Andrew Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Didn't find this on a recent search so ... I'm getting a bit annoyed with using the iTrip I've got through my LCR standard stereo (an Aura) so though I'd research and upgrade. First I thought I'd just add the VAG cable but I am told it isn't very usable really. Second CraigyB suggested a Denison which looks more functional although still limited Thirdly I got carried away and thought I might replace the head unit. I don't want something flashy but I don't see anything that keeps the OEM look other than Becker. Talking to a local car audio shop he tells me that the Becker interface for the iPods doesn't work with my 5th gen and he showed me an Alpine unit which, while iPod functionally excellent, is far too bling and doesn't look OEM at all (one of these: Alpine - Digital Media Receiver - iDA-X305). The shop also mentioned Becker were on their last legs financially anyway so maybe not a good route to go. Shame, as if they worked I'd snap up a GP7992 with iPod link. So, what do you reckon? Best route for adding usable iPod functions? I'll be keeping the car for a while yet but don't really want to spend more than £500 all in, including fitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmicblue Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 The shop also mentioned Becker were on their last legs financially anyway so maybe not a good route to go. Shame, as if they worked I'd snap up a GP7992 with iPod link.quote] Your dealer is talking out of his ar$e over Becker - they are part of Harman International.... Harman International - AKG® Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 I think shark is the man to ask, he's a dension dealer and I believe there are more than one kit available, PM him, or wait for him to notice this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 I didn't think the dealer was too good actually - didn't present me with any real options other than the bling Alpine thing. I wonder if you can use the Denison with the Becker I like? Hopefully it would give more functions over the standard Seat stereo. I'll await the Great White ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Did somebody say Shark? :D OK, the best OE integrated solution by far is the Dension kit, however it's not particularly feature-rich for the Mk1 compared to the text-based version for the Mk2. I'm pretty sure the Dension won't work with the Becker as it is made for OE systems. I had an older Alpine iPod HU in my Golf and I didn't rate it much. The sound was good but the iPod functionality was rubbish to be honest. Navigating through the iPod to get to artists or albums was virtually impossible. Perhaps the X305 is different and easier to use, but you still can't disguise the fact that it just doesn't fit in if you want the OEM look. It's a difficult call to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 (edited) Yes, it is a dilemma I was hoping would be easy to solve dammit! I'll have another look at that Dension site although it is difficult (for me at least) to work out how on earth I'd actually use my head unit. I guess I'd have to fiddle about with playlists and maybe call one of them "1. Car" and dump in there everything I'd want (thereby ensuring it is at the beginning of the list of P/Ls in iTunes). From there I'm imagining just skipping through tracks like I would on a CD. No hope of Becker releasing new products that work with a gen 5 iPod then?! Of course, another solution would be to buy a gen 4 iPod for exclusive use in the car. Which of course then begs the question of how good the Becker iPod link up is - would it be more usable than a Dension with my exsiting OEM unit? Questions questions ... sorry! Edited December 7, 2009 by Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 The Alpine units are pretty good, the ipod interface is also very good as long as you get one with hi-speed connection. I am sure the ipod only units are as good as it gets for browsing an ipod, but they look terrible!! I have a 9887 in my 1 series and that is not fully compatible with 5g and iphone either, but that is only cause the ipod is looking for power on the usb pins now instead of the firewire pins, so it no longer charges the unit, however everything else works fine and you can buy a converter for £20 that sits between the ipod cable and ipod and charges it again. I am sure this is probably the same with the Becker. Which Cupra have you got?? Got a pic of the interior?? This is my 9887 in the 1 series, never going to look as good as OEM, but does sound good and has a superb ipod interface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 You get the idea from this photo - not my actual car. The second photo is with the unit I'm thinking of. The more I research it the more I think a Becker with iPod kit and then getting myself a 4th gen iPod for £50 off eBay is the way forward. Doesn't look like I have any other OEM-look options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 I agree. The Becker is a good unit, and I nearly went with another one myself, I have had 2 traffic pros and an Indianapolis now and liked them all, definitely the best looking. If you get he Grand Prix it has bluetooth built in as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Try the 5th Gen first if you have one, the Alpine says it doesn't work with it, but mine does perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Nice one, thanks for the feedback. Wonder how much it will cost to fit and remove the old head unit and glovebox changer. Good news on the charging function too!! Clearly my local dealer wasn't thinking very hard during my visit last week!