Any recommendations for an aftermarket head unit (preferably <200) that 'fits' the unusually large gap left by the stock headunit?

You can get a factory refurbished SC816 (stereo w/CD player...) for about $200 from the Volvo dealer if all you want is a CD player up front. Just get the black faced unit and exchange your old stereo.



Mike
'95 850T

Easy to have done, but the new head unit cannot use the amplifier in the car, so that will have to be disconnected but can be left in the car. Once you have your new headunit, your power output will be lower than your stock system, but the sound will be cleaner. Typically the large chanins (Best buy and circuit city offer) free installation once you pick the head unit. You can get a decent one for under $200, better ones around $250 w/mp3 installed.

Once I replaced my headunit, I also installed amplifiers to get back to the more premium sound, and changed speakers.

Lunchman, '95 850 Turbo

Hi Andy,

I just replaced mine 2 weeks ago (in the 850) with a "least expensive" (as the salesman called it) Kenwood. I don't think you will find anything as big a the stock unit. I installed the new head unit myself with a plastic doo-hickey thing they sold me ($7 ?) that fits under the unit and hold 3 cd s. The installation was sooo easy, soldering the wires on the harness took the longest time, in all I think it was still less than 1/2 hour, it looks like a pro installation and it works great. With the wiring harness, the plastic cd holder doo-hickey and taxes I think I spent about $170 CDN.

Good luck.
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'01 V70, '95 850 GLE 10V

I spent about $175 on a decent Pioneer system that is MP3 capable. The stock stereo is double DINN size, which is a standard configuration. Most of the aftermarket systems are single DINN. Double DINN is two single DINN's stacked on top of each other. Anyway, as was said previously, you end up with a single DINN sized space open below (or above, depending on whether you install the stereo on the top or bottom) the unit. They sell nice little cubby boxes and CD holders that fit these spaces, the just snap into place. I got the three CD holder mounted below my unit and it looks factory. They also sell adapter harness that plug into the factory wiring, then solder or crimp connect to the stereo's wiring. This way should you decide to sell the car and you want to keep the nice aftermarket stereo you can swap the factory unit back in without having hacked up the factory wiring on the initial install. You could have an electronics store do the install but I honestly think just about anyone can do it with really basic tools. If you have $200 to spend I think you could get everything you need, stereo, filler box, and wiring harness and end up with a pretty decent system. Next I want to replace me speakers, but then we're talking significantly more money.