Daz N

Hi,

I am considering buying an A4 Avant and want to know about the stereo before
I do.

I currently have a BMW 330ci Sport and when I bought this car I upgraded the
stereo to a BMW minidisc player and 10 Harman Kardon speakers, I am less
than impressed with the "features" of this system. It doesn't display
minidisc title/track info and doesn't support any kind of CD-Text for CD
Changers so there's no way I could think of attaching an MP3 player (in the
boot).

Is the A4 stereo system any good? Would I be able to add a CD changer that
supported MP3 and be able to use it?

How easy would it be to swap the dashboard mounted radio and fit something
like a Kenwood Keg? This is impossible with my current setup as the
speakers only work with the BMW headunit, something to do with voltage or
Ohms?

Thanks in advance

Daz

Pete

"Daz N" <(NOSPAM)darren@clara.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1068737951.93112.0@despina.uk.clara.net...
>
> Is the A4 stereo system any good? Would I be able to add a CD changer
that
> supported MP3 and be able to use it?

In addition to the stock stereo, you can purchase the "Bose" upgrade which
adds an extra sub I believe and improves the overall sound a bit. It's not
mind-blowing (nothing from Bose is ), but I did listen to it, and it's
decent. Much better than Bose that used to come in the B5 A4 and probably
on-par and better-matched to the rest of the speakers than something
aftermarket, like the Keg.

In addition, you can get PhatNoise - it's a dealer-installed option that
let's you store and play MP3 files on a removable hard-drive. Not sure what
its abilities are in terms of track title/artist display though.

Cheers,

Pete

Peter Bell

In message <1068737951.93112.0@despina.uk.clara.net>
"Daz N" <(NOSPAM)darren@clara.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am considering buying an A4 Avant and want to know about the stereo before
> I do.
>
> I currently have a BMW 330ci Sport and when I bought this car I upgraded the
> stereo to a BMW minidisc player and 10 Harman Kardon speakers, I am less
> than impressed with the "features" of this system. It doesn't display
> minidisc title/track info and doesn't support any kind of CD-Text for CD
> Changers so there's no way I could think of attaching an MP3 player (in the
> boot).

No Audi HUs display title/track info.

> Is the A4 stereo system any good?

Depends what you're looking for. I have the Audi Nav+ system which
integrates radio, CD changer control, TV and navigation. I'm happy
with it.

> Would I be able to add a CD changer that supported MP3 and be able to use it?

Not sure about a CD changer which supports MP3 - I've installed a
PhatBox which plays MP3s - it plugs straight in, in place of the CD
changer. This has the advantage that it 'speaks' the title/track info
- no need to take your eyes off the road.

> How easy would it be to swap the dashboard mounted radio and fit something
> like a Kenwood Keg?

Plenty of people have, but the Audi headunits are larger than standard
size, so require blank filler pieces to hide the gaps.

> This is impossible with my current setup as the speakers only work with
> the BMW headunit, something to do with voltage or Ohms?

I'm sure that a pro sound shop could sort something out (at a cost!).

--
Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')

Daz N

"Peter Bell" <peter@invalid.org.uk> wrote in message
news:9903ca504c.peter@iyonix.earley.fourcom.com...
> In message <1068737951.93112.0@despina.uk.clara.net>
> "Daz N" <(NOSPAM)darren@clara.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am considering buying an A4 Avant and want to know about the stereo
before
> > I do.
> >
> > I currently have a BMW 330ci Sport and when I bought this car I upgraded
the
> > stereo to a BMW minidisc player and 10 Harman Kardon speakers, I am less
> > than impressed with the "features" of this system. It doesn't display
> > minidisc title/track info and doesn't support any kind of CD-Text for CD
> > Changers so there's no way I could think of attaching an MP3 player (in
the
> > boot).
>
> No Audi HUs display title/track info.
>
> > Is the A4 stereo system any good?
>
> Depends what you're looking for. I have the Audi Nav+ system which
> integrates radio, CD changer control, TV and navigation. I'm happy
> with it.
>
> > Would I be able to add a CD changer that supported MP3 and be able to
use it?
>
> Not sure about a CD changer which supports MP3 - I've installed a
> PhatBox which plays MP3s - it plugs straight in, in place of the CD
> changer. This has the advantage that it 'speaks' the title/track info
> - no need to take your eyes off the road.
>
> > How easy would it be to swap the dashboard mounted radio and fit
something
> > like a Kenwood Keg?
>
> Plenty of people have, but the Audi headunits are larger than standard
> size, so require blank filler pieces to hide the gaps.
>
> > This is impossible with my current setup as the speakers only work with
> > the BMW headunit, something to do with voltage or Ohms?
>
> I'm sure that a pro sound shop could sort something out (at a cost!).

Correct, but the head unit cost me £300 and the speakers cost £650, I don't
really want to take them out and sell them on Ebay for a loss!!!

I just don't want to make the same mistake twice...

>
> --
> Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with
'bellfamily')

TREE

Pete <escape2music@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> ...
>
> In addition, you can get PhatNoise - it's a dealer-installed option that
> let's you store and play MP3 files on a removable hard-drive. Not sure what
> its abilities are in terms of track title/artist display though.

By default, it will announce artist, album, and genre (and playlist?) for
any track when you hit the scan button. You can also get it to announce
track titles by using PhatVoice, an unsupported app that generates the
right files. (unsupported, but in my experience, it works well most of
the time and is harmless when it doesn't)

http://www.tmk.com/PhatVoice/

--
-TREE <abryant at andor dot cx>
2000 A6 2.7t w/40 gb phatbox