S60 Aftermarket HU Recommendation

Jlselby231 · Post by **Jlselby231** » 04 Sep 2017, 07:25

I looked for previous threads but was unable to find anything relevant. Sorry if this is unnecessarily starting a new topic.

I have a 2007 S60 2.5T and I'm looking to replace the stock radio with and aftermarket one.

I want something like the Bluepower (http://www.vivaperformance.com/bluepowe ... v70-05-09/) that simple can attach to the existing AC module.

I also need the steering wheel controls to work of that is possible.

: This in the Bluepower HU I mentioned; IMG_0002.PNG (100.02 KiB) Viewed 1856 times

Are there any other brands like this or just any HU recommendations.
I'm wanting a decent quality but not wanting to pay a fortune.

Thanks in advance

Post by **mrbrian200** » 05 Sep 2017, 16:10

Pre facelift (-2004) there are more options. But for MY05 and later the BP-840 is the only thing you'll find that looks like it belongs in that space/OEM-look and less likely to attract thieves. Believe me I've looked. Early versions of the BP-840 radio had massive issues, but that was more than 10 years ago. It's been updated since then both in the hardware and software. It would be nice to see feedback from someone who has taken the plunge on a new one to get some feedback. I probably, eventually, will try one of these myself. If it works good, it's a tremendous bang for the buck and updates these cars (which usually weren't fully loaded) with some modern conveniences which are pretty standard now, such as digital media, GPS, and reverse camera. And you get to keep your cubby or cupholder. I'm not sure I could live without that little cubby-perfect convenient spot for sunglasses and the little green Starbucks cup stoppers.
Note with any aftermarket radio the antenna signal amplifier needs to be powered in a specific way (10v). The factory HU supplies this 10v to the antenna signal amp. 12v or nothing both result in very bad FM reception. If you decide to replace the factory HU ask back. I or someone else can probably help you get that working. Or ask Bluepower. By now they would have to be aware of the power requirements of the rear window antenna amp to get it to work properly and may have something.

Post by **vtl** » 06 Sep 2017, 05:31

Pretty much any HU from a respected brand will sound better than HU-650. Steering wheel adapter is not something impossible to find.

I agree BP is looking tempting now, unless it's still of typical WinCE quality.

mk3racer · Post by **mk3racer** » 07 Sep 2017, 16:45

I replaced the head unit in my 03 XC with a very inexdpensive Dual double din Bluetooth device. I did the install myself and am getting a terible FM signal. It goes in and out of clarity. How would I change the voltage to the antenna? I was thinking of going back to the 613 or upgrading to an 850. I have the return cable for the amplifer and center speaker already, just haven't been able to find an amplifier at the wrecking yard yet. Although I'm not positive I have been looking in the right spot... Sorry to Hijack the thread...

Post by **Rattnalle** » 08 Sep 2017, 00:01

I don't know if this is one of those things that are different on different markets but I stuck a alpine HU in my car and FM reception is still excellent with just the adapter to make the cable fit. Not that I ever use it for more than the traffic announcements.

New HU together with Volvos Amp didn't work too well though, sound was off and tinny. So I added an Amp to the boot and connected it to the stock cables behind the HU in the same way Volvo does with the stock Amp.

Just the Alpine HU driving the speakers didn't sound too well either. Couldn't compare with the 603 since it was shot to begin though.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 08 Sep 2017, 23:22

vtl wrote: ↑06 Sep 2017, 05:31 I agree BP is looking tempting now, unless it's still of typical WinCE quality.

That's hard to say.
They've had more than ten years to tweak/debug the software. Somewhere around 2015 or 16 they started building them with a faster CPU, a Cortex A8 1ghz which should be fast enough to provide a responsive environment on this type of device (a problem on the early ones). Every once in awhile somebody asks about these but I have seen no testimonials, good or bad, from anyone who has purchased one of the newer ones. People usually cite major problems known to the early ones purchased in the mid 2000's.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 09 Sep 2017, 00:50

mk3racer wrote: ↑07 Sep 2017, 16:45 I replaced the head unit in my 03 XC with a very inexdpensive Dual double din Bluetooth device. I did the install myself and am getting a terible FM signal. It goes in and out of clarity. How would I change the voltage to the antenna? I was thinking of going back to the 613 or upgrading to an 850. I have the return cable for the amplifer and center speaker already, just haven't been able to find an amplifier at the wrecking yard yet. Although I'm not positive I have been looking in the right spot... Sorry to Hijack the thread...

On the vehicle antenna plug that comes out at the back of the radio: Look at it closely there's a wire/connection that's not an antenna. That's the wire that the factory HU supplies the antenna signal amp with 10v. If it get's no power your antenna effectively becomes the shielded coax (very poor reception). Connecting this to switched +Battery results in anything between 12v (engine off) to 14.7v engine running which overloads the signal amp and doesn't work either.

The antenna signal amp draws around 100 milliamps (fyi)
The quick and dirty fix is to connect this wire to switched +B through a 50 ohm 1 watt resistor and a fuse which results in slightly over 10v at the signal amp with the engine running and seems to work from what I've read online. It really should be regulated to a stable 10v though. Something like this should work:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-COBY-CA ... 3641.l6368
You would hard wire it behind the dash/out of sight.

DrDan · Post by **DrDan** » 13 Sep 2017, 14:32

Jlselby231, there are also some products which extend the stock radio. For instance, with the GROM Audio you get MP3 playback from USB and SD, Android and Bluetooth connectivity and the IMIV allows to connect an Ipod or IPhone. If these options include the functionality you are looking for, the advantage over replacing the stock radio is that all other things related to the radio will still work, including CD changer, RTI navigation, parking assist, carphone and steering wheel controls.