HU-615 to aftermarket Head Unit

Post by **zulu-v40** » 05 Sep 2011, 16:08

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 for Volvo 99-06, $13 (amazon)
*Metra 40-VL10 Volvo Antenna Adapter, $5 (amazon)
*Volvo Genuine Part - Box, 30613741, $26 (volvopartswebstore.com) [comes w/ rubber mat - no need to order separate mat like I did]

I then paired everything with the Pioneer DEH-6300UB, which has four pre-amp outs that I coupled with the PC9-414 adapter. Lots of instructions for wiring on google. To connect the 70-9221 harnesses to the Pioneer harness, I used insulated butt connectors and have had no problems (no soldering necessary).

**The blue wire from the PC9-414 adapter did not fit in the female port on the head unit. To power the amplifier and subwoofer, I spliced the blue wire from the adapter in with the power from the head unit. It probably would have been better to splice to the cigarette lighter, but I went with ease of access. If no power is supplied to amplifier, then the sound produced will no longer be 'premiere.'

Any questions - let me know. This post is the product of many hours of research. It took quite a bit of time to make my dream a reality, but I can now play music from my iPhone through the car stereo! Cool thing about the Pioneer head unit - it lets you decide whether or not to control the music through the iPod/iPhone or the head unit.

Post by **fazool** » 06 Sep 2011, 20:52

How did you interface to the steering wheel audion controls ?

Post by **zulu-v40** » 06 Sep 2011, 21:15

My car doesn't have any steering wheel audio controls. I found some info - but it might be a bit outdated: forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?55892

One thing I seem to see on different sites when searching for steering wheel controls and aftermarket head units is the need for "CAN BUS" adapters.

Qhoove · Post by **Qhoove** » 16 Dec 2011, 17:17

Hello, I have a 2001 V40, I'm in the process of getting these parts, but one quest, did the pioneer head unit fit snug in the space above the box? the sony head unit i have seems to be too short and too thin?

Post by **zulu-v40** » 17 Dec 2011, 13:29

The pioneer head unit fit snugly. Does your car have the premiere sound system with an amplifier and subwoofer? If not, you might not need the special adapter from dynamicsounds.co.uk. It might be worth pulling the radio ahead of time to get a feel for what's going on inside. If you do pull the radio, make sure you know the radio code ahead of time.

Qhoove · Post by **Qhoove** » 19 Dec 2011, 13:17

Luckily I hadn't ordered the adapter yet, although there is a port for the adapter in the HU-615 when I pulled the head unit it wasn't connected, or in sight, but I'm pretty sure the car has the amp built in, and the sub in the rear, on one side of the interior. Will I still need the adapter?

Post by **zulu-v40** » 19 Dec 2011, 20:28

When I did my installation, I found two harnesses, one of which was connected to the HU-615, the second of which was buried deep behind the radio. The harness connected to the HU-615 was the 6 prong harness, which I coupled with the adapter mentioned above. The second harness had 8 prongs, was not connected to the HU-615, and seems to have no impact on performance.

From your reply, it sounds like the 6 prong harness is not even currently being used. Or am I wrong? If the car does in fact have the amplifier and subwoofer, connecting the 6 prong harness should drastically improve the quality of the sound being produced through the speakers. Are you hearing full bass and rich mid tones? If so, I would say get the adapter. It might be helpful if you could post a couple pictures of the harness and head unit.

Post by **fazool** » 20 Dec 2011, 06:25

zulu-v40 wrote:When I did my installation, I found two harnesses, one of which was connected to the HU-615, the second of which was buried deep behind the radio. The harness connected to the HU-615 was the 6 prong harness...The second harness had 8 prongs, was not connected to the HU-615.

If I understand correctly, what you are describing is the optional external amp wiring. As I understand it, the wiring harness is installed at the factory and runs from behind the head unit to beneath the passenger seat. If the car is then ordered with the amplifier option, the 200w or 300w amplifier is mounted under the seat and simply plugged in.

IIRC, there are five connectors on the back of the HU-615. A large green connector for speaker outputs, a grey connector for power and canBUS, a 6-pin DIN connector for pre-amp outputs, a 8-pin DIN connector for CD changer, and a small two-pin connector for something.

If you are simply using the internally amplified speaker outputs you only need the speaker connector. If you want to run your own external amplifier, you connect from the 6-pin DIN connector to your external amp.

The extra wiring harness you see runs pre-amp to under the seat then amplified speakers back to the head unit area where it plugs into the same speaker wiring harness.

Qhoove · Post by **Qhoove** » 20 Dec 2011, 16:43

After a little more digging I DID find the DIN connecter, it has 8 pins and plugging it in seems to have no major effect, since there is no 6-pin connector, I guess there's no need for the adapter which fits 6 pins... Can I still connect the aftermarket head unit? I'll need a different way to adapt the connector to pre-amp outputs.

Back of head unit looks like this:
http://cd4car.com/content/onetimepictur ... NOBS_4.JPG

Post by **fazool** » 20 Dec 2011, 17:39

OK, without seeing details I am not 100% sure. I had a 2005 S40 with the premium sound and I have a 2001 S60 with the standard HU-615 and a 2007 S60 with the HU-650.

There are three levels of sound systems. Basic, performance and premium (low, medium, high). IIRC the medium adds the 200w amp and a subwoofer. The premium uses the 300W amp, dolby head unit, sub and adds a center channel speaker.

Which head unit do you have?

Look under your passenger seat. Do you have an amp mounted there?

You can, however connect your new head unit to the existing amp etc.