Best OEM sound system for 850 sedan?

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Feb 2010, 00:54

My 1997 854 GLT has either an SC-815 or SC-816, haven't had time to pull it and check yet. It has a bunch of bad bulbs including the LCD, and the drivers door speaker cuts out intermittently, fixable by blasting the volume for a moment, until it happens again.

Option A: send the unit to an authorized Mitsubishi dealer for repair.

Option B: go and ebay another OEM unit.

Option C: suck it up until I can afford option A or B

I've read the SC-901 has vastly superior sound, but will it run in an 850 without modification? If not, is the 815/816 in fact the best sounding factory system?

It has the "Premium Sound System" which I understand simply means a factory amp. Is that amp compatible with the 901? Would the 4x100 from the C70 also drop-in to an 850?

Yet, I don't like the 3-CD. I only listen to the radio, my wife listens to louder and more abusive tunes by radio as well as CD. I've heard the 3-discs tend to jam up. I suppose it would be hoping for too much that there's a compatible factory 1-CD that sounds just as pissah as the 901?

Related, is there a Dynaudio upgrade importable from Europe that will fit the 850? So similar to an S70 yet so different in the interior panels. The brackets would be key to an upgrade, the higher end speakers without proper baffling would be worthless.

Tough spot I've put myself in. I've decided to defend the car's OEMness, yet the ridiculous bass curve and rear speaker dominance somehow offend my ear more than the punchless base model tape deck in my 96 wagon. I'm constantly chasing the sliders trying to smooth it out, and then the damn song is over and I have to tweak it again, when I should be paying full attention to the road. If I've got to repair, I'd just as soon fix all 3 problems at once (lights, cutouts, equalization).

Thanks,
- Kevin

Post by **JRL** » 10 Feb 2010, 06:47

kcodyjr wrote:My 1997 854 GLT has either an SC-815 or SC-816, haven't had time to pull it and check yet. It has a bunch of bad bulbs including the LCD, and the drivers door speaker cuts out intermittently, fixable by blasting the volume for a moment, until it happens again.

SAYS WHAT IT IS ON THE RADIO

Option A: send the unit to an authorized Mitsubishi dealer for repair.

NO

Option B: go and ebay another OEM unit.

MAYBE

Option C: suck it up until I can afford option A or B

BUY AFTERMARKET

I've read the SC-901 has vastly superior sound, but will it run in an 850 without modification? If not, is the 815/816 in fact the best sounding factory system?

YOU NEED THE (SEPARATE) BIGGER FACTORY AMP

It has the "Premium Sound System" which I understand simply means a factory amp. Is that amp compatible with the 901? Would the 4x100 from the C70 also drop-in to an 850?

YES, ALL ARE INTERCHANGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER

Related, is there a Dynaudio upgrade importable from Europe that will fit the 850? So similar to an S70 yet so different in the interior panels. The brackets would be key to an upgrade, the higher end speakers without proper baffling would be worthless.

DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW IF THEY'RE BOLT IN WITH AN 850

Tough spot I've put myself in. I've decided to defend the car's OEMness, yet the ridiculous bass curve and rear speaker dominance somehow offend my ear more than the punchless base model tape deck in my 96 wagon. I'm constantly chasing the sliders trying to smooth it out, and then the damn song is over and I have to tweak it again, when I should be paying full attention to the road. If I've got to repair, I'd just as soon fix all 3 problems at once (lights, cutouts, equalization).

ANY $250 AFTERMARKET RADIO AND A SET OF DECENT SPEAKERS WILL BLOW THE OEM SYSTEM AWAY, EXCEPT FOR THE VERY EXPENSIVE DYNAUDIO WHICH WOULD COST 3 TIMES AS MUCH

Thanks,
- Kevin

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Feb 2010, 08:09

So my instinct about the Mitsubishi factory head units being crap, is correct? Only reason I'd consider fixing it is because it's original to the car.

I want to avoid aftermarket because they always look like butt in the dash, and always so terribly clunky and distracting to operate. The stoopid graphic animations drive me crazy, too, moreso at night.. Call me a Luddite but I miss the aftermarket radios of the 80's... the factory fit and finish is important to me in this particular car.

The separate bigger factory amp. Is that different than the Premium Sound System that came with the car? How can I tell if I have an adequate amp for the 901?

