Time to pull my Empeg out of my Pathfinder (well...not really, I bought an extra sled when I got mine just in case) ....

So, I went to Sweden to pick up my new car (the Volvo overseas delivery program is AWESOME!!!). I had a 98 that I totalled a year ago, and this is the replacement. The problem is the stereo. I have the kick -ass Volvo 400-watt, 12-speaker Dynaudio system with an in-dash three-CD changer. There is no room in the dash for the Empeg, and I'm not getting rid of the Volvo head unit (it really is that good).

What I've found out is that the 6 disc changer bus (in addition to the 3 discs in-dash) is an Alpine bus. Alpine has a similar thing to the Pioneer P-Bus which allows you to hook up a connector that turns the CD-changer plug into RCA inputs. The only catch is that the plug on the head unit is a mini-din style plug. So, I've got two connectors on the way (One from Crutchfield and the other from SoundDomain) which should accomplish this.

As far as location....the glove box is designed to hold the small Alpine 6 CD changer, so that's where It's gonna go. I'll figure out what to do with remote controls after I get it working. I will follow up once I have the the connectors and tried it out. If it doesn't work, I'll be in for some major work to get it hooked up.



That's the Volvo Factory Delivery Center - Gothenburg, Sweden in the background
.Daniel

Rock on Volvo owner and good luck! My 2000 V70 was possibly the easiest double din install in history. It's too bad that Volvo went to whack radio slots after 2000. Was that a Ford influence (left over mid-90's oval Taur'ass' innovation)?

Good luck and I would love to see pics when you are done.

Actually...the radio slot in the C70 is not whacked...it is a nice full sized double din setup, but it is completely filled with the head unit.



Like I said...the head unit is kick-ass so I'm keeping it. Otherwise, this would be a really simple install. They even have a pre-wired accessory plug under the dash for adding stuff like this in the 2002 models.

Get the heck outta here! That's a 2002 and it has a radio THAT straightforward? That's the exact console (sans wood) as my 2000 V70 . Man, just yank that thing and put in the empeg + CD head unit.

<bracing myself to get yelled at because I know the stock stereo is so good> Ok, nevermind. Were I in your shoes, I'd mount the empeg in the worthless cavity under the glove box (if the 2002 C70 has it, that is). Man is that worthless, but you could mount the empeg in there and angle it right at you for good viewing and access via the remote (or stick remote on the wheel).

Good luck. Oh, and let me know what speakers you're considering. I'm going to consider speakers soon, but I really want to do my homework (ie: read the book called "The Car Audio Cookbook") so I get proper speakers to accomodate the cabin of my car.

Yep...that's a 2002. The C70 interior is very straight forward. As far as mounting...it is either going in the spot you mentioned or IN the glove box. I'll worry about remotes later.

And, speakers....the car is already equiped with 12 matched Dynaudio speakers...can't ask for much better than that.

I am interested in getting new speakers for my 2000 V70. Do you think I could get a similar set up to yours? My V70 has 4 large door mount speakers. Also, there seem to be two top-of-dashboard mounts for speakers and two way-in-the-back-by-the-trunk-door mounts for speakers. Well, that's 8... not 12. Where are yours located?

I'm very interested in researching the resonance and other space issues of the cabin of my car before I get speakers for it. "The Car Audio Cookbook" is what I'll read for that information. But, you said yours are "balanced." Is that the same kind of "balanced" that XLR mic jacks can be or do you mean that they are tuned to eachother and stuff? What an interesting subject.

They are tuned to each other and the amp. That makes for very clean and responsive performance. As for locations... 2 in each door (2-door car), 4 in the back deck, 5 in the from dash (includes center channel, which actually makes 13 speakers).

Wow! Ok, I'll stick with my 8. But I AM interested in the tuning and frequency response of the cabin. Them's a lotta cabin space in the V70.

Thanks for the info.