7 replies to this topic

[clarkerussell]

Hello all,

I'm trying to find a good source of information for upgrading my 1998 S70's factory stereo, but I want to stay with a factory head unit. I've read the fantastic information at Jim Rothe's Site, but I'm not looking to buy new Dynaudio speakers from Volvo. I'm looking for some cross-compatibility information on the basic SC-816 stereo to the high-end SC-901 from the C70's. Some of my questions would be:

1) Can the 200 Watt factory amplifier from the C70 be added to the standard SC-816? If so, how? Is the car pre-wired for it? Where does it mount?
2) Is the SC-901 a direct swap for the SC816?
3) Speakers.... can any of the Dynaudio speakers from the C70 be incorporated into the S70 or should I just go after market?

Thanks everyone.

Clarke

[crazykn]

1.) The Alpine amplifier isn't really a direct fit to the S70. I think it was mounted under the passenger seat in the C70, but I could be wrong. The amplifier is actually pretty generic and you could easily use a aftermarket one in its place. To see this amplifier mounted (custom mount), check under a user named Jesus.

2.) Yes the SC-901 is a direct fit for the SC-816, but you need a amplifier to drive the speakers. A bit of a warning here, if you want to put in a 850 stock amplifier, (which is a tiny amp that fts behind the radio and in front of the heater core) you have to get creative if you want to mount the SC-901's Dolby Pro Logic module (it goes in the same place as the amp would). If you don't want the Dolby Pro logic, you could install a 850 amplifier down there and use that instead of the Alpine amp or aftermarket.

3. The speakers for the C70 should fit the S70. I was at the junkyard last month (where I found my SC-901 and dolby pro logic unit) and the C70 (thoughly still fully intact), the first thing that someone had removed from the car was the Dynaudio speakers. I guess someone knew their value. At least I picked up a SC-901 and Dolby unit for $20. I'm currently running a aftermarket 4 channel amplifier in my trunk, so swapping in the SC-901 was no problem.

I would love to get my hands on dark grey dash cover with the center speaker to get the Dolby Pro logic system fully up.

[Big Will]

Don't forget you can also use the 4 x 50 watt amp from the S/V70 R that had the Dolby sound system. That is a small amp that is mounted under the passenger seat using the factory supplied mounting point. I prefer having the amp mounted where the Dolby unit would be as in an 850R b/c my '98 doesn't have the Dolby Processor. I added the 901 and passenger seat amp to my XC here in Sweden last Spring - same quality sound as the 850R 4 x 50 amp just a different mounting location.

[BEJinFBK]

crazykn, on 19 September 2009 - 06:45 PM, said:

3. The speakers for the C70 should fit the S70.

I'm thinking not...
The C70 Dynaudio system has 3 way seperates in the front with
mids and woofers in the doors and tweeters in the dash.
The V/S's have a two way setup with just woofers in the doors
and tweeters in the dash. It's a whole different trip...

But there are Dynaudio sets for the Gen 1 S and the V series.
 dynaudio_brochure4.jpg   88.24K   45 downloads
All the S part numbers are in Jim Rothe's arcticle.
You should be able to get the V part numbers and
P & A on these sets from DW Volvo.

(800) 689-0021
Ask for Don or Jamie

[K Y L E]

get the dynaudio speakers. they rule and you don't have to mess with awkward sizes.

[Chilled Man]

I will have a C70 amp and dolby unit for sale here soon the radio works but the CD player has a slight hiss to it only when playing CDS.

Plus I dispise stock volvo radios so it was going anyhow.

the stock C70 amp acutally is installed in the right rear of the trunk behind the trunk panels

its also 4x100 so a 400 watt amp not 200watts IIRC ?

and yes you can make it work but will take a little bit of custom work nothing major