Cheapest way to get a CD player in a 850?

jimmy joe · Post by **jimmy joe** » 13 Jul 2010, 13:12

Hi
I have the older noisy cassette player stock in a '96, and am wondering if there is a different Volvo stereo unit with CD that plugs right in, or perhaps a reasonably priced aftermarket setup that someone here can recommend..?

Thanks!

850tech · Post by **850tech** » 13 Jul 2010, 13:25

sc-815 is the stock cd/cassette, try searching E-Bay for one

Post by **bigdaddylee82** » 13 Jul 2010, 13:39

You did say cheapest.

I personally don't like the factory CD or Tape player in the 850s or S70s, and would go with an aftermarket CD head unit. I'm not sure of your budget, but Pioneer has a ~$60 plane Jane CD player with an aux. input on the front, hard to beat that for new and name brand. Otherwise, eBay/Craigslist Head Units. I got my Alpine Head Unit 2nd hand, eBay mounting bracket/cubby hole, and local car audio place wiring harness all for under $100. Took a little over an hour to install, but I took the time to solder the wiring harness adapter to the head unit. YMMV

- Lee

Post by **jblackburn** » 13 Jul 2010, 13:55

I personally don't like the factory CD or Tape player in the 850s or S70s, and would go with an aftermarket CD head unit.

The stupid crap skips every time you hit a bump, and doesn't play burned CDs very well at all. If you're looking to play CD's, definitely go aftermarket. Or get an iPod adapter

MaxIcon · Post by **MaxIcon** » 13 Jul 2010, 13:57

Dunno about the SC-815, but my 99 SC-901 won't read burned CDs any more, and hasn't for years. That can be a risk with older head units. My wife's 6CD changer in her 97 850GLT reads them fine, though the base unit sound isn't great.

I'd second the suggestion for putting a modern head unit in, as you'd get goodies like MP3 playback.

I recently put a JVC KDR-600 in a Miata, because we needed iPod support, and it's been a great unit for the money (around $100 on sale). It not only has a very nice iPod interface and CD/MP3 support, it'll play right off of USB memory sticks, so everybody keeps their favorite music on inexpensive sticks in the center console.

It's got good sound if you don't crank it too much, but doesn't handle heavy music at high volume very well, like most units in the $100 and under price range.

ETA: I've got a USASpec iPod adapter in my C70 on the SC-901, but I wouldn't recommend that on a lesser stereo. There are just too many drawbacks, and it costs as much as a decent mid-range head unit.

Post by **JRL** » 13 Jul 2010, 14:09

Shouldn't be noisy, you have a bad CD player
ALL the radios (the SC radios) from 1995 to 2000 will fit right in and play.
The SC815-SC816s are the ones you want (any year)and have the single CD player
The only ones that will need a (Volvo) external amp are the SC900 and SC901
Most of these radios can be bought used from $30 to $60
Or you can try to find a Volvo rear 6 CD changer for $60-$85 or so
Remember you will need to buy the cable and run it (unless your car happened to come with one, some cars did).

Or.....as was said above, buy an inexpensive HU that will sound light years over the best 816 for 200 bucks or less
with CD, built in IPOD input, MP3 etc.

Post by **vjaneczko** » 13 Jul 2010, 14:57

I just posted the same solution in "Re: Dad Fix My Speakers! Radio Problem '93 850"

If the tape player still works, I found an old cassette/CD player adapter thingy like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Walkman-Connectin ... -1-catcorr
(link uses the MVS link)
... to hookup my cell phone which is loaded with a few hundred MP3’s and GPS. I haven’t played a CD in quite some time, don’t miss them at all and the sound is pretty sweet. Hopefully you can use the same thing to bypass the need for CD’s.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 13 Jul 2010, 15:03

Just get a cheap aftermarket unit and wire that in there. It would be better then the stock player and will probably work better.

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 13 Jul 2010, 17:47

I'm perfectly happy with the sc-815 that my car came with. It also won't get any easier than this - installing it will be a 5 minute or less job with no wiring to do.

I'm a big fan of keeping the stock radio if at all possible - I've added an ipod adapter and the factory amp from the 850R. Paired with new speakers it really sings now!

Post by **t5rrr** » 13 Jul 2010, 21:53

Try an entry level HU with CD/MP3 capabilities from www.crutchfield.com

They also include free faceplate kit and wiring harness for units >$100 or sometimes they run specials where free install kit is included in units <$100