Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Here you can post things about ICE (In Car Entertainment). Like how to install GPS navigation, a DVD-player and other yuppie-stuff. This category might be moved to "those other things" in the end...

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jifflemon
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Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by jifflemon » Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:34 pm

I know there's probably 3 people on here that this thread may appeal too, so here's a big old brain dump all about volvo audio; A big thanks goes to DC Walker for the bulk of the research.

UK SPECIFICATION 480 – STANDARD RADIO UNITS FITTED AS PER BROCHURES

1987
No reference to unit fitted as standard – space for radio.
Accessories brochure (July 1987) gives: TD3045 “Tuner Deck” (r/c) £495.00
ETR Stereo CR407 (r/c) £179.00
MTR Stereo CR3085 (r/c) £251.26
ETR Stereo “Hi-Feature” CR4025 (r/c) £332.27
Graphic Equalizer EQ6117 £118.00
Amplifier HA4111 4 x 20W £54.54

1988 (don’t have 1988 price list)
“3 band stereo radio cassette” VC700
Accessories brochure (Mar 1988) gives: ETR 407 CR407 (r/c)
ETR 402 CR4025 (r/c)
ETR 702 CR702 (r/c)
TD3045 “Tuner Deck” (r/c)
Graphic Equalizer EQ6117
Amplifier HA4111 4 x 20W

1989
“3 band stereo radio cassette” VC708

1990 “3 band stereo radio cassette” VC708
Accessories brochure (1990) gives: CR708 (r/c)
[don’t have 1990 price list] Graphic Equalizer EQ6117

1991
“3 band stereo radio cassette” VC601

1992
“3 band stereo radio cassette” VC601
Accessories Brochure (1992) gives: CR708 (r/c) £415.73
Graphic Equalizer EQ6117 £170.75
Amplifier HA4111 4 x 20W (to 1990) £189.23
Amplifier HA4120 4 x 20W (1991 on) £204.90

1993 (don’t have 1993 price list)
480S: “3 band stereo radio cassette” VC602
480 ES & Turbo:
“3 band stereo radio cassette RDS” VC802
Accessories brochure (Aug 1993) gives: CR901 (r/c CD changer control)
CD Changer with separate controller (Philips)
Amplifier HA4120 4 x 20W

1994
480S: “3 band stereo radio cassette” VC602
480 ES & Turbo: “3 band stereo radio cassette RDS” VC802
480GT: “3 band stereo radio cassette RDS” VC802

1995
480S: “3 band stereo radio cassette” VC602
480 ES & Turbo: “3 band stereo radio cassette RDS” VC802
480 Celebration: “3 band RDS radio with CD player and removable front” Philips DC942
Accessories brochure (1995) gives: CR905 (r/c RDS) £525.00
Amplifier HA4140 4 x 40W
Amplifier HA4240 4 x 40W
CD Changer (Volvo CR905 controls) £450

1996
480 out of production but 440 &460 continue. Accessories brochure (440/460) (1996) gives:
CR502 (r/c RDS)
CR504 (r/c RDS CD changer control)
CT503 (r/cd RDS)
CT505 (r/cd RDS CD changer control)

jifflemon
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by jifflemon » Sun Oct 29, 2023 8:47 pm

Now, what if, heaven forbid, you wanted some more modern connectivity, such as bluetooth.

Well, that would come in one of three flavours.

1. You buy a dongle that plugs into the cigarette light socket, and transmits on FM (typically 108 to avoid any actual radio station). You pair your device to the dongle, tune your radio to the dongles frequency and you're away.
2. Similar to the above, but the dongle is now a cassette.
3. IF you've got CD changer control on your radio, and aren't using a CD changer, you can get a dongle that mimics a CD player.

davekit
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by davekit » Mon Oct 30, 2023 11:21 am

Just to add to the info on the early cars. My 1987 480ES is fitted with a Volvo-branded CR-4025 radio cassette, which I assume was in from new. Whether it was a standard fitting I couldn't say.

The owners manual which came with the car covers CR-4020/21/23/24/50/51/53 - interestingly not the unit I have! However, there does not appear to be any differences between the models, other than the CR-4050/51/53 being intended for the German market. These lost longwave but gained AVI traffic information.

I assume that the other models could have been fitted to 1986/7/8 cars, but I guess they only differed in detail specifications.

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dcwalker
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by dcwalker » Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:43 pm

davekit wrote:
Mon Oct 30, 2023 11:21 am
Just to add to the info on the early cars. My 1987 480ES is fitted with a Volvo-branded CR-4025 radio cassette, which I assume was in from new. Whether it was a standard fitting I couldn't say.

The owners manual which came with the car covers CR-4020/21/23/24/50/51/53 - interestingly not the unit I have! However, there does not appear to be any differences between the models, other than the CR-4050/51/53 being intended for the German market. These lost longwave but gained AVI traffic information.

I assume that the other models could have been fitted to 1986/7/8 cars, but I guess they only differed in detail specifications.
That was the high spec unit to specify in 87/88, bearing in mind nothing was fitted as standard. Having just shelled out for their expensive new car, the original owner paid a further £332.27 for that unit!

