Discover Pro 8" System in Australia - problems, solutions & VW dealers

[dtpearson]

I trial fitted the Helix sub in the boot of the Golf Mk7 R and i can confirm it fits under the normal boot floor perfectly, i haven't set it up yet, so no reports on how it sounds. Probably next week will get it in.

[DV52]

I trial fitted the Helix sub in the boot of the Golf Mk7 R and i can confirm it fits under the normal boot floor perfectly, i haven't set it up yet, so no reports on how it sounds. Probably next week will get it in.

Is your car fitted with the digital Sound Package (i.e.J525) under the seat, or do you just have the ordinary Discover media unit (i.e. J749)?

[dtpearson]

Is your car fitted with the digital Sound Package (i.e.J525) under the seat, or do you just have the ordinary Discover media unit (i.e. J749)?

I have had the Discover Pro 8" unit fitted, it previously had the Discover Media display, i am not sure if it has the Digital Sound Package (J525) i assume that its a unit that is visible under the seats? I will have a look.

[PontMax]

With VW's MIB 2 system around the corner, I wonder if it's worth holding off till later this year as the MIB 2 platform will allow integration with smartphones and include MirrorLink and CarPlay. I hope it's retrofittable! The Discover Nav receives a significant upgrade (CPU that's 2.5x faster and a 6.5" display of twice the resolution).

Keen to know pricing on a current gen activated Discover Pro Nav so I will be contacting you privately to find out how much this is going to cost me now vs. waiting.

In terms of activation and component protection removal, how will this affect the warranty on my vehicle as the nav system may be considered a "significant modification" under VW's terms and conditions and thus void the warranty for the whole car?

Any word on whether this is confirmed for Australia though?

I recently heard back from head office VWOz and there was no mention of the MIB II for the MY16:

"From a Product perspective, there is no new model or facelift planned for the Golf/Golf GTI for MY16. Furthermore, whilst there is generally small changes, inclusions and deletions each model year, we do not currently have any information available to share for MY16."

[MrGadget]

I am also hoping that the MIB II system is coming to Aus and that it is retrofittable. I can't personally justify the $4.5k needed for the Nav Pro but perhaps could swallow up to $2K for the MIB II fully installed.

[dtpearson]

I have just had the Helix VW Plug & Play system installed in my MK7 Golf R by Euro Car Upgrades in Marochydore. It cost about $800 from Amazon UK (inc freight) and cost about $500 for the install, so about $1300 all up.

This is what you get:

Plug & Play sound system for the Polo5, Beetle, Jetta, Golf VI, Golf VII and the Scirocco
Power output, max. [W]: 300 sine
Power output, max. [W]: 480 music
Channels: 5 (four for existing speakers in vehicle, one for subwoofer) 55Wx4 (to factory speakers and 160Wx1 sub)
Package content: subwoofer with integrated DSP amplifier, wiring harness, assembly materials and assembly instructions
Note: the sub replaces your spare wheel. This is of no concern to me as it has been 10 years plus since my last flat tyre, and i can always get a mate to run me mine out to me if i get a flat.

There is two models that are very similar, the one i got was the 000051419 one which fits a range of VW vehicles and needs a dongle to be tuned for your model. What i SHOULD have ordered was the 5G0051419 which is already coded for the MK7 4 door.

I havent found a supplier for the dongle yet, so mine is still tuned for a polo..... no I'm not kidding.

But it still sounds very good. Impressive powerful sub base, and somewhat surprisingly a MUCH improved top end. The front speakers are given roughly double the power of the stock setup, and as they are relieved of the base duties by the sub, they sound MUCH better than stock, not just louder, but far better imaging focus and clarity. The sound stage has been lifted out of the doors and onto the tweeters, so the imaging seems to have the music coming from out in front of you rather than at your feet.

The sub base is as powerful as any normal person would want it to be, but its never going to sound like a pair of twelves driven by 1000w mono blocks in a 3cu/ft sub box taking up the entire boot. It dosn't have the tonal range of a great SQ sub, and is a touch one dimensional but it kicks hard.

I like my music loud, and while i can reach the subs limits, i cannot listen to it that loud for more than a few seconds at a time without my ears giving out. This may not be enough for you, but if it is, you should probably have yourself checked.

I cannot wait to get the tuning dongle, so the system is properly tuned for my car, i think that there is a "gap" in the frequency response where the front speakers are crossed over a bit too high. This means that there is a little bit of disconnect between the sub base and the front end. I am not sure if this "disconnect" is due to the frequency response, or just down to the timing of the DSP being out. Its not bad, but the goal of good car audio is to make it sound like all the sound is coming from the front end, and there are no subs elsewhere.

This upgrade is never going to sound as good as a full replacement of all the speakers with high quality gear, addition of amps and well designed subs in large boxes, but i just did not want to butcher the car (and spend big $$$). The Helix P&P setup is completely invisible, and dosent require cutting or damaging the car in any way. It can be returned to stock in about 2 hours, and you can even buy a blanking plug for the wiring if you need to put the spare wheel back in, and the system reverts to stock sound (done in 5min).

Before the install I was going to do more, maybe order the Dynaudio front speakers and tweets and see if they made a difference, maybe install some Focals and amps etc. But it is just so good as it is, i don't think i will do anything else (except tune it when i get the dongle).

[kennyc]

I just got an email from VW showcasing the new Jetta. It seems to come with the Discover Pro if the pictures are anything to go by.
So if this is true then i wonder if it will be available to buy as an option now?

[Dutch77]

I just got an email from VW showcasing the new Jetta. It seems to come with the Discover Pro if the pictures are anything to go by.
So if this is true then i wonder if it will be available to buy as an option now?

At a guess this is the old 'overseas model shown' trick.

The specifications indicate the RCD310 has been fitted in the 'stripper' model, while other models including the 155TSI Highline are scoring the RNS510.

[kennyc]

At a guess this is the old 'overseas model shown' trick.

The specifications indicate the RCD310 has been fitted in the 'stripper' model, while other models including the 155TSI Highline are scoring the RNS510.

Yeah just saw that...
False advertising!!

[peekay34]

Hmm not sure why you bought the Helix from Amazon.... I got mine in Aus for less that that....... I have the focal splits and they are great.