Symphony II+... what's all the hype?

[CrazyCal]

I just installed Symphony II+ this weekend and I gotta ask: what's all the hype? Don't get me wrong, I like it. I like the way it looks. I like the fact that I'm not stuck in the 80s with a tape deck any more. I love that I can play mp3s.

A couple things I noticed:
I have a pretty good ear for sound, but I don't notice a real big difference in sound quality. The high and mid frequencies are not quite as muddy, but the difference is really miniscule.
And as far as the radio reception goes. Mine didn't take any dive at all. My reception is just as good as Symphony II. Granted, I really don't listen to radio, so I don't really care.
One positive I did notice (could be my imagination) is that the satellite radio seems to have a better buffer with Symphony II+. I can go through sections of trees that would normally interrupt my reception without any loss of signal. Unless I've just changed the channel and it hasn't had time to buffer.

All in all I like the system, but I hate all the B.S. hype surrounding it. Drastically changed my sound! Built-in equalizer! etc, etc...

BTW, there is no special hidden equalizer for Symphony II+. The equalizer everyone has confused it with is the one from the B5 Symphony I.

BTWx2, i used the euro-parts.us harness and antenna adapter.

[CrazyCal]

Been doing some research. VAG-Com coding may help. I will report back with results. I'm curious to see what, if anything, the driving school codes do...

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...ration_II_Plus

************************************************** ************************************

Coding
0?x0xxx: Options 3
+1 = Analog Input (AUX)
+2 = Multifunction Steering Wheel
+4 = Telephone
0x?0xxx: Options 2
+1 = Digital Sound System
+2 = CD-Changer
+4 = Satellite Radio
0xx0?xx: Options 1
+1 = Leather Interior
+2 = Diesel Engine
0xx0x?x: Sound System Correction
0 = Sound System (No passive Speakers/No Correction)
1 = Sedan/Coupé with passive Speakers
2 = Wagon/Avant with passive Speakers
3 = Cabriolet/Roadster with passive Speakers
0xx0xx?: Country
1 = Europe
2 = North America
4 = Japan
5 = China



Adaptation
Channel 002: Driving School Function/Time Display
0 = Speed Display / Time Display blocked
1 = Speed Display possible (selectable via Setup)
2 = Speed Display possible (not selectable via Setup)
3 = Time Display possible (selectable via Setup)
4 = Time Display possible (not selectable via Setup)
Note: Driving School functions may not be supported on all variants of these radios.

************************************************** ****************************************-

[naiku]

I like the fact that I'm not stuck in the 80s with a tape deck any more. I love that I can play mp3s.

This, for me, is about the only real reason I plan to upgrade to either a II+ or an RNS-E at some point down the line. It's ridiculous that in 2006 my car came from the factory with a tape deck, about 10 years after most people had ditched tapes for CD's. The larger display will also be a nice upgrade, but as for the sound differences, I am not expecting much, nor do I particularly care as will be using an outboard DSP.

[CrazyCal]

I said i'd report back with results... even though nobody reads this section it seems. If they do, they sure don't comment. anyway, I VAG'd the S2+ and it did appear to improve the sound quality. The only real change I made to the soft coding was to add satellite radio functionality. The satellite radio was working before I VAG'd, but it did not have the option activated in the soft coding, itself. Other than that, I got rid of the steering wheel control coding because i don't have steering wheel controls.

Original coding was: 0210112
New coding is: 0150112

There was a change in the overall sound. Not much, but enough to make a difference. I really don't know what prompted the change in sound, or maybe I'm crazy and there is no change, but I believe that just recoding with the VAG Com allowed the system to be "fitted" to my B6. My B6 now recognizes, through coding, that it has S2+. Maybe that's all that was needed... or maybe I'm just crazy. lol :)

Either way, I love my new Symphony II+. MP3s, the display is beautiful, no more 80s tape deck. I plan on adding aux input to it, then i'll be all set.