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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MisterH
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by MisterH » Tue Oct 31, 2023 8:17 pm

Oooooh this is fascinating,

I do have the 1988 brochure and if I didn't already have my dream radio/cassette fitted I'd be searching out some of the higher spec options as my car was always fitted with the quad speaker option.

One way to get connectivity would come if any of the units listed came with a CD audio jack. As we know, many early CD players were external so from about 1988-1995 many radio/cassette units had an audio jack, such as the Blaupunkt Memphis SQR88 I have fitted in the Audi 80 Sport. Now this is a mostly good solution so long as you can find a two way audio jack and a way to connect it to your phone (the bastards at Apple decided that they weren't progressive). The connection is mostly ok however I do often get static noise in the background from the phone and it occasionally cuts out altogether. But then, the radio in the Audi isn't earthed properly so...
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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jamescarruthers
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by jamescarruthers » Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:11 pm

Very rare picture of original fit radio on early cars.
Image

Image

Image

Found in the back of my last car.
Last edited by jamescarruthers on Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by jifflemon » Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:27 pm

That is epic!

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MisterH
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by MisterH » Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:29 pm

jamescarruthers wrote:
Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:11 pm
Very rare picture of original fit radio on early cars.
Image

Image

Image

Found on the back of my last car.
Blanking Plug?
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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dcwalker
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by dcwalker » Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:35 pm

Yes, blanking plate.

Good rare find James! :D

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

jifflemon
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by jifflemon » Sun Nov 26, 2023 3:12 pm

In other rare audio finds, may I present the Phillips CD changer adaptor cable

Image

The Right hand side connects to the Lower Block of the ISO plug on the radio. The left hand side connects to the CD changer cable.

A Philips CD changer will have a round 8 pin plug, going to a square blue 9 pin plug (thats what plugs into the left hand side of the cable)

Image

There's actually two other blocks in the connector (both 6 pin) which I think are line out and accessories (like remote control or telephone mute). These are take from the row to the left of the ISO plug (the red plug connects at the top in this picture)

Image

Image

I can do a pin out listing if needed (Not sure there's anyone as nerdy as me of course :lol: )

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brinkie
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by brinkie » Mon Nov 27, 2023 11:02 am

My Philips DC532 radio/cassette unit, bought new in 1995, has the same CD-changer input, but it can be configured for AUX input as well! So I can use that (definitely period correct 8-)) head unit, while secretly attaching it to a modern Bluetooth adapter.
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

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Jay-Kay-Em
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by Jay-Kay-Em » Mon Nov 27, 2023 6:35 pm

Slightly off topic as it's Kenwood but i'm also toying with the CD changer port. In the name of nostalgia I want my first ever head unit back - a 1995 Kenwood - but I want to make it Bluetooth compatible. This head unit has no aux-in functionality.

I have purchased the JL Audio MBT-RX...

Image

This is a 12v Bluetooth receiver with a high enough specification of Bluetooth. The difference between Bluetooth gens (like V2 vs. V4) are huge when it comes to audio quality.

It also auto-pairs when you get in the car etc.

The round Kenwood DIN connector for the CD changer has two pins for L + R but this is where it gets complicated....

The Kenwood switches inputs via the source button. Press it and it cycles tape - > radio and back. It will only cycle to a CD changer if it sees a changer on that DIN connector. One (or more) of the pins must be a communications line. Once it "sees" a changer, it enables the selection and the L + R inputs are good to go.

Luckily mechanically broken CD changers are ten a penny, and I have bought one and robbed the circuit board.

I have done some tests with the head unit thinking it has a changer connected, so you can select tape - > radio -> changer. Once changer selected, I can then inject audio from the the JL Audio MBT-RX down the L+R pins...

Image

Looks like the period Philips is easier then.... i'm jealous because this is wayyyy too much faffing about....
Jay-Kay-Em
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MisterH
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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by MisterH » Mon Nov 27, 2023 7:09 pm

That will be really cool if you can also keep the cassette functionality - then you will have all bases covered!
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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Re: Volvo Audio - What you never asked for....

Post by Hoffster » Mon Aug 26, 2024 8:58 pm

Hi!

I just managed to get my hands on a CR-905 for a nice top-of-the-line-oem-fit in my Turbo-94. The idea was to use the cd-changer connection for a hidden bluetooth functionality (as mentioned earlier in this thread).

Anyone aware of what bluetooth adapter to use? I find the "Bluemusic" one on a few places but it never says CR-905 in the list of compatible head units. Even though it has the 8 pin plug.
https://www.amazon.se/-/en/BlueMusic-Bl ... STPJR?th=1

This one says Cr-905, but feels over complicated as I will never use the card reader etc. And its size makes it harder to hide behind the head unit:
https://www.carinterface.nl/en/yatour-b ... -bta-volsc

Has anyone used the Bluemusic one and know if it works?

Cheers
Turbo 91, Paris Blue (bought 2006)
Turbo 94, Vase Green (bought 2024)
And a Tesla as daily :-)

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