Radio, Speakers, iPod Input, Antenna

A Comprehensive Look at Volvo Radio Upgrade

You have your SC-901 head unit. Check.
You have the Dolby processor. Check.

Sounds like you do NOT have the center speaker / dash yet. That’s OK – it can be added later. Continue reading →

Pioneer AppRadio 2 Install & Review

Also note I said ‘certain phones’. You need to make sure your phone has been tested & certified by Pioneer. It requires an MHL or HDMI connection as well as a Bluetooth connection and a few apps installed. Since I don’t have an iPod, I’ll focus on my Evo 3d. I should note that my daughters do have an iPod plugged into the unit but I never use it. Continue reading →

DIY: iPod/iPhone Input for SC-815/816 Radios

MVS Volvo Forums Contributor b2fkb0 shows us how to transform the tape deck function of SC-815 and SC-816 Volvo radios into an input for not just iPods and iPhones, but really any source with a mini jack output: “Well, sorry it took me a year to get back with this, but I hope it helps! Just did a black faced SC-816 for the 855 R for my daughter as her Christmas present, here’s what I did…”
Continue reading →

Speakers: 4 ohm or 8 ohm?

My twist is that I have 4 ohm OEM Volvo speakers but I keep reading that Volvo uses 8 ohm speakers.

I am working on door panels, noticed that one of the stock speakers was bad, went to the JY to get the only locally available replacement and it was worse than my bad speaker. My door panels were supposed to be done and I wanted to get something (yes rushing things, 1st mistake) so I went to the local stereo shop (2nd mistake?), talked to a guy who has been there forever and who I do actually trust. Continue reading →

Clean iPod-Volvo Radio Integration

I found an old thread about patching in to piggyback on the tape signal lines of an 850′s head unit. I believe it was an HU-813. Instead of using a cassette adaptor (which degrades the audio signal) and instead of … Continue reading →

Speakers: Aftermarket, Ohms, Resistors, and More

Door speakers, dash speakers, new replacement Polk/Infinity/Pioneer speakers, plus Volvo OEM amps and 20-watt 8-ohm resistors… Is your head spinning yet? Making sense of how to upgrade or replace bad speakers. New speakers

Antenna Down Switch

“I worked as a technician at a Volvo dealership for 5 years. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why Volvo omitted a switch for the antenna on 850 models when it seemed that every other model from … Continue reading →

Rear Speaker Tweeters Fix

Getting to the Speakers To get at the speakers you must first fold down the rear seat, and remove the 2 bolsters on either side of the rear seat attached to the metalwork above the rear wheel well. Remove the … Continue reading →

HU-615 to aftermarket Head Unit: Volvo V40

To pair an aftermarket head unit with the premiere sound system found in my 2003 Volvo V40 I used the following parts: *Autoleads PC9-414 Wiring Harness Adapter, $34 (dynamicsounds.co.uk) [+/- $50 w/ shipping from UK] *Metra 70-9221 Radio Wiring Harness … Continue reading →