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Just do it yourself mate. The becker uses the same connectors as VW, so it is completely plug and play. Once the radio is out you will be able to see through to the glovebox and push the ipd cable through. Will take around 15 minutes from start to finsish. The hardest part will be positioning the tel mic. However, if you pop the end of the dash off on the passenger side, and get a garden cane or something long, you cab push that through to the radio, tape the mic to that and pull it back through. Then just tuck the cable unde rthe a pillar and under the roof lining till you get to the rear view mirror, attach the mic there and you are done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Worth asking on the Seat forums if your car is can bus for the radio. If it is you can buy a steering wheel adpater, this will allow you to keep the steering wheel controls but will also give you 12v switched, illumination (for dimming the radio at night when lights come on) and speed pulse, which will adjust the volume as the speed increases and far better than the OEM gala. What year is the car?? you may not need this. If you do it is around £35. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hmmm, do it myself. I used to do the first cars I owned myself but this one looks different as: I've got to remove the CD changer I've got to get the extra functions you mention workng (wasn't going to bother with hands free but I suppose it would be silly not to) There is also some sort of radio antenna booster that needs fitting to get the radio up to scratch - I've seen something on SEAT forums to get this info The year is 2003 and there are no steering wheel controls. The lights do dim on the stereo with the instrument dimmer. For £50 odd quid for someone else to do it that would be money well spent in my eyes!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Nothing is ever easy is it. No sooner do I place my order when the company rings me up and says they can't get them any more and they won't be produced (the GP 7992) anymore. So I order one on eBay and get a lead from somewhere else. eBay place doesn't have any after all despite saying more than 10 in stock ... so now I have a lead and no unit. Then cancelled the eBay order for the unit and ring round loads of people - none of which have any units in stock. Eventually found a place, more expensive than anywhere else, with only 1 left. Phew - I then had to work out how to pay the German company supplying the iPod lead - looks like I'll have to BACS payment it which I'm less than pleased about so I've emailed them to cancel the order. So, I'm almost there!! Did loads of research so confident I'll like it. Even saw a few comments that it will work with a gen 5 iPod so I'll definitely be trying that. I've got to spend a little bit more on fitting kit and away we go, I'll have 15Gb of music for my drive to Newcastle over Xmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 All sorted now and unit in my possession. The iPod adapter cable also confirms it works with 5th gen so I suspect a large amount of BS by that dealer I went to. Rubbish!! All looks good and I can't wait to get it installed! I'll take some pics when done. Incidentally, a few forums have suggested this unit is getting very hard to get hold of so ws very lucky. Lots of blue and green about but red is in short supply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 So, to finish the story (not a very interesting one at that) I got it all installed and I'm delighted with it. The 5th generation iPod works absolutely fine in it and my phone synchs up to the unit each time I get in the car so I don't have to bother with my old hands free kit. It looks very OEM and I'm overwhelmed with how much misic choice I now have! iPod usage is good as you can choose between selecting by genre, playlist, album title and artist. I'd have liked to be able to choose an artist and then be given a list of their albums but it is only a minor issue. Radio reception is rubbish but that is more the ariel in the car than the unit - the old radio was similarly affected. I've attached some pics and apologise for the musical taste ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Looks perfect. Is that the Red one?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bircham Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 That looks excellent Andrew. It really shows how perseverence pays off in the end. I have always liked Becker units as they look like someone has thought about what people want in their pride and joy rather than a Japanese nightclub on speed. Great job! Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Yes, it is the red one. The red one is the one that is hard to get hold of so I was chuffed in the end. FM reception is dire though - the fitter is looking into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Hmm, something not right there as the FM tuner is what Becker are known for, I can get Essex local stations in Norwich with a Indianapolis, which is pretty much the same unit but with nav. I would have thought you need an active adapter in the Leon, they are cheap enough but can easily be missed when installing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I bought an amplified adapter or something for the FM feed which was fitted. The reception with the old unit was rubbish and this is probably worse - especially AM (I was hoping for clear TMS!). A good few people on SEAT forums complain about the radio reception and the fitter said there was a known problem too which he was looking into. I hope it can be fixed. What is the Indianapolis like? I was tempted to stretch to one but I never use the nav on my phone as it is, so thought it probably not necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 It is exactly the same, just that it has nav built in, very good nav but a Navigon for £99 is better as you have a map. Maybe consider getting a better aerial then?? They do some good ones that fit on the rear windows now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Gizze - does the "sound" button light up on your fascia the same as the others? Mine doesn't. Also, when cold, the volume button isn't very accurate which I just put down to the freezing conditions playing with the resistor (or whatever). Does yours play up a bit? I'm looking into an ariel solution - or rather, getting someone else to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Yeah, should be lit, this is a BMW Indianapolis, just a firmware that talks to the car and ifs the correct amber, but the same thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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