P80 Radio amplifier question?

[scot850]

Glad you went the extra mile, and discovered it was well worth it!

Neil.

[erikv11]

So does an older P80 amp and cable, from an 850, work with an SC-900 or SC-901, or do you need one that came with those newer units?

[bmdubya1198]

I don't know, the car I pulled the amp and cable from was a 1999 S70. Not sure that they are original to the car though, as the head unit had a 2002 date on it, IIRC. I don't have that SC-901 anymore, I ended up getting one out of a 2004 C70 that I'm using with this amp.

[scot850]

I have not tried the older style of amp that was fitted up to 98 that fits on a stand behind the radio unit as so far I haven't found one. Volvo has several part numbers which you will see I have tried to figure out. The problem I found was that none of the labels on the amps I pulled (typically from P80 models) have part numbers that relate to anything in Vida. What I did find was that what is on the box for a brand new amp I saw on ebay, had a different part number on the box to that on the amp itself.

I think that provided the wiring cable from the amp to the radio fits, they will probably (I do say probably) all work. The difference is that the older ones some have 4x40W outputs and the newer under seat versions I believe all have 4x50W output.

I have several spare amps and cables, but recently tested 4 I had of the under seat units with an SC901 radio/multi-internal CD head and both amps with part numbers 9452029 and 9496557 (on the box it was 9496597 as shown on Vida and is a 4x50W amp for sure) both worked fine, I have not tried it with an SC-816 radio head I have but it does have and amp input connection on the rear.

Volvo may have fitted this amp to the end of the P80 C70's but I'm not certain of this as information is very hard to find on each amp specs.

Sorry I can't give you a 100% answer and won't be able to until I find an older amp behind the radio to see how it is wired.

The SC-900/901 units have a reputation for issues so the fact that there was a newer manufacture date may actually be a re-manufacture date. The main issue I have found is that the laser heads get dirty and then the 3CD cassette fails to load or plays up as the laser can't see the cassette or CD's. 20 minutes with some rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip usually fixes this. I did do a write up on this for an SC-900 and there is another for a SC-901 which is slightly different internally. I linked to that thread in my write-up.

Neil.

[bmdubya1198]

Ah, that would make sense that it was remanufactured. I know that there were issues with the in-dash CD changer in some units.

[Clemens]

DId I get this correctly? The US/Canadian models have the amp on der the seat while the European ones have it between the Radio and the heater core? How come?

[bmdubya1198]

I think some US models have it behind the radio, too, it just depends on the year.

[erikv11]

My 96 850 has the amp under the seat, my 95 has it behind the radio. Could depend on any number of things, AFAIK you just have to look.

[scot850]

I have not seen an 850 with the amp under the seat. It may have been done, or possibly was a later up-grade (unless you have owned the car since new). Like I said, I have not seen an amp behind the radio yet to confirm what they were fitted to an timescales.

One thing I think may be appearing as a pattern is that the 94542029 may have been an earlier part number to the 9496557, as I believe the first part number is the one I have consistently pilled from 98 models and the later from 99-00 models. Physically look identical even internally.

Can't talk to European model options as I don't know.

Neil.

[BEJinFbk]

My 96 850 has the amp under the seat, my 95 has it behind the radio. Could depend on any number of things, AFAIK you just have to look.

I've got a funny feeling that somebody put it there.
The diagrams only show an OEM amp behind the radio for the 850's.