DAB Digital Radio head units?

Anyone had any experience with these in general? Most manufacturers seem to go down the seperate DAB receiver box and head unit route apart from Blaupunkt, who seem the only ones to do the "all in one" units.

I've had a DAB tuner at home and love the sound quality and the ease of use. Now I'm faced with buying a new head unit that I can connect my iPod to, most of the CD head units of interest are getting on for ?200 once I factor in getting an AUX-IN adapter for them, and look pretty naff most of the time too.

I am leaning towards the Blaupunkt range as the all in one solution really appeals. They also have technology that switches automatically between DAB and FM when DAB coverage is patchy.

For just over ?250 I can get the middle of the range Blaupunkt DAB unit, the Woodstock DAB53, the AUX-IN cable for the iPod and a screen mounted DAB ariel. They don't look great, but I think the quality is OK isn't it?

http://www.blaupunkt.co.uk/7641706310_main.asp

Bear in mind this is only going to be played through 4 unamplified Infinity 6x4's initially in the stock speaker locations in my golf. I will probably mod a spare ashtray to stealth the ipod connection…… need to work on that one.

Anyway, I'd appreciate peoples opinions on Blaupunkt, DAB and in car DAB in particular. Bear in mind I am not going to get hi fidelity with my speaker setup anyway - I just want a decent tuner and the ability to play the tunes from my iPod.

Cheers,

Chris

The new range of Alpine head units are being bundled with IPod controller at special price (?29 for ipod controller instead of ?69) Alpine is only manufacturer with Apple backing and support. You can control the Ipod from the head unit completely and it also charges the ipod and can be put anywhere in the car. You can get add on DAB for the range also.
The Blaupunkt DAB head unit is very good and i am very tempted by one myself if only as it looks the most retro (inkeeping with the car). There are some good deals on currently as the Woodstock (the one to go for) is having a facelift. The Older units look more inkeeping with the Mk1 as the new ones have the Blue illumination of new (mk4 and 5) Golfs.
Personally I have Pioneer head unit and DAB in my Corrado and just a Pioneer head unit in the Golf. Thinking of a change myself . I like the Blaupunkt but think will go for the Alpine.
The glass mount ariel bundled with the Blaupunkt is good but I have a Bosch FM/DAB arial (beesting) on the corrado and is so much better.
Hope any of this is of use

I have no personal experience of DAB but have heard only good things about the Blau Woodstock. A quick search of Talk Audio - The UK’s Premier Car Audio and Technology Forum will bring lots more opinions on DAB units.

Thanks for the opinions guys, in fact for only about 20 quid more I can go for the latest Blau Woodstock DAB 54 unit including the glass aerial and a 64MB MMC card (?279 all in).

I have pretty much decided this is the way I am going having read around a bit more. The normal FM reception on the Blau head units is supposed to be good anyway, and its more in keeping with the  Mk1 interior. There is a choice of night light colour schemes with this unit evidently  :roll: , amybe I can find one to match the green striped seats in my Lhasa Green!!!!

I did look at the Alpine setup, especially with the iPod connectivity, but with the head unit, the iPod connection unit and a DAB tuner it come in at a fair bit more than the Blau, and I like the idea that the Blau is a single box solution for ease of fitting. As long as a head unit has an AUX-IN, wiring up an iPod for both line in AND power is not too hard - I did a good stealth install in my last car and think I can do it again pretty easily. WIll probably use a modified ashtray / lighter unit that supports the Ipod when in use and just looks like a normal ashtray when closed  :wink: .

I am going to go for the Woodstock DAB 54 head unit and 4 infinity 6x4's in the standard speaker locations for now. Keeps everything looking standard inside whilst providing a good range of listening options for me.

I can't seem to find a combined DAB / FM aerial that I could use to replace my standard electric mast aerial though - anyone know of anything? The Beesting just wouldn't look right on the Mk1 - too modern.

Will post some pics once its done.

Cheers,

Chris

If you're looking for Blaupunkt stuff, try www.bluespot.co.uk - I found them very helpful when I was ordering a Toronto MP73 for my Audi - and a good price too…

I'd be surprised if you find a mast-design FM/DAB antenna - most new cars don't have mast antennae any more - it's all roof-mounted (bee-sting or above the rear-view mirror) or in a separate track beside the heated rear window element (sometimes beside the remote locking antenna too)

Thanks Type 17 - I ordered the head unit from http://www.lowcostcaraudio.co.uk and the AUX-IN and wiring harness adapter from Bluespot.

Spent some time over at the Talk Audio forums and the Blau Woodstock DAB 54 seems to get a general thumbs up, especially at ?280, which seems significantly less than Halfrauds etc are selling it at.

I'll revisit the aerial issue if the glass mount jobbie that come with it proves completely useless  :roll: . Also ordered 4 Infinity 6x4's for the standard speaker enclosures.

Can't wait to get it all installed - had a 4 hour round trip to the resto show in Stoneleigh today and it ain't much fun without any tunes - ended up talking to myself…….  :roll:

Chris

The 'search' function comes up trumps!

I've got no stereo fitted in my GTi - it just has the VW blanking plate.

I've always felt that Blaupunkt suit the Dubs best, although I'm a fan of Becker too.  I appreciate it is two years ago, but were you happy with the Woodstock?  I'm looking to get one very shortly.

Cheers.

Time to 'fess up - I never actually installed it in the end  ops: . Car ended up being declared SORN a few moths later and has sat on my driveway since, so didn't think it was worth installing the Blaupunkt.

I sold it on ebay recently - its still a current model and you can pick them up for close to 200 quid now I think. I have played with the demo unit though and they are nice for the money. You can also get dedicated iPod connector kits for about 60 quid that will let you control your iPod from the Blaupunkt head unit.

I kept the Infinity 6x4's as fewer and fewer manufacturers seem to be supporting this size now.

The money I got for the Blaupunkt has gone towards a MIG welder so hopefully I'm one step closer to getting my Mk1 back on the road :-).

If you haven't bought yet and external audio sources like MP3 players are something you are interested in I would hold off for a bit longer. The bluetooth A2DP audio streaming support is becoming more common on phones and MP3 players. I think the next logical step is head units with bluetooth support for A2DP built in.

This would allow you to stream music from you phone / MP3 player directly to the head unit… perhaps by the time my Campaign is back on the road these will be available :-).

I think you won't go far wrong with the Blaupunkt - good 2 year warranty too.

Chris

For the record, the Toronto MP 73 is still going great in my Audi, and shortly after my last post here, I bought a connector cable which allows the head unit's connector for a CD changer to be connected to an iPod, so that I can leave it in the glovebox, and control it through the head unit's interface.