P.S. The driving school codes do nothing. It's just an activation for a peripheral used by driving schools.

[Docwyte]

What does soft coding the satellite radio function do? Also, how'd you come up with the new equalizer settings and where did you enter them on VAG-COM?

I've got a Symphony 2+ radio on it's way to me, so I'd love to know exactly what/how you did this.

I'm replacing my Symphony 2 radio because it has an internal memory error that's screwing up the volume control. It'll also be nice to play MP3's.

I don't expect a big difference in sound quality though as it's still a factory head unit. Unless you go with aftermarket speakers and amps I don't think much of a difference would be discernable...

[CrazyCal]

What does soft coding the satellite radio function do? Also, how'd you come up with the new equalizer settings and where did you enter them on VAG-COM?

I've got a Symphony 2+ radio on it's way to me, so I'd love to know exactly what/how you did this.

Jeez, buddy. You gotta learn how to read before you ask questions.

As it says above, adding the satellite functionality to the soft coding did nothing. The satellite radio was working fine before I changed the coding.

And i don't know where you came up with the equalizer stuff. i never said anything about a special equalizer. There is no special equalizer on the S2+. Only the Bass, Mid, Treble just like the S2.

*edit: Just noticed you're not new to this stuff (AZ member #5103). you've been around awhile. What's with the weird questions?

[Docwyte]

Then why'd you bother to change it? I read that the sat radio was working before. I am edmucated. I thought when you recoded it you'd changed the internal equalizer, the symphony 1 units had one.

[CrazyCal]

Then why'd you bother to change it? I read that the sat radio was working before. I am edmucated. I thought when you recoded it you'd changed the internal equalizer, the symphony 1 units had one.

I already had the coding there in front of me. I figured, why not change it to the proper setting? Also to see if it changed anything. But it didn't. Maybe i was not clear when I wrote it up. Was clear to me, but maybe not others.

I wish the S2+ had an equalizer like the S1.

[magpies14]

hi crazycal, how did you manage to save the coding via your vag-com ? as i tried mine but it just wouldn't save...

i am trying to change the country from '2 @ north america' to a '1 @ europe'...

[CrazyCal]

hi crazycal, how did you manage to save the coding via your vag-com ? as i tried mine but it just wouldn't save...

i am trying to change the country from '2 @ north america' to a '1 @ europe'...

I really don't know how to help you with that. It's pretty self explainitory. I just put in the coding I wanted and hit "Do it!"

[magpies14]

crazycal....i tried coding it but what i get is the 'error 31 : Request out of range'.

2ndly, my symphony radio is giving the following fault codes :


Wednesday,07,December,2011,09:05:03:10074
VCDS Version: Release 10.6.5
Data version: 20110930



************************************************** ******************************
************************************************** ******************************


Address 56: Radio Labels:
Control Module Part Number:
Component and/or Version:
Software Coding:
Work Shop Code:
VCID: 55A58567859A
6 Faults Found

01044 - Control Module Incorrectly Coded
000 - -
Freeze Frame
Fault Status: 01100000
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1

01303 - Telephone Transceiver (R36)
004 - No Signal/Communication
Freeze Frame
Fault Status: 01100100
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 197

00870 - Bass Speaker Front Left (R21)
011 - Open Circuit
Freeze Frame
Fault Status: 01101011
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 197

00871 - Bass Speaker Front Right (R23)
011 - Open Circuit
Freeze Frame
Fault Status: 01101011
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 197

00874 - Treble Speaker Front Left (R20)
011 - Open Circuit
Freeze Frame
Fault Status: 01101011
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 197

00875 - Treble Speaker Front Right (R22)
011 - Open Circuit
Freeze Frame
Fault Status: 01101011
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 197

[Pr0n]

P.S. The driving school codes do nothing. It's just an activation for a peripheral used by driving schools.

[CrazyCal]

So, it turns it into a speedometer I take it?