TorqueSteer Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 I went to best buy (an electronics store) to look into an aftermarket head unit for my 95 850 T-5, the two guys standing around there told me that if i wanted to install an aftermarket head unit, i would have to bypass a factory amplifier that is supposedly under the steering column. Are these guys either very smart or very stupid because ive never heard anything like that mentioned on this board before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550 Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Depends on your car, and the sound system package in it. I had a 940 with a factory amp, and I have an s70 GLT with no amp.if you pop your head under the driver side dash, and look around closely, you will see a box with fins on it, that is the amp. Pretty much all you have to do is go to somewhere like crutchfield.com (metra harness's)and check out what they reccomend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorqueSteer Posted August 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Where exactly under the dash would it be? Like in the knee bolster area where i can remove the cover or around the steering column? Ive installed many gauges and such in that area and I definately would have noticed an amp sitting there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550 Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Hmm in that case, I woudl check crutchfield.com, enter your car and see what they say about wiring harness. You would definetly see it, I mean it is not exactly out in the open, but it isn't hidden either, it is just tucked out of the way. YOu may also want to check under the passenger seat, I have seen diagrams place an amp under the seat, not positive on that though. I went to tweeter(audio store)(rip off prices) and they told me I would need a amp by-pass corssover, and hey I did, amazingly enough those assclowns were right heh. Also try looking at the back of your HU, what does the adapter look like, how many wires does it have going to it?? There should be atleast 14, thats what my s70 had, if your car has no amp. The speaker wires will probably be, gray, purple, green, and white. They have been in the past two volvos I have done. If all else fails take it to someone to look at for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorqueSteer Posted August 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 At crutchfield, they have a connector for my car that looks like it will fit right in, it doesent say anything else about an amp, my radio connector is exactly like this http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/radiocon.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyR Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 I have yet to see a T5 with an amp. It was a pretty rare option and is usually on the R. All the shops will insist that all volvo's have them though cause thats the only diagram that's in their books. Quickest way to tell is slide your radio out (using those little tabs) and look behind it and if there is nothing plugged into the amp DIN connector then you don't have an amp, and it is one of the simplest radios on earth to do. But if there is something plugged into there then you do have an amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550 Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 anthony, my old 940 was a bit different with the amp thing, it was just another harness, not plugged into the din slot though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slarti Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 I have an 850R, is there an amp that I could use that would connect to my head unit and replace the stock amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_R Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Even my buddy's 96R doesn't have a factory amp. He had the CD player too... Don't sweat the amp, it's not there. -Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorqueSteer Posted August 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Ok i went and got a new headunit installed not knowing if i have an amp or not and the guy there told me that the only speakers that are going to work with the new headunit are the front door and rear deck speakers and said that an amp dosent matter because it powers the other 2 sets of speakers. Anyone else get half of speakers working after a new headunit install? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_R Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Nope, all 8 of mine worked. No fancy wiring required.-Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing_0 Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 okay, this is a point of confusion for me...I was under the impression that some 850s with the premium sound system did indeed come with a external amplfier that powered the speakres. meaning the headunit sent a low level signal to the amp, and the amp amplifies, this is the case on many of the cars I have worked on...and if you just hook up the new headunits with its high level speaker wires into the stock wiring, you basically start to clip the stock amp and then things go bad...is this not the case with 850s? do none of htem have an external amp?b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyR Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 okay, this is a point of confusion for me...I was under the impression that some 850s with the premium sound system did indeed come with a external amplfier that powered the speakres. meaning the headunit sent a low level signal to the amp, and the amp amplifies, this is the case on many of the cars I have worked on...and if you just hook up the new headunits with its high level speaker wires into the stock wiring, you basically start to clip the stock amp and then things go bad...is this not the case with 850s? do none of htem have an external amp?b←Yes this is the case, however if you hook up an aftermarket deck to the harness it will work fine, as the low level lines for the factory amp are in an entirely different plug seperate for the main harness (that 6pin din plug) It's not like the Audi's and such where those low line levels are in the main harness, Volvo seperated them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing_0 Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 good deal! now get me those words for my HU install tutorial and i will put up a new one b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHEIII874T5M Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Ok i went and got a new headunit installed not knowing if i have an amp or not and the guy there told me that the only speakers that are going to work with the new headunit are the front door and rear deck speakers and said that an amp dosent matter because it powers the other 2 sets of speakers. Anyone else get half of speakers working after a new headunit install?←what? Bro, sorry to hear that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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