DIY: Bose Symphony Radio Controls

[exorcet]

I just recently got the S4 and found out a few days ago that the CD player in the car can't even read MP3 CDs, let alone a normal burned music CD. WTF? It only plays the first track on the music CD and can't seem to read any other songs on the CD.

I haven't tried playing the CD-RW music cd I made with the 6 CD changer in the back, but I'm assuming it will be the same thing?

yeah i started a thread about this several weeks ago. basically it's a sensitive laser and you have to burn (or at least i did) everything at 4x speed. TDK's are working I haven't tried Ridata yet.

so it will work, just find the right media and burn at 4x. may take some trial and error.

[1997gtx]

My burned CD's play no problem at at speed. Perhaps your CD player needs to be recoded?
--Adam

[JayyyyyC]

Update:

Well I took the same burned CDs that were burned at 40x speed (the ones that didn't work in the in-dash Bose cd player) and put them in the 6-cd changer unit in the back.

IT WORKS! The CDs play just fine and I am satisfied!

[JayyyyyC]

Has anyone noticed that there is a speaker in the middle section of the driver's side door that isn't on the passenger side? Is it just me?

[1997gtx]

You mean the speaker for the built in phone?
--Adam

[JayyyyyC]

You mean the speaker for the built in phone?
--Adam

WHHAAAA? Hahaha so that's what that speaker hole is. Weird... I don't have a built in phone though =(

[DesertS4]

Do you guys keep your tone levels (push-in knobs on head unit) at neutral after you've tweaked the eq?

[JayyyyyC]

Do you guys keep your tone levels (push-in knobs on head unit) at neutral after you've tweaked the eq?

Good question. I meant to ask the same question weeks ago.

[1997gtx]

^^ I keep mine tweaked still, but not as drastic.
--Adam

[jutny]

anyone have a complete set of info on this system?

amp output/input specs
speaker sizes/impedance
locations
etc...

[A4p]

would this also work in the b6 bose audi concert??

[GR8RTHAN3]

will this work with after market speakers, or will i need to retain my factory ones?

[Allaidback]

Does the 2004 Symphony II have the hidden equalizer too? Also, sometimes when I turn my stereo on it is really loud and other times not loud at all but the subs are really loud any suggestions?

[dgrs4sd]

I have mine set at 8-7-6-5-3-0-9, it sounds great :)

[1997gtx]

anyone have a complete set of info on this system?

amp output/input specs
speaker sizes/impedance
locations
etc...

I've never seen this, but the closest I think you can get is to just go to crutchfield and look up the S4's specs.
--Adam

[1997gtx]

would this also work in the b6 bose audi concert??

I have no idea. Only way to find out is to try =)
--Adam

[1997gtx]

will this work with after market speakers, or will i need to retain my factory ones?

You can use aftermarket speakers, but the stock amps might not be strong enough to power them.
--Adam

[GR8RTHAN3]

ok i guess what my real question is that does the hidden equalizer function work as long as i retain my factory head unit? cause i'm more than willing to get new amps as well.

[EssPhore]

This hasn't come up in a while and since there are so many new S4 owners hanging around now, I thought it would be a good idea to let you know how good the stock stereo system can be. Below are the things you can do that I know about. If anyone knows of any others, please add it to the list. Thanks!
--Adam

Hidden Equalizer


The following is the procedure on how to access and adjust the "hidden" equalizer feature in the Audi Symphony radio.

1. Turn off radio.
2. While pressing and holding the Preset 5 button, turn on radio.
3. You'll see a series of 8 digits displayed. From the factory, it's set to "55555555". You will not hear any sound when running in this mode.
4. The first four digits correspond to the four equalizer bands (low, low-mid, upper-mid, high) for the front speakers, and the last four digits are the same for the rear speakers. The level can be set from 1 (minimum) to 9 (maximum).
5. Turn the volume control knob to increase or decrease the level for the band (which is blinking). To advance to the next band, press the P.Scan button.
6. When you are done, turn off radio, then turn it back on to hear the results. On some versions of the Symphony, you must also cycle the ignition key to hear the results.

Entering anti-theft code


The following is the procedure to re-activate the radio if the display shows "SAFE". It is important that the procedure be followed in the correct order.

