Volvo V50 how to upgrade the audio?

[_James_]

well if my Volvo wasn’t dull enough, the sound system is average at best and as a car is aimed at pensioners and the insanely dull it does not have a USB port.

Now here is were the problem lies, the headunit and climate control are integrated which seems to make it impossible for me just to ditch the factory system and fit my trusty Kenwood headunit.

Has anyone got any bright ideas on how the **** I can upgrade the sound on the most disappointing car ever made?

 

[wes]

Buy a vw

 

[jimcupra]

Sell it and buy a 5 pot petrol. Don't listen to @wes and buy some fag scrap .
Does it have an aux port @Jamz3k?

 

[Wild Thing]

v50 is a really special motor in 5 pot petrol or diesel, you must have got lumbered with a 1.6 or something

 

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

Look at the GROM kits available for Volvo, they are a direct plug and play. You can fit double DIN headunits to these too but any I've seen done look awful

 

[Cartunes]

JL cleansweep with amp and speakers.
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jl-...oem-audio-interface-with-automatic-digital-eq
About 700 quid should sort it all out.
I'd just ditch the Kenwood though.

 

[jimcupra]

How about a hands free kit to stream your music and upgrade existing speakers. Be a lot cheaper and I'm sure the genius above @Cartunes could advise your best options.

 

[Cartunes]

How about a hands free kit to stream your music and upgrade existing speakers. Be a lot cheaper and I'm sure the genius above @Cartunes could advise your best options.

Might work but the ones I've fitted as a past genius only streamed to the front speakers through a crappy amplifier.

 

[jimcupra]

I noticed that with the parrot in my car it played in mono. I just thought it was due to mine being an older 3100 model.

Might work but the ones I've fitted as a past genius only streamed to the front speakers through a crappy amplifier.

 

[Cartunes]

I noticed that with the parrot in my car it played in mono. I just thought it was due to mine being an older 3100 model.

I don't think that the 3100 streams chum - early ones definitely don't. BURY kits certainly did, but the quality was as ropey as a car head unit. I'm well out of the game now, just a hobbyist and not up to the current range of in car aftermarket technology!

 

[jimcupra]

Well if it does its badly lol. Do you still install audio del? I have an amp, sub, front speakers and head unit for the focus. I have limited tools now and with the parrot in the car I would struggle to remove it. Being colour blind really doesn't help.

I don't think that the 3100 streams chum - early ones definitely don't. BURY kits certainly did, but the quality was as ropey as a car head unit. I'm well out of the game now, just a hobbyist and not up to the current range of in car aftermarket technology!

 

[Cartunes]

PM'd chum - happy to help

 

[warren]

You must have a really poorly spec'd V50. What year is it?

I used to have an S40 T5 and its still probably my favourite car Ive owned. Mine had the mid range "High Performance" audio in it and it was better than almost every other normal car I've been in bar the S80 I had after with the Dynaudio system. The High Performance system had a big external amp in the boot behind the side panel too.

My car was a 2004 so didnt have USB or AUX, my way round this without spending a fortune was an inline FM transmitter that was hard wired onto the cars antenna. Gave a fairly reasonable sound output too, stereo and my only real complaint was a faint hiss from it when the volume was up a good bit.

 

[Mark_C]

Is there an option to retrofit the audio from a higher spec model to keep it looking standard?

 

[Cartunes]

Is there an option to retrofit the audio from a higher spec model to keep it looking standard?

Yes..... My suggestion in a previous post. J L cleansweep or similar. It cleans the output from the head unit and feeds an amp and speakers. The amps can be very compact

 

[Lyons]

It’s hard to beat the oem usb/interface for perfect integration.

I’ve no idea how volvos work though, and whether it can be retrofitted like Audi, BM etc.

 

[m00k]

Vxr8 was similar head unit part of the dash and pain in the hole

Got an audison bit10 fitted so could have an iPod input and it was digital eq aswell allowed amps to be connected etc was great piece of kit

Controller I had fitted in ashtray and on mrs’s a4 we put one in too and out control unit into sunglasses storage in headlining so could flip mdown for adjustments

 

[m00k]

Not sure how far you’re looking to go with an upgrade but it audison do some great amps that have the bit ten technology built into them, 5 channel as a complete system builder

 

[_James_]

Not sure how far you’re looking to go with an upgrade but it audison do some great amps that have the bit ten technology built into them, 5 channel as a complete system builder

I’m only after a USB input, otherwise I can live with the current sound quality.

 

[m00k]

BIT ten a bit overkill perhaps then... think they were around £350

 

[Mark_C]

someone mentioned grom - i have one in my old S60 and it does everything you need - aux and usb etc

 

[AndyMc]

Like wise grom in my v70, usb, iPod and Bluetooth.

Make sure you don't have a USB under the armrest.

 

[gizmo98]

Would a parrot mki9200 not do your job?
USB,aux,Bluetooth and SD,all with good sound quality
I put one in mine and find it a good job

 

[Boabybooster]

Pure highway? I've one in the bm and it's grand for streaming and dab. Just a aux in and a USB cigarette charger

 

[impact]

BIT ten a bit overkill perhaps then... think they were around £350

Still about that for one version, bit cheaper for the other. Can be got reasonably on eBay as I did mine. You will need laptop or lend of one to set it up too.
Great for keeping OEM functionality.