Bleh! Stupid Wiring >_<

[Hastings]

I head over to the local audio store with a new radio in mind that I wanted to get. It's just one of those touch screen pioneer brand guys with ipod, cd, fm, xm, dvd, the works. I decided against it because I had heard they didn't fit in too well, and I decided to go with an alpine single-slot and use a little compartment filler below it to fill up the second slot. I'm all ready to go with all the parts and the few little required wires, and I go to put it in (out in the parking lot, just because I wanted to make sure it'd be a'ok) and it turns out that the car not only has an amplifyer, but one that's not compatable with any radio but stock. Thus, just for the ipod connecter and xm upgrades, I'd be out $250 for the radio, $400 for the amp, and $100 for wiring/installation. I decided to return it, but ugh, do some of you seriously spend that much on a new deck? I see a few people around with alpine decks and whatnot, geeze!

[Jippi 855 GLT]

pics of the plugs?

[Hastings]

pics of the plugs?

The plugs themselves weren't the issue, it was the amplifier that was... Since the car has 9 speakers and the radio is only designed for 4 without an amp, it poses major problems. I mean technically I could go blow a grand there and end up with a poking kick ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD radio system, but do I really want to do that?

[Jippi 855 GLT]

the aftermarket stereo will run all 9 speakers. after you plug it in it should work fine. my 850 has an aftermarket system with all 8 speakers running.

[FastWagon95]

If you had wired it for a HPT like your car is it would be fine. LPT and HPT have different wiring.

:lol:

[Hastings]

If you had wired it for a HPT like your car is it would be fine. LPT and HPT have different wiring.

:lol:

It's not HPT, it's LPT.

[FastWagon95]

It's not HPT, it's LPT.

LOL ok

[Hastings]

LOL ok

How's it funny? I don't get why everyone here is so determined that it's HPT when I've had volvo confirm that it's LPT via the VIN...

[BEJinFBK]

You didn't bother to tell us what you had, but I'd bet it's an SC-901. Made by Alpine...

The C70 has a Factory 4 channel amp, probably a 4 x 100...Also made by Alpine.

AND it's already set up to run all of your speakers.

That means with a simple RCA to DIN adapter, you could plug right in.

http://quickbrickmotorsports.com/prod_dinc....html#amp_cable

All completely compatible.

And a double DIN will go in there with just some minor dash mods.

OR

You could just get a USAspec or blitsafe adapter and port your

iPod in through the 6 disc changer with stock stereo.

http://www.usaspec.com/

http://www.blitzsafe.com/

[Hastings]

You didn't bother to tell us what you had, but I'd bet it's an SC-901. Made by Alpine...

The C70 has a Factory 4 channel amp, probably a 4 x 100...Also made by Alpine.

AND it's already set up to run all of your speakers.

That means with a simple RCA to DIN adapter, you could plug right in.

http://quickbrickmotorsports.com/prod_dinc....html#amp_cable

All completely compatible.

And a double DIN will go in there with just some minor dash mods.

OR

You could just get a USAspec or blitsafe adapter and port your

iPod in through the 6 disc changer with stock stereo.

http://www.usaspec.com/

http://www.blitzsafe.com/

Wow. Thanks so much for the information, seriously. You probably just saved me a lot of money, I was all ready to indulge as BestBuy offered me a reasonable charge.

So it's 4-channel but not each speaker is on it's own channel, if I'm understanding correctly?

And yes, it is an SC-901.

[Hastings]

I had it looked at by bestbuy, circut city, and 2 local shops (to get different views), one local place said no way no how, bestbuy and circut city said rip it 100% out speakers and all, and the last place actually got in my car and looked behind the radio and at the wiring and decided that they would be able to use the speakers, put in a whoofer, a really nice amp and a secondary small one to power that middle front speaker, and the deck, totalling $1,750 with labor, for $1,200. I might do it, but to be honest I kind of doubt it, it's a lot of hastle... and that $1,200 could go in to an ECU tune instead. Plus the fact that the audio quality isn't guaranteed to be as good as it is stock because the way the stock amp and radio works and how their designed by alpine to work perfectly together, plus the fact that the amp is completely incompatible with anything but the stock radio.

Bleh.

[BEJinFBK]

I had it looked at by bestbuy, circut city, and 2 local shops (to get different views), one local place said no way no how, bestbuy and circut city said rip it 100% out speakers and all, and the last place actually got in my car and looked behind the radio and at the wiring and decided that they would be able to use the speakers, put in a whoofer, a really nice amp and a secondary small one to power that middle front speaker, and the deck, totalling $1,750 with labor, for $1,200. I might do it, but to be honest I kind of doubt it, it's a lot of hastle... and that $1,200 could go in to an ECU tune instead. Plus the fact that the audio quality isn't guaranteed to be as good as it is stock because the way the stock amp and radio works and how their designed by alpine to work perfectly together, plus the fact that the amp is completely incompatible with anything but the stock radio.

Bleh.

Not So...You CAN use that amp. It's an Alpine V-12 series amp with VOLVO labeling. It just has a DIN cable insted of RCA inputs.

With a simple DIN to RCA cable, you CAN plug an aftermarket HU into the existing stock amp/speakers. No Big. At All.

That said, I probably wouldn't. I like the SC-901 To me, it's a nice HU.

Pros-

Well laid out, easy to operate and I personally really like the sound quality.

I especially like the Dolby ProLogic Surround. It helped sell me on my car.

It also looks clean in the dash and nobody steals stock Volvo decks.

Cons-

The 3 disc changer in kinda like an 8-track. Someday, It's gonna die...

And the system really could use a little bass...But THAT can be tweaked.

Since the system uses very standard preamp level signals from the HU to the amp,

it's not that big a deal to fab a male/female DIN cable that plugs in between the HU and

the dash end of the amp DIN cable and picks up a sub signal and an amp turn on lead.

A nice feature of this hook-up is that nothing gets whacked. Stock wiring stays stock.

If you search this site, there are a number of posts about this DIY solution.

The system keeps working like Volvo/Alpine intended, you've just added an

amp /sub and reinforced the bottom end with some good, solid low end.

STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THE SHOPS YOU'VE BEEN TO!

From what you've said, they have no idea what they're doing in terms of

OEM system integration and just wanna sell a pile of gear to an unsuspecting customer.

Adding an sub/amp to this system should be a slam dunk for any install tech with a hint of a clue.

The CD/AUX input adapters should also be something that a good installer knows about.

Find an older school shop with some OEM integration chops and experience with

Alpine 6 pin DIN connections (that have barely changed in the last 25-30 years!)

And look for MECP certifications...First Class, minimum.

Nice car...Dig the tunes!

Good Luck. ;)

[Hastings]

BEJinFBK - Unfortunately those 4 audio shops are the only ones in Tucson that do car audio, trust me, I called probably 50 audio stores and nothing :(

[Che'_Moderator]

I crammed in a double din with 0 issues:

Beyond that just bypass the factory amp and run whatever.

[Hastings]

I crammed in a double din with 0 issues:

Beyond that just bypass the factory amp and run whatever.

Ahh see but my system has 9 speakers, that's why I can't just bypass the amp and I need a whole new amp setup.