I've heard swapping out the head unit will solve the EQ curve issue, so digging up a Dynaudio speaker set can simply wait. None of the factory speakers sound blown; they're not audiophile good but they're better than most for factory gear. I can live with them, and upgrade to Dynaudio later if I can find a used set that I can check for fitment.

Thanks,
- Kevin

Post by **jblackburn** » 10 Feb 2010, 08:29

I have the SC-816 1-disc with original speakers and factory amp, and it's one of the best-sounding factory radios I've heard, better than an Acura MDX with a built-in sub, better than Ford's already-great system in an Expedition, second only to the 8-speaker Infinity sound system in my dad's Jeep. Then again, I don't know what the differences are between the 850 speakers and the S70. I like my music loud, and it's got plenty of bass without distorting at volume

The CD player is a piece of junk though, and skips over the slightest bumps, and only will read specific types of writeable CD's. But I too like the stock look to the car, and unless my radio dies I will probably keep it in there.

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Feb 2010, 08:35

I agree, the 816 based premium setup sounds more than decent, but if you listen to Classical or really any instrumental genre, the nonadjustable default EQ curve makes a mess of the lower frequencies.

Besides, with the speaker cutout glitch, I've got to do something, so I might as well aim for the best compatible gear that Volvo sold...

- Kevin

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 10 Feb 2010, 12:07

If you've got ANY Volvo amp in your car, the 901 will plug right in and work just fine.
You don't need any specific Volvo amp...As long as you've got a 6 pin DIN plug
connected to the "AMP" jack on the back of your current deck, you're good to go.
The only thing you'll miss is louder tunes.

Another thing you'll miss out on is the diversity tuning feature.
The 815/816 (the same HU, BTW - just a different color) uses one antenna.
The 900/901 is made to use two, a main and a sub. It looks at the signal strength
of both ( really fast ) and chooses the stronger signal for better reception.
But that's no biggie, either. Just plug in the main and it'll default to that antenna.
( The 901 also has a pretty handy built in EQ...

)

As for the 4 x 100 being a drop in? Not really...
Sure, you can install one and it'll Rock, but you'll have to relocate, probably to the trunk.
That means power, signal and speaker runs...Might as well go with a nice 5 channel and add a sub.

Speakers? I'd drop in the 901 first, play with the EQ and see if that works for you.
THEN think about upgrades.

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Feb 2010, 14:06

Different -color-? That justified another model number? Twits...

OK, I'll pull it out of the dash to verify the amp is connected then order a 901 from wherever I can find it. They pop up on ebay now and then.

If the 4x100 won't just drop in and screw down where the current one is, then I'm not going to change the amp at all. This baby is staying OEM, in fact staying original except for trivially reversible stuff like the head unit, and truly undetectable things like fogs and TC. Maybe the rear seat heaters if I can find a set. Pattern emerging: nothing aftermarket, nothing mickey-moused. Also means I won't be trying to graft in a second antenna.

Thanks,
- Kevin

rubyvette · Post by **rubyvette** » 10 Feb 2010, 16:25

The face plates on the radios are either black (from an 850) or dark gray (fom an S70 or V70). No difference in the units. If you're anywhere near Worcester I've got a couple radios with new bulbs that I'll give you a good deal on. I can also show you what speakers I used to upgrade my system with that fit in the factory locations.

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Feb 2010, 16:38

Fiddlesticks.

It is an SC-815 and there is no amp connection present.

I thought the ones labeled "Premium Sound System" came with an amp? That mean someone swapped it in already?

I checked the 96 wagon as well. It's an SC-710.

So, off to find an SC-901 and HA-4240 amp.

rubyvette, if you have a 901 with a black faceplate, I'm interested. I'm in Chelmsford and could take a ride anytime after payday.

I'm torn on swapping in another 815/816, it'll still have the ridiculous bass curve even with the outboard amp, from what I've heard.

Thanks,
- Kevin

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 Feb 2010, 17:42

Right. Wait. 901 was introduced with the S70, so it's either gray or gray.

I thought I saw one darker than another on ebay. Maybe just the camera's flash reflecting different.

What would you do to a 97 850 GLT that's all original or so close it doesn't matter, nearly pristine interior and well above average exterior, that has a broken SC-815 in the dash? I'm thinking I should drop in the amp and 901 and put up with the lighter colored radio; it can't be nearly as obnoxious as an aftermarket. I doubt I'll ever sell the car but I suppose I could keep the 815 in the attic anyway just in case.

- Kevin