Favorite stereo for your volvo?

[Clemens]

The speakers innthe doors aren't that bad. Just getting 3 1/4 inch speakers with nice tweeters for the dash should improve the sound drastically.

[wrybread]

Good tip. Do you have a specific make and model recommendation by chance?

[wrybread]

I did the line in mod as shown in that video, works great. Well almost great, sometimes my phone doesn't detect the jack is connected and continues playing through it's own speaker until I turn the head unit off and on... Another quirk is that I have to insert a cassette to activate it, and the only cassette I have is a hypnosis tape to lose weight that I found, so that plays until I start music on my phone, ha.

Planning to add my 'ol reliable bluetooth receiver to it:

https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Adapte ... B016NUTG5K

I've tried a bunch of bluetooth receivers over the years and that one does the best job of repairing with my phone every time I'm near it. If anyone has another good contender let me know.

I'm still thinking about getting an Android Auto / Car Play head unit for the sheer gizmo nirvana of it, but at least there's no rush now. Leaning towards the Alpine iLX-650 (has both Android Auto and Car Play) and the Taramp TS 400X4 amp. Interestingly that the amp is a "class D" amp, meaning the new style digital amps. I wonder if the head unit is Class D also since it's so tiny. I was wondering when these digital amps were going to make their way into car audio. They're both so small that I think the head unit and amp should fit in the dash.

[abscate]

i Just stripped the tape out of my original Hendrix at Woodstock and use the plastic case to stop that playing.

I have a decent BT player from amazon , too.

[June]

i Just stripped the tape out of my original Hendrix at Woodstock and use the plastic case to stop that playing.

I have a decent BT player from amazon , too.

Your still using 8-track June

[wrybread]

Thanks, cutting the tape in the cassette helps a lot. I can't get it to work with my Bluetooth adaptor for some reason though. It plays faintly but isn't usable. The Bluetooth receiver sounds fine if I plug in headphones or another stereo though.

I think it's probably caused by the same issue that makes me have to turn the head unit off when I connect my phone, otherwise my phone doesn't detect the aux connection and continues playing thru it's internal speaker.

Has anyone made this mod work with a bluetooth adaptor?

And do other people have to turn off the head unit when connecting their phones?

[gmh]

The aux adapter isn't 120 USD but 32 USD...

NOK 274.95 11%OFF | DOXINGYE,USB SD AUX Car MP3 Adapte CD Change For Volvo SC-series SC700 800 810 900 CR905 S80 C70 Interface
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/cqdHM2dw

I bought this and paired with https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Bluetooth-R ... pldnSite=1 , for my SC-816 and the sound is great!

[June]

Whatever the optional Premium sound was in the 1998 S90. By far it was the best sound I have heard in a Volvo. My 2002 S80 and 1998 V70 also had the optional Premium sound, but for some reason not as good. The V70 might have been due to being a wagon vs the S90 being a sedan. Unsure if the 70 and 90 had the same system. So my vote is for the 1998 S90 Premium sound system. June

[Richard_TD]

I have a CD player out of a s70 in my 850. Its the wrong color but it works. Of course I didn't know what that weird thin slot for a cd was for about a week bc I completely forgot what a CD was to begin with.... But that's my bad.

I actually use a $10 speaker phone adapter from the Walmart automotive department. Its a bluetooth FM transmitter, takes calls and the FM transmitter is amazingly powerful. I used to hate FM transmitters bc they were always so weak, but these new ones work great. Works with handsfree calling, and can charge two devices at the same time. Because my wife and I delivery drive full time in the car we needed something easy to use that just works. And I will say that it does really well. Even has micro FM adjustments for even numbered settings. I also put in new rear deck speakers, 5"x7" ford style. They fit perfectly into the original rear deck speaker boxes. When I listen to T.I., I know that i'm listening to T.I. with those new speakers.

Here's the link. Its just something functional. If I had cash to spend I'd do speakers first and then a head unit. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Auto-Drive-A ... /934128635

I use a similar adapter with my OEM stereo https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Tran ... 158&sr=8-5



It's quite neat and unobtrusive and adds nearly all the functionality I would want from a modern unit while keeping the car standard. It plays music crom a card, stick or the phone.

[abscate]

If you have tried the newer FM adapters they are a lot better. We went to a $10 one with two USB ports and the call answer feature and it is great