Head unit upgrade

patcal · Post by **patcal** » 08 Feb 2021, 17:12

Hi all,

I am considering a aftermarket head unit. I am wondering what some of you have used successfully? I am content with the factory sound but wan to add android auto, bluetooth & usb playback. I have the HU-613 HU now if it maters. So what are your thoughts? Thanks.

krhodes1 · Post by **krhodes1** » 11 Feb 2021, 14:50

I just finished this project in my '04 V70 last weekend. I went with a generic Chinese Android 10 headunit from Amazon.

To integrate into the car I used a Crux SWRVL54 canbus interface box. I bought that on eBay. Note that this only works on the basic Volvo stereos, but if you have an HU-613 you are good to go. It already has the Volvo plugs on it, you just connect the stereo harness to it and plug it in. Finally, I used a Carav double-DIN adapter so that I could keep my storage pocket - also from eBay. My particular head unit also required an additional dongle for Android Auto and CarPlay to work, that is mounted in the storage pocket - some need that, some don't. With the Crux box, install is plug and play, and the illumination and steering wheel buttons still work. I'm pretty happy with it so far. The one thing I ran into is that the way most of these Chinese headunits are built, they don't fit properly into the Carav adapter. I had to cut about some of the stereo bezel off to get it to sit far enough in to be able to get the faceplate on. If you don't want to keep the storage pocket there are other mounting options, a cheap Metra that is kind of crap, and a spendy one from Volvo themselves that is supposed to be nice, but I have never seen one.

If you can give up on Android Auto, an even simpler option is to keep the factory head unit and add a Grom USB and BT adapter - it plug into the CD Changer connection and uses those controls on the headunit, but it is pretty limited in what it can do. Not really cheaper either.

Here is what mine looks like in the car - sorry for the lousy picture! I didn't take any pictures of my butchery to get it to fit, but obviously that is all hidden behind the scenes. The headunit is amazingly configurable, and of course if you don't like a standard app you can just get something different from the Google Play store. It's basically just a 7" tablet in a double-din form factor. This one has an 8-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB storage. GPS and WiFi, but no option for a CIM card. Two USB ports, two micro-SD, no CD/DVD. I have the AA dongle plugged into one USB, with the other free in the pocket. A 64GB SD card full of music in the slot.

Stereo 1 by kevinr1916, on Flickr

Kevin Rhodes
'04 V70 2.4T
Port Charlotte, FL

patcal · Post by **patcal** » 11 Feb 2021, 15:55

Thanks for the detailed post. I thought about the grom but it will not allow you to plug in a flash drive for music. The usb is only for charging. Your setup does look like a tablet. Do you have a ling to the stereo? I do want to keep the cubby hole.

krhodes1 · Post by **krhodes1** » 11 Feb 2021, 19:35

I'm pretty sure one of the Grom options gives you the ability to do MP3s, but there are some limitations due to it using the CD changer controls, IIRC only six folders or some such.

Here are the links to the three main the pieces I ordered:

Headunit - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WX ... UTF8&psc=1

There are a million of these things. I picked this one for the volume knob, and that I wanted to be able to return it if I didn't like it - but then I had to modify it to fit, so that option went out the window... I would recommend getting Android 10 and as much CPU and RAM as possible though - you want it to be responsive. Mine is faster than my phone!

Double-Din Adapter - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Stereo-Rad ... 2749.l2649

Crux box - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Crux-SWRVL54-C ... 2749.l2649

You can get the Crux box from Crutchfield for a little more if they sell the last one on eBay - they might say it isn't compatible, but it is.

Good luck!

krhodes1 · Post by **krhodes1** » 11 Feb 2021, 19:45

A couple more views of different screens - I only posted the home screen before.

Radio:

stereo 2 by kevinr1916, on Flickr
Media Player:

Post by **darrylrobert** » 11 Feb 2021, 19:46

i decided on a Alpine ILX-702D which has far less features than the no brand name units. This unit starts up really fast and can display the reverse camera image in around 2 seconds, which is important for me. Also there are no annoying click "OK" screens like some others have, basically you start the car and within 4 seconds the radio will play or what ever media you had on last, its a no fuss unit.

: alpine ilx 702d

xtwister · Post by **xtwister** » 14 Feb 2021, 20:46

I put mine in last year and I love it. There are so many functions on these head units. I have like 4 gps's I keep changing it up.
Right now i'm doing the car play thing on it.. (even though my main phone is samsung.. lol)

The head units came with rear camera and steering wheel controls but I havent put them in and not sure if i will.
Mines looks like krhodes1 head unit. I'm thinking about changing the faceplate to what he used as I used the metra version
Cost wise I think I paid less than $300 cad. Installation was an 2 hours (abit of modification involved.

I wish i could put one of these in my other car. Most Newer cars cant fit these things.

patcal · Post by **patcal** » 15 Feb 2021, 09:03

xtwister wrote: ↑14 Feb 2021, 20:46 I put mine in last year and I love it. There are so many functions on these head units. I have like 4 gps's I keep changing it up.
Right now i'm doing the car play thing on it.. (even though my main phone is samsung.. lol)

The head units came with rear camera and steering wheel controls but I havent put them in and not sure if i will.
Mines looks like krhodes1 head unit. I'm thinking about changing the faceplate to what he used as I used the metra version
Cost wise I think I paid less than $300 cad. Installation was an 2 hours (abit of modification involved.

I wish i could put one of these in my other car. Most Newer cars cant fit these things.

What is the model of your head unit? I definitely want android auto as I have Samsung as well. I would also like to keep the cubby. Thanks for the picture.

Post by **darrylrobert** » 18 Feb 2021, 05:17

you know for that gap between the genuine volvo aftermarket radio panel and the ccm you need to file some tabs down.

Post by **Mike Langlois** » 19 Feb 2021, 11:51

Watch that gap, the face plate is not installed correctly. I just had to do this (again) and there are tabs that fit into cutouts. By the way, does anyone know where the AUM audio module is located? I have a trouble code on Vida and a whine in my fancy stereo...
Manic Mike