Dab radio in mk6 golf

**cs2009** · 09-07-2009,09:08 AM

Originally Posted by ralferoo

The brochure from April states that you lose MDI if you get DAB. I think you must have just got lucky somehow.

I've just had clarification from VW UK on this. See the emails below:

Good Afternoon, Thank you for your recent email.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, this is not a change to the
vehicle, this used to happen on the car when you order the DAB then the iPod
connection would be removed, but this has now been improved and you are now
able to have both on the vehicle.

Regards

Sean Dunleavy
Volkswagen

-----Original Message-----
From:*********
Sent: 07 July 2009 13:43
To: enquiries, VW
Subject: Message from the Volkswagen Website 'Contact Us' Page - General
Enquiry

In the brochure for the new Golf, it states that if you specify the DAB
upgrade, you lose the MDI (iPod) connection in the armrest.

However my Golf, purchased June 2009, has both (along with RCD510+Dynaudio).
Is this a recent change to the Golf specification ?

**AdC** · 09-07-2009,09:10 AM

Just curious, as I've already ordered mine without DAB, but is it any good? Does it drop its signal? Does it occasionally make that funny 'metallic' breaking up sound like early tv satellite receivers?

And if it is any good, can the VW OEM parts be retrofitted? Ta'.

**cs2009** · 09-07-2009,09:29 AM

Originally Posted by AdC

Just curious, as I've already ordered mine without DAB, but is it any good? Does it drop its signal? Does it occasionally make that funny 'metallic' breaking up sound like early tv satellite receivers?

And if it is any good, can the VW OEM parts be retrofitted? Ta'.

I think it is worth the extra £55.

There is a noticeable improvement in sound quality when switching from FM to DAB, although you may only benefit if you also have the Dynaudio system.

I find that drop outs only occur at extreme range from the transmitters, and even then, the auto switch-over to FM is pretty seemless.

Chris.

**CharlesCourtney** · 09-07-2009,09:58 AM

Originally Posted by cs2009

I think it is worth the extra £55.

There is a noticeable improvement in sound quality when switching from FM to DAB, although you may only benefit if you also have the Dynaudio system.

I find that drop outs only occur at extreme range from the transmitters, and even then, the auto switch-over to FM is pretty seemless.

Chris.

I have the DAB with / on my RCD 510 without Dynaudio and can confirm the noticeable improvement in sound quality with DAB as to FM.

**AdC** · 09-07-2009,01:02 PM

Thanks cs2009 and Charles. I didn't order it as I didn't want to lose the iPod connectivity and now it's too late as the car is 'confirmed'. So I'll add the DAB to the Dynaudio on my 'Things-I-wish-I'd-ordered-but-didn't" list...

Maybe the sat-nav installation boys will start offering the oem DAB as well?

**Martinio** · 14-07-2009,09:35 AM

Hi everyone,

I noticed a lot of confusion about the DAB and MDI options!

DAB and MDI are both available with the RCD510 and RCD310! They don't mutually exclude each other. The DAB tuner is built in into the headunit, the MDI uses an external interface.

The confusion is just because the MDI is standard in the golf.
You can save 100pound when using the option DAB INSTEAD of the MDI. That's usefull for people who don't have an iPod.

Or you can ADD DAB to the MDI, then DAB costs 165pounds (not 55). That's all!

So DAB and MDI go together, no exception!

Hope I could help!

**AdC** · 14-07-2009,02:48 PM

Thanks, but does anyone know any aftermarket DAB box installers (preferably OEM), to go with the RCD510 I've ordered?

Ta'...

**Martinio** · 14-07-2009,03:34 PM

The best and easiest way is to order a RCD510 unit with the integrated DAB Tuner and sell your unit without the DAB tuner, e.g. on ebay (maybe in germany or elsewhere).

There are no external boxes for the RCD available and since there is a DAB version available no one will develop an external box...

of course you can use a pure highway but the performance dosn't reach the fully integrated rcd510.

changing the headunit is not complicated, I'm sure any VW dealer will do it for you!

**cdgthreesalmons** · 14-07-2009,06:11 PM

I have recently ordered a Golf with touchscreen/sat nav and was thinking about DAB.

Why cant you have both?

**Martinio** · 14-07-2009,06:21 PM

Hi,

the RNS510 sat/nav is a totally different system than the RCD510. Unfortunately there is currently no VW OEM sat/nav system with an integrated DAB tuner available.

I'm sure VW will release a sat/nav with an integrated DAB tuner, so in the future an upgrade to a DAB System should be possible!

As I said before, most of the headunits can be swapped pretty easily...