Can someone with an Altea...

[Icecavern]

Tell me if the radio display is used for anything other than radio controls? ie aircon display etc?

Pete

[nimay]

Not aware of this screen being used for anything other than radio / CD player. Climate control on my car has its own separate display.

we will probably find out some time in the future that pressing a certain combination of buttons brings up other displays

[Icecavern]

Well it's more that I've been asked 3 times now about replacing the stereo with aftermarket stuff. Shouldn't be a problem if the aircon displays etc are elsewhere.

Pete

[hibitdat]

I think the display is only used for extra things if you have sat nav (when you get a different, colour screen anyway!) so its probably a bit overkill. I will be interested to see how people get over the size/shape issues when they want to replace the head unit though! And I do really think it (and the standard speakers) need replacing - on the Sport and Stylance demo's I've driven the stereo has sounded truly awful and low-rent (way worse than the mediocre one in the Cordoba) and certainly not befitting a >£17k car. Even extensive fiddling with the tone controls cant illicit a sound thats not tinny, distorted in the top end and lacking real bass energy. Very poor! Great cars otherwise though - will certainly be getting one! :)

[Tell]

I think the display is only used for extra things if you have sat nav (when you get a different, colour screen anyway!) so its probably a bit overkill. I will be interested to see how people get over the size/shape issues when they want to replace the head unit though! And I do really think it (and the standard speakers) need replacing - on the Sport and Stylance demo's I've driven the stereo has sounded truly awful and low-rent (way worse than the mediocre one in the Cordoba) and certainly not befitting a >£17k car. Even extensive fiddling with the tone controls cant illicit a sound thats not tinny, distorted in the top end and lacking real bass energy. Very poor! Great cars otherwise though - will certainly be getting one! :)

I don't know I did get some good bass sounds of mine in the last couple of days off a CD. Head end info any one ? for connecting a changer ?.

[greeny]

I have been disappointed with the stereo in the altea the factory fit stereo in my old leon was far far better.

i think the main problem is there is so much room inside the Altea the sound gets lost!! Im sure a new amp and better speakers would help loads.

[Tell]

Speakers are often the solution... too early for me yet... need to get the MD changer in first. I had a good set up in my old Citreon where I changed the speakers to an Inifinity pair myself. They worked well.

Does anybody know who makes the headend Blaunpoint ?, speakers ?.

[ALT54]

Head unit is Blaupunkt. will accept aftermarket CD/MD changer via interface connector which is same as new Golf. I have Kenwood MP3 changer connected which sits under rear of passenger seat. only disadvantage is display only reads track numbers and can not cope with 10 discs. but as i already had the changer i put up with it.
Speakers are the usual factory stuff. Be aware that when it comes to changing them the tweeters are built in to the back of the door panel and the estimate for stripping them out by professionals was 2hrs per door. I opted to keep the tweeters and change the bass units for some Pioneer custom fits i had. With self contained 8" sub in boot sound much improved.
Paul

[Tell]

Now that was a usefull posting Paul, well they all are :) .

It is what I thought, well tweaters are tweaters so I was less concerned about changing them, so fine. The bass unit yes if I was going to since my Infinity ones in the ZX were much better than the factory fitted combo. I think on the head end, like domestic amps you get a bit excited about them but the real thing is the speakers in your HiFi - I'll duck just in case anybody argues.

Now, did you find any pre-wiring to that central console between the front seats where the CD changer normally goes ? or did you have to run a new line from the radio ?. How did you bolt it to the floor or is there some trick ?. Think I'd let Halfords fit my MD player if it was tricky but I'd do the speakers myself.

I did wonder about programme information. Looks like you don't get any. I'm still going to poke a CD in with some on it and see whether it manages to play that... just a bit cold to go outside now.

[ALT54]

Tell,
speakers require a spacer to fit in doors (Pioneer do one i think) Speaker covers held in place by four push in pins. Gently by hand lever the cover away and you can get to the speaker behind. Front and rears are same size 16.5cm's. No existing wiring between head unit and centre console that i am aware of. Interconnect plugs straight into back of head unit plus earth and changer plugs into back of interconnect.
Head unit will play CD copies but not MP3's. Main consideration for keeping original head unit was the steering wheel controls.
With 8" Sub in boot you can turn the bass down on the main speakers and no distortion when you turn them up. No line outs on back of unit so make sure bass unit can take speaker level feed.
Sound not quite as good as the Kenwood head unit and custom fits and sub i put in my Octavia but Altea is a lot quieter to start with. :D
Head unit also has mute line for Handsfree phone kits and speaker inputs for the kit so that phone works through car speakers.
Paul

[Tell]

Paul

Thank you for that. It seems like I may have a project coming up on the speakers. Looking at the Infinity site http://www.infinitysystems.com/caraudio/products.aspx a bit confused about which model to go for given that I have the tweeters already in the door. I rather like the Inifinity ones that I installed on my Citreon.

Any suggestions ?.

Thanks for all the info so far.

[ALT54]

Tell,
You have two options here, either buy a set of component speakers and not use the tweeter (which seems a waste of money) (i already had mine so was not worried) or purchase a two or three way speaker and either leave the factory tweeter connected or disconnect it completely. Only putting them in and listening to them is going to make your mind up. On the infinitys you would be looking at Reference 60021. Have a look at the pioneer site as they actually list the Altea under product fit along with the adaptor. I have the equivalent of TS-H1704 but TS-1776II would be an alternative. The adaptor is UD-M171. When you see the adaptor you might think it worthwhile to make some out of MDF which would give a more solid mount than the plastic item.
Paul

[Tell]

Right thanks for that Paul... I was wondering what to do with the spare tweeters.

[ALT54]

Tell,
with regard Changer it sits under the back of the front passenger seat. if you slide it alll the way forward you will see a little ledge where the rear heating ducts come out, if you apply velcro to the bottom of the changer it will attach to this lip then all you need to do is make a block for the front of the unit that levels it up. Double sided tape to bottom of unit and velcro to carpet. If you have the fitted mats you can fit them with the part of the mat that normally goes under the seat in front of the changer to stop it getting knocked. Because i have 10 disc changer i have to remember not to set height adjustment on seat to minimum. (Hence the passenger seat location) It might sound rough and ready but it looks neat and in 8500 miles it has not skipped once.
Paul

[Tell]

Thanks for that as well.

[Syphon]

Interesting picture here on the Dashmount website:

http://www.dashmount.co.uk/march04/71076.htm

Does this mean some trim is available that will allow you to fit a std. Din radio?

Scott

[Tell]

I've twigged the thread Paul in case you can answer my question on:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50535

I seem to have lost the CD Text from the built in headend unit and that is not with the MD changer fitted yet. You don't know of any strange key combinations to reset the headend. Disconnecting the power does that wipe out the memory.

[Jimmy Blake]

Is it just me, or has no one answered the question about getting a DIN fitting into the Altea?

I am bloody desperate to get an aftermarket system into my Altea when it arrives tomorrow and no one has yet seemed to answer the question of where to by the DIN fascias, despite it being asked in at least three different threads.

I don't want to replace the speaks, which seems to be a well answered question, I want to replace the bloody stereo itself!

Thanks in advance



James