View Full Version : Dension install
I've just recieved a Dension DMP3 hard disk mp3 player with the kit to connnect it to the Aura stereo in my Leon.
I remember somebody saying that SeatCupra.net had one of these to review a while back. Did this ever get posted?
As I've only had my Leon for a month or so I haven't had a chance to get the panels off and poke around looking for spaces. Does anybody have any thoughts about where best to mount the unit. It's about the size of a hard back book but needs the same amount of space in front of it to slide the unit out of it's caddy. Most of the boot floor is out of bounds as i regularly use the loadspace.
Icecavern
16-01-2003, 12:44
I think I will be reviewing this fairly shortly, so I'll get the review up as soon as I can after I receive it.
Having not seen it yet I'm not sure if you can also have the changer plugged in as well as the MP3 player. It' might fit in the glovebox in that case...
Pete
The kit doesn't have the option of plugging in the changer at the same time (the cars a tdi so it doesn't matter too much). First place I'm going to look is in the glovebox but the unit is very deep so I don't hold out much hope.
Any other good locations around the car?
Originally posted by arfur
The kit doesn't have the option of plugging in the changer at the same time (the cars a tdi so it doesn't matter too much). First place I'm going to look is in the glovebox but the unit is very deep so I don't hold out much hope.
Any other good locations around the car?
There is space at the back of the glovebox, the original Cupra's had CD changers aas standard fitted, still do as far as im aware.
But all it is as far as im aware, in the ones without CD changers is a box that fits into the space previously occupied by a CD changer, if you wanted the optional changer fitted this box is removed, leaving you with as really small glovebox and a CD changer, i know, mines always been this small :)
But once that box is gone, there will be loads of room to mount a device of this type, and the box just will unscrew or unclip from the main glovebox body., a custom MDF facia could be made covered in grey alacantara for example and slotted over the MP3 drive to make it a tidy fit
Icecavern
16-01-2003, 18:33
Yeah if you don't have a cupra then the glovebox is ideal :D
I think my Kenny changer might have to go in the boot anyway as it's ever so slightly too big to fit properly in the glovebox... Hmmm a gap that'll need filling... lol
Pete
Not sure about this one - SNR appears to be only > 80% which is pretty low...
A new problem.
I had a chance to pop open the car and try and install everything last night. I removed the bits from the glove box and had a fish around for the Cd changer lead but couldn't find it. So I popped out the Aura from the dash and had a look at that. There are three sockets on the back. One is connected to the speakers, one to power and the third is unconnected.
1. Is this the connector for the CD changer?
2. Does this mean that the car is not prewired for a CD changer in the glovebox?
3. The connects2 interface that is supplied with the Dension is a standard Sony-Seat Aura model. This doesn't fit the socket in the back of the Aura HU. Has anyone used one of these? Are they intended to fit to the back of the Aura or in the glovebox? Or have I been supplied with the wrong connector?
I'll try and post some impressions if I ever get this installed. Sound quality seems fine through my stereo at home so I don't anticipate problems in a diesel car.
Icecavern
28-01-2003, 13:17
I picked up a Denison for review on Saturday so I'll be trying it out. I spent a while talking to Lee about them though so I know a fair bit about how they work etc now...
Yes the connects2 box you have should be a VAG to Sony convertor. the cable you will have been given should connect from the connects2 to the CD cable that should come out of the HU. However it sounds as though your car might not have the CD cable... If you have a look in the how-to section on ICECavern you will see the leon CD fitting guide which has a picture or two of the cable that you should have behind the glovebox...
Pete
Update to this.
It turns out that on 2003 Leons the cd changer pre-wiring is not (pre-wired that is).
www.ihavetohave.it where I bought the player are sending me a new lead to connect direct to the back of the Aura. Their technical support has been amazing so far. You get so used to talking to call centres where the person on the other end of the line knows nothing thats it's quite a suprise to deal with somebody who is clued up.
Icecavern
30-01-2003, 11:51
Another cost cuttingeffort by Seat... And revenue generating for Dealers as I bet a changer fitted costs more now there is more work involved... :mad:
Pete
I have received the new lead (to plug directly into the back of the Aura) and fitted the whole system. Interestingly there is no way you can fit the Connects2 box into the dashboard behind the Aura so I had to extend the lead by about 30cm to fit the Connects2 box into the CD changer cavity behind the glovebox. The Dension unit itself is mounted below the boot lip. (this way I keep my glovebox). So far so good.
Iceman - It was necessary to up the volume a little to match the radio volume and turning it up by 5db has got the volume right without inducing any distortion.
Dangel - Sound quality is very good, even with 128k mp3s so very happy so far.
Main bug bear at the moment is that I have ripped about 1000 mp3s worth of my album collection without realising that the dension will always play albums in alphabetical order. I am ripping using Musicmatch which I've now set to append the track no to the beginning of the mp3's so they will play in the correct order. But that leaves me with an awful lot of mp3's to rename or rerip. Any thoughts on how to do this?
Cool thanks for the info - i'm watching this one with interest. Can you do random play between *all* tracks on the disk (regardless of directory depth)? That's all i want :)
Originally posted by dangel
Cool thanks for the info - i'm watching this one with interest. Can you do random play between *all* tracks on the disk (regardless of directory depth)? That's all i want :)
I believe it's possible. I think it can be done using what they call myRadio. I will experiment tonight when I plug the thing back into my PC.
Cool. I used to use a CD-based MP3 player in my old car (shhh) and you could basically hit a button and off it went in random mode. I like the whole my-own-radio-station thing and suprises :)
The aura head allows random track (single disk) and random cd but no random track across all CD's. Does the dension appear as a single disc? If it does, then random track should do it???
Wibble.