blaupunkt Hamburg MP57 40GB Pack.

How much can you get it for?

Cheers.

Will check tomorrow

Cheers.

Mouse, please let me know what navigation is like from USB when you try it!

nice looking unit that mate as already said not to flash and suits dash well

Here you go some pictures of the navigation through folders. Not tried with USB stick yet. Because i haven`t got one. Must be the same as below. The displays are from a cd burnt with MP3`s.

Thanks for the pics, very interesting. It looks pretty good actually, would be interested to see what price Babs would be able to get on the Queens/Casablanca MP56 (I have no idea how they work out their names) as well as the Hamburg.

what was wrong with the standard head unit? not 100% on the mp3 discs but i know mine plays wma discs

what was wrong with the standard head unit? not 100% on the mp3 discs but i know mine plays wma discs

Nothing wrong with it at all. Just like the ex wife.

And if it plays WMA files it is not standard. 100% yours does not play MP3`s.

"Get with the program soldier"

sorry mouse my mistake i picked up a normal cd not a wma disc!

I went for a Pioneer P7900UB. In fact when I was choosing I was torn between the Blaupunkt MP56, the MP66 and this. Here's a pic http://www.an1.co.uk/p7900ub/DSC00404.JPG I have a 160gb hard disk connected to it that I have sat under the ash tray. (A bit fiddly but at least it's out of the way and no drilling involved). Unfortunately the head unit limits you to a certain amount of files and folder, can't remember exact numbers but it's relatively generous, The set-up seems to work quite well but could do with better speakers. You can spin the volume dial like a jog dial to navigate through folders. As I understand it this is a feature missing in the Blaupunkts. But I'm sure all models have their good and bad points, unfortunately there's no perfect head unit out there.

It fits in surprisingly well with your switch and dash illumination!

I'd consider getting one of the Lacie Porsche 2.5" hard disks that blaupunkt recommend and find some way of connecting and stashing it away so it's out of view. Fill it with MP3's and then you have no need to plug in memory sticks . Not sure on the layout of your car so dunno if an "under the ash tray" scenario is possible. One problem I came across with the P7900UB is that the hard disk I bought will not run with any extension cable, but will run directly connected so it seems these things do not necessarily work how you expect.