1. Turn on radio. The radio display shows "SAFE".
2. Press the P.Scan and RBDS buttons simultaneously and hold until "1000" shows on the display. Release the buttons. Do NOT press these buttons again, otherwise the radio will consider "1000" to be the code.
3. Use Preset buttons 1 ... 4 to enter the four-digit code number from your radio card. Preset button 1 corresponds to the first digit, Preset button 2 corresponds to the second digit, etc. Each press of the button increments the number by 1.
4. Once the code shown on the display is correct, press the P.Scan and RBDS buttons simultaneously and hold until the word "SAFE" appears in the display, then release the buttons.
5. The radio should unlock and be usable shortly afterwards.
6. If an incorrect code is entered, the word "SAFE" appears, first flashing and then continuously. You can repeat the above steps to unlock the radio once more, the number of attempts will be shown in the display. If an incorrect code is entered again, you radio will be locked for about one hour. After one hour - the radio must stay on and the key must remain in the ignition lock - if the display goes out, the you can repeat the above procedure to unlock again. The cycle - two attempts, one hour lock-up - still applies.
7. If you lose your radio code, contact your Audi dealer.

Radio Frequency Information


The following is the procedure on how to access the actual radio frequency auto fine-tuning information display.

1. Turn off radio.
2. While pressing and holding the Preset 1 button, turn on radio.
3. The display shows the actual radio frequency. It is constantly changing as the radio adapts and selects the strongest signal. While in FM mode, pressing the AM1 and AM2 buttons toggles the display between two modes rather than switching to AM. To switch to AM, you can first change to CD or CDC, then go to AM1 or AM2. This is a display-only mode. You cannot change any settings.
4. When you are done, turn off radio, then turn it back on for normal operation.

CD Changer Detection


The following is the procedure on how to access the CD changer detection display.

1. Turn off radio.
2. While pressing and holding the Preset 4 button, turn on radio.
3. If you have a CD changer connected and functional, the display shows "CONNECT". Otherwise, it shows "NO CDC". This is a display-only mode. You cannot change any settings.
4. When you are done, turn off radio, then turn it back on for normal operation.

Speed-sensitive Volume Control & Other Preferences & Configurable Options


The following is the procedure on how to access some other preferences that you may set in the Audi Symphony radio.

1. Turn off radio.
2. While pressing and holding the P.Scan button, turn on radio.
3. You'll see something like "SVC 3" on the display. This is the adjustment of the effect of the Speed-sensitive Volume Control.
4. Turn the tuning knob (right side knob) to increase or decrese the effect, the range is from 1 to 5 (5 is maximum).
5. Press the P.Scan button to advance to the next adjustable parameter and you can use the tuning knob in the same way. Repeat this until it cycles back to the "SVC" mode.
6. When you are done, turn off radio, the setting will be remembered the next time the radio is turned on.

SVC = Speed-sensitive Volume Control (auto-volume compensation) effect
VOL = Turn-on volume setting
SENS = Station-scan sensitivity (DX/LOcal)
REM = Radio Monitoring (whether radio should come on while cassette is rewinding or fast-forwarding) (OFF/ON)
NAV = Navigation system audio mute amountTELHands-free telephone speaker left or right (L/R) No effect on Bose-equipped systems.
TA = Traffic Announcement volume

The volume of traffic announcements (independent of music volume). This is applicable to radios with this capability, and operated in an area with such a service.

Standard/Bose and other configuration modes


You can program the Symphony radio to use either the standard or the Bose equalization setting, as well as a few other basic configurations. This requires the use of a VAG-1551, VAG-1552 or equivalent scan tool (See VAG-COM or ProDiag). Knowledge of the usage of such a scan tool is assumed.
Note: Some Symphony radios have difficulty communicating with VAG-COM (probably due to timing sensitivity). Please visit the Ross-Tech web site for further information.

1. Connect scan tool to the car's OBD-II diagnotic port.
2. Turn on ignition and radio, select Radio Controller in scan tool.
3. The radio shows "DIAG" in the display.
4. Select "Recode Module". You may enter a 5-digit code according to the table below. For example, "00007" is a standard setting while "00017" is a Bose setting, both with CD changer and secondary display.
5. Turn off radio and ignition, disconnect scan tool.
6. Turn on radio to hear the effects. In Bose mode, the radio display will show "BOSE" briefly after turn-on.

1: Country ID (0 = standard)
2: Sound Coordination (0 = standard)
3: Number of passive speakers
0 = No passive speakers (Bose)
1 = Front left (Bose with hands-free phone)
2 = Fronts passive, rears active
5 = Passive fronts, non-active rears
4: Sound System
0 = standard
1 = Bose
5: Radio Configuration
1 = No CD changer
3 = With CD changer
5 = With secondary display
7 = With CD changer and secondary display

Note: Programming the radio to run in Bose mode does not make it a Bose system if it wasn't installed at the factory as such. The Bose system also has an different external amplfier and different speakers.

