have a stock radio, are they good or junk? i had problems w/ it cuting out so i opened it up and switched all the componets from a spare. works good now, i see that the amp runs the back spkrs. how much base is it suposed to have? i put the base full and sounds like crap! the amp connection is able to turn and is inop. can u replace that wire that plugs in the back of the radio?

Original radios were never great. The '91+ sounded a little better and had better tape players, but bad volume controls that you have to clean with tuner cleaner every couple of years.

When the amp failed in my '91, I bought a $90 Sony CD player on sale at Circuit city, and then got the faceplate adapter and wiring adapters from Best Buy so it was a simple plug-and-play to bypass the amp and wire it up. This is good because the speaker wires are not color coded.

Looks almost like a factory installation. Daughter can plug in her iPod to the radio. Sounds better than it EVER has, even with 17-year old speakers.

My only complaint is that the display is not linked to the dash light dimmer, and it is too bright, even at its lowest intensity setting.

I was on Crutchfield last night looking at speakers. For a low-wattage application like this one, there are really good speakers out there for only $50. I'll put those on my Christmas wish list.

The radio isn't bad as long as the PLL doesn't start to "wander" and the volume/balance knob contacts are clean (no crackling). The amp, on the other hand is a piece of garbage.

I would recommend a aftermarket radio with internal 4 speaker amps built in. Whatever you do, eliminate that amp for the rear speakers, absolute garbage.

jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

i was in the junkyard and saw a pioneer radio in the cuby below. would that be a good radio mabey? where the radio went, their was a cuby and the radio was on the bottom.

I've had two Pioneer radios over the years and I've loved both. In my opinion, you cannot beat Pioneer's quality for the price. Sony's recent car audio stuff is in the same price range but sounds like crap. I went to a Tweeter to check out some serious high-dollar speakers once (we're talking $300 for a pair of 4" speakers!) and I didn't think they sounded any better than my Pioneers.

The only problem I ever had with Pioneer is that the CD mechanism on my first stereo acted funny - it wouldn't pull in a CD when cold, had to warm up first. But even that took several years and a lot of abuse to happen; that stereo is still in Dad's 245.

Dont fool with the stock stuff (radio or speakers), they are low powered and you'll never be happy with what you get out of them.

You can install a DIN sized radio (normal size) in the original upper hole in the dash, its not a bad job. You will have to widen the cutout hole a bit, perhaps 1/4 of an inch, but don't cut before you have the radio to make sure on the final width. I installed a "Clarion Auto-PC" in our 90 244 with no fit problems (okay guys that remember the Auto-PC quit laughing... I got it for free).

In our 92 245, I installed a low-ball "Dual" brand single DIN radio in the upper slot, it was a very simple job after the front dash plate was cut wide enough to accept the radio.

The wiring isn't bad either, but I highly recommend you get the Green Volvo Electrical system manual for your car before you try to wire it in.

Hope that helps!

jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

Happy Thankgiving y'all.

I hear there is a stereo/CD player you can install in the trunk.
The controls are wired to the driver compartment and
are digital (sounds cool). It hooks directly into the
antenna so that it uses the installed speaker system.

Anyone ever have or know someone who has a unit like this,
I am thinking of gettin' one in my 91 240.


Joseph in
NEW MEXICO

IMO, all of that stuff that lives in the trunk is an obsolete medium nowadays, now that there are CD players that can handle MP3 and WMA discs. Some stereos have auxiliary inputs in either the front or back, which'll let you plug an iPod or MP3 player into it... or you can get the spiffy FM transmitters that'll let you use these devices without an input.

I'm still a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to spiffy audio gadgets, but I do have MP3/WMA compatible CD players in two of our cars. Take your Grateful Dead straight from the web to the car.

Been resisting the iPod craze, but a friend's iPod provided nearly nonstop entertainment from Ohio to Ottawa, Canada and back, with plenty to spare. That definitely applied some twist to my arm.

-Ryan
--

Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 295k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars
Buckeye Volvo Club

No, not that, it's called "hidden audio" or "secret audio" or whatever.

old car guys use it so nothing modern shows