Ok - sorry bout that - had to nip out for a bit!
The speaker problem took a week to fix and they have replaced just about everything in the car from the radio head unit (Symphony 6 CD) to the amp and the speakers. Problem was it didn't cure it at all - so what they have done (bodged) is insert a second speaker wire to the rear left hand speaker. Apparently the crackle is interference in the wiring loom.
It now occurs to me that if the antenna for the car is on the rear window, then it stands to reason that the aerial cable will be part of the loom, and will be subject to similar interference and degradation as it makes it's lonely way from the rear windscreen to the head unit. It should be shielded - but so should the speaker cable!
Just a thought - and after all that the AM reception is still crap!
Take care y'all
Kit
Dolphin Grey 1.6 FSI SE with Red Leather, ECC, DIS & Symphony 6 CD