Ghost Shadow Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 I started to -1 everyone that keeps saying the 900/901 is great and the OEM system is great... I think i will keep my ass out of this DEBATE. Mine is out and in the trash 5 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burn-E Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Steve, I'd be interested in your opinion of what to install. What's your recommendation on a head unit and speaker / amp combination? Let's keep the price reasonable, say $1500 or less in total - not including installation. I'm not swapping out the coupe but I am contemplating what changes to make for the S70 T5. Especially since I want a GPS as part of the head unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuner4life Posted December 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 I would be interested in what Steve would run and why he doesn't like the 900/901 system.. If nothing else, just for informational purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Shadow Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 garmin, Bluetooth, HD radio, USB, iPod, satellite radio, DVD, mp3.....those things top my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEJinFBK Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 OEM Pro's: Very good sound for an OEM of it's age. Alpine built it. You can pipe whatever you want into the changer input, including bluetooth adapters, iphones, usb sticks, raw audio, whatever. You just need the right stuff. Stock look - And no one's gonna swipe it. OEM Cons: No dash mounted touch screen stuff. The 3 disc changer has issues. If someone shows up with an old 80's mix tape, you have no excuses... What you want out of the system and how much you wanna pay are major aspects of this deal. I'd consider going in stages: Stage 0 - Find a good 901 and be sure everything works. The OEM speakers and amp in the cars can be used later. It's pretty easy to replace the HU and keep the rest. Add a sub. Again, something you can use with a new HU. Make the call on whether to add to the 901 with "behind the dash" gadgets or bump up to something fresher with internal gadgets. Do some research, find out what's out there, listen to it and play with it so you know where your money is going and make a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Shadow Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 lik I said, I don't want top get into this debate. 98 C70 had a system that was great in 1998. it's almost 2013. in 15 years stereos have come a long way. let's leave 1998 in 1998, and not try and make it work in 2013. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEJinFBK Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 BTW - This is the amp you're looking for. Either a 4 x 60w or a 4 x 100 w. Check the label. V12 P80 C series amps.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burn-E Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 lik I said, I don't want top get into this debate. 98 C70 had a system that was great in 1998. it's almost 2013. in 15 years stereos have come a long way. let's leave 1998 in 1998, and not try and make it work in 2013. OK, I don't give a shit about the Dynaudio system - it's fine in the C70 and I'm not ripping it out to upgrade it - but I'm looking at the question of what to install in the S70 so how about we go down that route. PM if you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuner4life Posted December 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Alright, I dug into it last night some. Here's what I found: There are 2 speakers in each door, it didn't look like it, but with a flash light I could see that they are there. 4X100 amp Dynaudio! I was able to verify that the system is there and is complete. And after having someone more competent than me take a look at it, we are fairly sure that the amp is working properly, I just evidently didn't have the equalizer set up properly. *facepalm*. So that leaves the broken cd changer in the head unit as the only real issue. That's a bit exciting. So, 2 more questions... -Since I will need to replace the head unit anyways, is there an adapter harness that will allow me to run an after market head unit but retain the function of the factory 901 speakers/amps? I can't seem to find one, but someone has got to make it... Right? -If nobody makes an adapter harness like mentioned in the last question, what adapter would you recommend in order to be able to use the USB stick with the factory 901 head unit? Thanks again everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzer555 Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Alright, I dug into it last night some. Here's what I found: There are 2 speakers in each door, it didn't look like it, but with a flash light I could see that they are there. [img=http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r401/tuner4life2/1998%20Volvo%20C70%20HT%20Saffron%20Orange/2012-12-11223708.jpg] 4X100 amp [img=http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r401/tuner4life2/1998%20Volvo%20C70%20HT%20Saffron%20Orange/2012-12-11223544.jpg] Dynaudio! [img=http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r401/tuner4life2/1998%20Volvo%20C70%20HT%20Saffron%20Orange/2012-12-11223613.jpg] I was able to verify that the system is there and is complete. And after having someone more competent than me take a look at it, we are fairly sure that the amp is working properly, I just evidently didn't have the equalizer set up properly. *facepalm*. So that leaves the broken cd changer in the head unit as the only real issue. That's a bit exciting. So, 2 more questions... -Since I will need to replace the head unit anyways, is there an adapter harness that will allow me to run an after market head unit but retain the function of the factory 901 speakers/amps? I can't seem to find one, but someone has got to make it... Right? -If nobody makes an adapter harness like mentioned in the last question, what adapter would you recommend in order to be able to use the USB stick with the factory 901 head unit? Thanks again everyone. GROM audio makes a box that will let you plug USB into the factory head unit, it'll also let you plug in iPods and phones etc. If you need a 901 head unit I have a spare, PM me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Shadow Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 Here is a perfect example of "why in the world would you want a sc-900/901?" Here is where i hid the GPS and Sirius antenna Here is what i did to the speaker grill Finished product Now my busted ass 14 year old car with equally as old busted ass stereo gets a Kenwood Dnx6960 DVD/Nav/Bluetooth/Ipod/USB/Sirius. This unit is 2 years old and its already outdated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyb5 Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 I agree with Steve's point of view--new HU is miles better than 901+factory amp. (ps--Steve, I might steal your GPS antenna location ) Which is why my first mod was to ditch the 901 It might be an "old" unit, but it still does everything better than a stock unit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler T5R Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 I agree you might want to eventually replace the 901 with a modern head unit. But please try to save your speakers! They are better than whatever Infinitys you were going to buy. Before I was into Volvos I put a top notch stereo in my first car. Nakamichi, JL Audio... I did tons of research on what speakers to buy if you want the best, and Dynaudio was my choice. They were incredible, and the Volvo Dynaudio speakers are effectively the same speakers. For reference, when I sold that car and took the stereo out, I was able to sell one used set of 6.5" Dynaudio components for $300 - that was four speakers, and your car has eleven. I even prefer the Dynaudio components over the $1500/set MB Quartz components I have in a car now. They do need a lot of power, so you might look into a way to replace the stock amp with something much nicer, bu even the stock setup you have sounds VERY VERY good when it is functioning correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Shadow Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 I agree with Steve's point of view--new HU is miles better than 901+factory amp. (ps--Steve, I might steal your GPS antenna location ) Which is why my first mod was to ditch the 901 It might be an "old" unit, but it still does everything better than a stock unit! i knew it was awesome the second i finished it! Its one of those things that i just came to me! LOL I hate people asking what is that, why is that ect. So when i installed this radio yesterday i experimented with it with successful results! No problem with you using the idea. Thats why we share, sharing is caring LOL. BTW you 850 guys, dont do this. It will not work under the METAL grill. Plastic is fine. Next week, 8" subs either in the back doors or on the rear deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcguru000 Posted December 17, 2012 Report Share Posted December 17, 2012 I agree with Steve's point of view--new HU is miles better than 901+factory amp. (ps--Steve, I might steal your GPS antenna location ) Which is why my first mod was to ditch the 901 It might be an "old" unit, but it still does everything better than a stock unit! Still- this doesn't offer a solution for for the center channel outside of creating a mono output crossing the left and right. Personally- I think the Dolby box is like listening vinyl versus listening to digital recordings... certainly it isn't that sophisticated a sound but it is really great. @OP - if you haven't already, play a song you like on the 901 (especially if you have it all hooked up right), hit that "mode" button so its in stereo, listen for a minute, then press it twice to put it in "Dolby". The mix that it generates from that center channel is unbeatable. If there was a way to replicate this 1:1 with a aftermarket HU i'd like to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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