Sc-900 vs sc-901

Post by **CIK7** » 20 Jan 2021, 09:40

I have seen two websites that use an identical webpage to show the speaker and power harness pin layout for the sc-900. That webpage listed all <2006 head units except the sc-901 and HU-850. How similar is the 900 to the sc-901?

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 20 Jan 2021, 09:50

901 has another sound channel for dolby. They connect up to an Alpine amp if i remember correctly and are apparently the best sounding units. I believe the amp is the most important part of the system which should be under the passenger seat.

Apparently a quick google search says the 900 does not do surround sound on radio mode. I believe all c70's, and S/V70 2.3T's and R's came with a 901 and amplifier

Post by **CIK7** » 20 Jan 2021, 11:10

yanga001 wrote: ↑20 Jan 2021, 09:50 901 has another sound channel for dolby. They connect up to an Alpine amp if i remember correctly and are apparently the best sounding units. I believe the amp is the most important part of the system which should be under the passenger seat.

Apparently a quick google search says the 900 does not do surround sound on radio mode. I believe all c70's, and S/V70 2.3T's and R's came with a 901 and amplifier

Thank you that was helpful. Now I'm gonna go call salvage for wiring harnesses.
For the US, most c70s have the 901, but it's rare to find 901 on the S/V70 2.3T. The two S/V 901 I saw were on the R model.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 20 Jan 2021, 12:47

CIK7 wrote: ↑20 Jan 2021, 09:40 How similar is the 900 to the sc-901?

SC-900 has two sound modes, SC-901 has three.

1. Mono
2. Stereo (all speakers play).
3. Dolby 3 channel.

SC-901 has a hidden equalizer menu where you can separately adjust front and rear speakers.

SC-900 chokes on burned CDs, SC-901 play them flawlessly.

Sc-901 CD changer mechanism improved.

Post by **scot850** » 20 Jan 2021, 19:34

Hate to disagree with you Rick. I have had both radios and the biggest issue is the lack of maintenance on the SC-900. Both units I have had just needed the laser cleaned (there is a process for that I uploaded as there is for the Sc-901). Volvo replaced the SC-900 due to a lot of customer complaints for disc jams. That was before anyone had discovered that the dirty laser head was the issue. I have had the same issue with SC-901's.

Have had both installed back to back (I do not have Dolby in the 'R') the SC-900 has a far better and fuller sound than the SC-901 to my ears. My car came with the SC-901 and a 6 disc CD player in the glove box, but I have now left the SC-900 in the car in preference.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 20 Jan 2021, 19:36

Should also add that the amp to head unit cable is NLA. If you have no luck finding a cable CIK7, PM me and I will see if I can find a spare to send you. I find the cables left in PnP cars where people pull the heads and amps but not the cables??

Neil.

Post by **CIK7** » 21 Jan 2021, 20:46

scot850 wrote: ↑20 Jan 2021, 19:36 Should also add that the amp to head unit cable is NLA. If you have no luck finding a cable CIK7, PM me and I will see if I can find a spare to send you. I find the cables left in PnP cars where people pull the heads and amps but not the cables??

Neil.

Yard after yard say they don't have the car listed. One said they do but it'll require $35 per wiring harness because people don't like buying incomplete dashboards. Dunno if that's a real thing but that's $140 for 4 harnesses.

Post by **CIK7** » 21 Jan 2021, 20:50

I think I dropped this bomb in the 960 forum somewhere: the sound system in my 960 is way better than ANY of the >2doz vehicles I have been in. That includes the 2006 Impala w/ Bose and 2006 Mazda w/Bose.

Post by **Goupil** » 22 Jan 2021, 14:12

RickHaleParker wrote: ↑20 Jan 2021, 12:47
CIK7 wrote: ↑20 Jan 2021, 09:40 How similar is the 900 to the sc-901?
SC-900 has two sound modes, SC-901 has three.
1. Mono
2. Stereo (all speakers play).
3. Dolby 3 channel.

My 900 has three modes

Factory HU in my 98 V70 (built in late 97) with the center speaker
- Nothing displayed on the screen so I would guess Mono
- "3ch"
- "Dolby"

3 CD loader is missing, I guess a consequence of it being crap

Post by **scot850** » 22 Jan 2021, 15:41

Here is a link to another thread on wiring harnesses for the SC-900/901. The harness is all the cables you see here. There are 3 cables as part of this. Can you confirm if this is what you need?

Neil.