Author Topic: DAB radio, anyone installed?  (Read 4857 times)

Offline scarr89

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DAB radio, anyone installed?
« on: 14 November 2014, 20:28 »
Hey peeps,

I am keen to get this done, as I spend alot of my time in my car listening to crappy radio 1 as it is the only station I pick up sometimes...

So, wonderign if anyone has done it?

For example this deal here basically promises DAB radio for £130 + other features the standard doesn't have.

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Mk4-Golf-Stereo-Pioneer-CD-USB-iPhone-Android-DAB-Stereo-Fitting-Kit-/350986056811?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item51b866346b

How diff would this be, I wonder????

 :smiley:

Offline MoMartin

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Re: DAB radio, anyone installed?
« Reply #1 on: 15 November 2014, 02:05 »
I've fit a dab radio into a 1997 audi a4, and the fitting of it was fine, it's just the wiring up of the aerial that's a bit of a pain, as you'll probably end up having to remove the glove box to run the wire behind it.

Offline LR5V

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Re: DAB radio, anyone installed?
« Reply #2 on: 15 November 2014, 14:04 »
This was one of the first things I did to my mk4, it still amazes me how much clarity the DAB gives.
My favourite station is 6 Music, a few times they have played a to a track that I know inside out from CD on a decent hifi, and each time I heard new parts to the DAB played track... and that is just using the stock Mk4 speakers!

In general, you get a "stick on" aerial for inside the windscreen with the head unit, but for the best reception, a DAB roof aerial is best.
The problem with DAB is it is not widespread around the world, so there is not that much choice of hardware out there and this keeps the price higher than non DAB heads.
Best site I found is http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/ they have a lot of helpful information and they are not too bad price wise.

Offline JWebb

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Re: DAB radio, anyone installed?
« Reply #3 on: 17 November 2014, 21:45 »
I had this in my MK4 It looked OEM which is what I wanted and had bluetooth, Aux in and USB + Micro SD slot. http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/CE153DR_05/carstudio-for-iphone-bluetooth-dab-dab-plus-ready

I brought the one with the phone buttons as I use my car for work all day you can get it from ebay for about £70 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/271633793042?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

There is one without the phone buttons for arond £60, if you go for either of the phillips ones you will have to buy a DAB reciver for it though, I got mine from halfrauds and it looks like this
http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/CAB50_05/carstudio-dab-dab-plus
I think it was around £15-£20

I'd also recommend the roof mounted ariel as you get much better reception than the stick on window ones
http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-audio/car-audio/dab-radios-car-stereos/sonichi-magnetic-roof-mount-dab-antenna

A nice set up for around £100 and my partner is still using it in her Micra 12 months on and no complaints from her!

Sorry for the link heavy post!

Jack
« Last Edit: 17 November 2014, 21:47 by JWebb »

Offline scarr89

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Re: DAB radio, anyone installed?
« Reply #4 on: 19 November 2014, 12:30 »
Thanks guys  :smiley:

So the general concensus is you will have to run a new cable and fit a new aerial? I don't know if I have the patience to remove the headlinig  :undecided:

The one I found on ebay says it has a converter for the sockets, would the original aerial work?


Offline MoMartin

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Re: DAB radio, anyone installed?
« Reply #5 on: 19 November 2014, 13:24 »
Original aerial won't work, you could probably install it up the left hand pillar and have the actual aerial stuck to the top left corner of the windscreen

Offline LR5V

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Re: DAB radio, anyone installed?
« Reply #6 on: 19 November 2014, 21:56 »
Yes you can retain your current aerial, using a converter  -listed within the wed site I gave above  :whistle:

Offline JWebb

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Re: DAB radio, anyone installed?
« Reply #7 on: 19 November 2014, 22:37 »
It's fairly easy to route the cable through the back of the  glove box and up the door pillar, all you will have to remove is the glove box and this is only above 10 torx screws if I remember correctly. As the cable should just slot in to the edge of the pillar and then the rest of the headlining using a flat piece of plastic like a debit card and run the length of the car if needed it's not to hard, I ran mine from the passenger side door pillar all the way to the back of the car and had it poke out of the top of the boot opening next to the original ariel. The only place the cable was visible was at the top of the boot opening. Just make sure you buy a cable that will reach!

Jack.