Hi all

Currently got a fairly modern Sony head unit with FM and CD player. Sound quality is very good but I could do with DAB, Bluetooth music and hands free phone.

Any recommendations? I've had some Halfrauds vouchers for Chrimbo so that was my first thought. Not really wanting to spend a fortune. Looking at Sony at around £150.

Welcome views.

I have a Pioneer MVH-X580DAB, because imo it best fits the coupe design.

Check your reception before forking out for DAB, I got it on my 16vt years ago following all coverage on BBC about how wonderful it was, it never worked in Dorset, I imagine your terrain may be similarly unhelpful. I've a system with it in the house and the new one in my 20v has it, not a squeak from either! Make sure you get with FM as well.

Thanks, Definitely good advice. The DAB on our Alfa Giulietta was intermittent at best. I'll certainly make sure it has FM too.

Cheers

Assuming it's highly unlikely you want to make a hole in the bodywork the aerial options are crucial to consider. I've spent years looking for a half-decent consistent reception with stick-on-inside-windscreen aerials, both vertically (recommended) and horizontally, but even in Edinburgh I quickly experienced signal fallout.

By far the most successful option recently has been the purchase of a magnetic outside aerial from Halfords for not much more than a tenner - the magnet surprisingly perhaps hasn't failed yet. Before driving off I plant it on the bonnet corner nearest to the steering wheel and the cable sits in the hinge crevice in such a way so as not to get chopped off. The rest of the cable goes behind the driver's footwell carpet.

It's a slight faff remembering to bring it back in when you've stopped and park it at the bottom of the A pillar but the reward in continuity is great.

Toby if you wanna have a look at mine (ooh err), we can meet up for a looksee.

It's a dab jobbie from Kenwood.

I've had a few dabs over the years and the best I've had in terms of reception was a Phillips unit and horizontal aerial, both from Halfords

I’ve got a ‘PURE’ head unit phone/dab/cd/aux in via mem stick bought from Halfords, been in my coupe for 4years and still ok. Simple not fussy if that’s the look you want

I connected the DAB to the standard aerial using a splitter with the aerial-amplifier still in place. I didn't want the ugly sticker-antenna on the windscreen, did not want to drill a hole in the roof and had - until now - never heard of the "magnetic outside aerial". However, the reception is bad, only a few stations. Would be interested if somebody has tried to bypass the standard aerial-amplifier, which is in the left rear pillar. Or somebody who installed an antenna behind the radiator grille or a bumper.

In my Ford Focus mk2 I could reuse the roof-antenna. I bought a replacement kit (some cable and a new screw-on part on the roof, not difficult at all) and that worked really well. And the standard analog radio still works.

Indeed I have, without great success I'm afraid, following this tempting info

DAB thread

All sorts of permutations followed but disappointing result, pretty much cured as mentioned above by this