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

[jifflemon]

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]

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]

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.

[dcwalker]

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

[MisterH]

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...

[jamescarruthers]

Very rare picture of original fit radio on early cars.






Found in the back of my last car.

[jifflemon]

That is epic!

[MisterH]

Very rare picture of original fit radio on early cars.






Found on the back of my last car.

Blanking Plug?

[dcwalker]

Yes, blanking plate.

Good rare find James!

David

[jifflemon]

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



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)



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)





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

[brinkie]

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 ) head unit, while secretly attaching it to a modern Bluetooth adapter.

[Jay-Kay-Em]

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...



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...



Looks like the period Philips is easier then.... i'm jealous because this is wayyyy too much faffing about....

[MisterH]

That will be really cool if you can also keep the cassette functionality - then you will have all bases covered!