Would any body have an idea why #5 preset Has no effect? Doing this with 1-4 does. Any ideas?

[Giza]

when i turn on my car, it always beeps and blinks "SERVICE!" this happens on my dashboard where you can see if you have a dorr open and stuff like that. i do all of my own work, so i know it doesn't need service. can someone please tell me how to get rid of this "SERVICE!" thing that keeps popping up every time i turn on my car?

[1997gtx]

^ Yeah, but that doesn't have anything to do with the stereo, lol.

You can reset it by holding and turning a combination of the trip reset button, etc.

I'll find the exact directions and post them.
--Adam

[1997gtx]

1. Insert your key into the ignition.
2. Push in the service button (with the crescent wrench icon), just left of the odometer reset button, hold it in, and turn the key to ON without starting the car.
3. The display should read either "SERVICE IN ????KM" or "Service!" if it does not, repeat steps #1 and #2.
4. To reset, push and hold the odometer reset button until you see "---" (dashes) for the distance and days until service.
5. Turn the ignition to the off position. When the ignition is turned back on, the "Service!" reminder will not show (until it gets close again).

[IceKaiser]

Sorry to ask this in the Bose thread, but when you reset the "service" reminder as described above, is there a way to program the time or distance for it to reappear?

And since it IS in the Bose thread, are there any seperate controls for the subwoofer? Without knowing the e.q. trick I've got my bass and mid settings all the way down to keep my glass from shattering.

[scoobysteve0]

I have the same problem, I have the symphony II and pressing #5 does nothing for me when i turn on the radio, yet doing #2 and #4 shows something...any help for this? (also nothing when i push Pscan and power)

[scoobysteve0]

bump for helppp

[DuWerk]

This may be a really lame question but, is there a way to program the radio to stay on after the ignition is switched off? I always want to hear the rest of a song but I have to leave the car running or shut it down and fire the radio back up to finish my song. It just gets annoying sometimes. I love my old Audi's because you can just turn off the radio later ( however leaving yourself open to forgetting and making your battery go dead) LOL
Anyone know if this is possible?

[quickaudi]

bump for helppp

are you pressing 5 and holding it while you power on the radio?

[quickaudi]

set my hidden EQ to 66566656

76567656 had too much bass for my taste

[scoobysteve0]

no when the radio is off. does it need to be on?

[Audeye A6]

I have been happy with 74386444

[MacDaddy]

it makes no sense to make the second set of numbers the same as the first, thats nothing you couldn't have done with the nobs on the front of the radio.

I set the back to have a little more bass, and the front to have a little less mid range to balance out the sound. quite enjoyable now.

[DuWerk]

So nobody knows if you can set the radio to stay on after you shut off the ignition?

[MacDaddy]

you mean like on fords and chevys?

[DuWerk]

No like, my 92 S4, 92 V8, 90 Coupe, and my 4000 Quattro.... Actually my 69 camaro doesn't do that. Hmmmm
I guess I am just too old school for my B5........

[will175]

I was wondering the same thing.

[tike0rz]

So nobody knows if you can set the radio to stay on after you shut off the ignition?

I wish...even a 97 ford taurus will do that

[DuWerk]

The new GMC pick up truck my Father just bought is pretty sweet. The radio stays on until you open the driver door. I guess in the american stuff they put more effort into that kinda shit... LOL

[sti4now]

where can I get both front left and front right Bose door speakers for my s4 besides the dealership?

[MacDaddy]

The new GMC pick up truck my Father just bought is pretty sweet. The radio stays on until you open the driver door. I guess in the american stuff they put more effort into that kinda shit... LOL

I never understood that at all, if i remove the key from the ignition its because i'm about to leave the vehicle or i'm not interested in listening to the radio, not because i want to jam to the radio.

it really pissed me off in my F-350 work truck when i would take the key out to do some paperwork and think or talk on the phone and i have the radio still blaring away distracting me. Naturally i would tun it off, but when it was time to drive again, i would have to turn it on again. Not a very convenient convenience feature. I'm a strong believer that the little things in a vehicle make the biggest difference.

the other thing i hate that ford (and i think GM too) does is the positions on the ignition, instead of making the key positions "off, accessory, on, start" its "accessory, off, blank, blank, on, start." WTF???

[DuWerk]

Yeah,

That key switch garbage on domestic cars/trucks is pretty lame for sure.


Speakers can be found at www.shokan.com
They sell used tested units with a 6 month warranty.
1/3 off from the dealer cost I believe.
Good luck