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Volvo C70 Audio System Problems
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Dealer told that for Volvo BT handsfree he must also add installation set for premium sound or high performance sound system (Volvo part # 30775964) and something called AEM block (30752453). No big deal, but still twice $100+.
Any experiences about handsfree installations? Are these two parts really a must or tries my dealer to get bit better markup on his first C70?
Some people here have complained about the Bluetooth w/ the Dynaudio system, so maybe their dealer didn't include the parts in question.
Thanks
Two weeks ago wrong cable delivered...
Last try just finished: right(?) cable set delivered, mute finally working, but sound still only via separate speaker. Explanation by dealer: there is no right amplifier in Nokia 616 to connect it to Volvo head unit. Sounds like BS.
Q: Any [postive] experiences about Nokia 616 (or other Nokia HF) and new C70, using factory speakers?
1) Additional display, showing caller Id, even keeping phone in the pocket.
2) Ability to dial any number (not only voice-tags) and any number in address book (incl for contacts with multiple numbers attached).
3) Number of reports about Volvo BT handsfree, complaining about incompatibility with Nokia phones.
On-line, the Scala 700 seems the most citations for top-down good noise reduction. Wish I knew results of someone's good research on this subject, or that I could design the product myself.
It's worth it to me to pay $35 or $450, to get a great solution here -- use of commute time.
Thanks.
The Scala 700 worked horribly.
Looks like there's a product called "The Boom" that has been tested in helicopters. A headset for cell phones with active noise reduction technology.
There is no way to add the factory system.
If it has Sat radio, the tuner button would show it when you change bands.
If the car has Nav, it has the Fin antenna as well.
Car can have Nav and not have Sat radio.
James
I suspect that the Ipod is somehow getting a signal through the AUX port that is causing it to turn on. I've tried leaving the Ipod connected to the stereo cable, but not connecting the stereo cable to the AUX port. In this case, there is no discharge. I'm going to do some more experiments (different cable, connecting Ipod to my home stereo), but was wondering if anyone had any info on this problem.
Since there is no way to connect the modulator directly to the radio, I traced the antenna connection back to the antenna itself and found the antenna connects up to the car using a European style cable kit as seen.
http://www.installer.com/item/display_item.php?it=40-eu30
The difficult part was running a long XM antenna extension 30' cable from the docking station to the back of the car. Then figuring a way to run the antenna from the trunk to the FM modulator mounted in the passenger rear quarter by the antenna without getting the wire cut by the hard top roof. I used 2- sided automotive tape to attach to the trunk lid; seeing that the trunk is fiberglass/plastic. Plus, the extension cable needs to run up through the center console and out from under the shifter (there is a space behind the radio and just above that cubby hole behind the radio.)
This was certainly a challenge, and I may recommend buying the gaurantee for the satellite radio from stores like Circuit city, considering it took me two tries to keep the antenna from being torn/cut in the convertible framework.
All in all, I am happy with the set up even though I have not found a decent way that I like to mount the Roady XT. It usually is kept in that space behind the radio, or it can be pulled out to be accessed. I think reception is partly reduced because I believe the powered satellite antennas use the metal surface to magnify the signal. I notice that the signal will fall out in places where it barely comes in with the my truck.
Thanks!
I was ready to get this but then I tried an mp3 disc and was very disappointed to learn that you can't navigate between folders but only songs. I am concerned that the Ipod interface will have similar limitations. Thanks
Steering wheel controls will work.
It's a fairly expensive option - but I managed to get it almost thrown in with a deal on a new car so was worthwhile! And it leaves the sole 12v socket (why only one?) free for your phone or sat nav system.
Thanks for the detailed feedback. Sounds like there is alot of useful functionality and worth the investment. Did you notice a difference in sound quality between the interface and the auxiallary input (like Volvo advertises)?
I have an iphone so this seems like the perfect solution for me as I always have the device on me and will be able to charge it in the car while listening to music.
I can't compare sound with the aux input as I've never used it - however it is fantastic quality compared to the FM iTrip I used before.
The bad news is that my iPhone does NOT work with the system - just says unsupported device. There might be a way to fix that - I don't know. I now just leave my old iPod mini in the car all the time..
C.
I also called Volvo North America personal shopper and was told that it is compatible with the Iphone. I guess more investigating is in order before I shell out $600.00 for the interface combo. Thanks again for all your insight.
http://vccs.volvocars.se/accessories/cat/en-GB/C70/audio/cd/VCC-342631.htm
Thanks
I highly recommend you print out the part numbers and specs from the link I attached in a previous post as the dealer I went to had no clue that the interface was compatible with the iphone/itouch. They did not want to do the installation for me until I showed them the documentation that the iphone was indeed compatible. They were hesitant but still did it. Later they told me that Volvo does not communicate new products well and they learn about new developments through customers. Volvo has communication issues to resolve and I shared my feedback via a survey.
As far as price, I think it was $650.00 with installation and tax.
And finally, a very pleasant and unanticipated surprise is that the kit included a USB interface. You can add songs (mpr and wav only) on a usb jump drive and play it through the radio with the same ease and clarity as the Ipod interface. I highly recommend the ipod/usb kit especially if you have dynaudio.
The one thing that concerns me a little is that it didn't become immediately clear to me how to browse my iPod's playlists. The iPod itself is disabled as soon it is plugged into the cable with a Volvo logo flashing on the screen. According to the manual, the system should mimic the iPod's file system but I have to play with it a little more to figure it out.
All in all, I love the idea of bringing my iPod, or any other music player, into the car, plugging it in, and having access to all of my music. I think Volvo should make this option standard on all of their vehicles, especially the luxury ones.
The interface requires software from Volvo.
Volvo's stereo system(or any system in the car) wasn't designed to work with any aftermarket applications.
Nor was it desgined to be easily replaced by an aftermarket system.
This is true for most newer cars, esp the higher end ones.
I have to say that I would have happily swallowed the cost if the iPod interface worked properly. It bugs me beyond belief that I can't browse my iPod's playlists and play an album from start to finish. For some reason, the car stereo indexes all music files on the iPod and creates its own filesystem. It then proceeds to play the songs in no particular order--it's utterly frustrating. The only navigation possible is by turning the Tuning dial, which skips from song to song. Remember, however, that the songs are arranged completely haphazardly by the stereo. I have over 5,000 songs on my iPod, so you can imagine the utter mess and frustration in trying to play related songs. The songs are not organized in any logical fashion. I assume the system indexes the songs in alphabetical oder by song name. Why didn't Volvo design the system so it loads the iPod's file structure? I guess they thought they could out-design Apple.
If someone can shed light on this issue, I'd really appreciate it.
You are ripping open the center console and the dash.
If you don't now what you are doing, you can make a hash of things.
It just amazes me that someone would spend $40-50,000 on a car and then try to save a couple hundred dollars on a complicated accessory.
Personally, I don't have the USB connector. I'm perfectly happy using the reg Aux input and using the controls on my iphone.
I just start my playlist before I drive away.
I am having a different experience than you with my setup. When I am in the Ipod mode, I hit the enter button and from there I can choose my album, playlist, artist, whatever (just like the regular ipod). I hit enter and then go into the next folder where I can either choose a sub folder ( a particlar album) or a song and then hit enter again and it will play all the songs in that folder in order. Once I am done with folde I am in, I have to hit enter to begin the process all over and can't just go up a level which is a little disappointing but has much more functionality than you described. Try the enter button and if that does not work talk to you dealer becasue you are missing a bunch of critical functionality. I am using an iPhone with 2.0 software on it.
Wow, this is amazing. What you describe above worked like a charm. Once the stereo connected to the iPhone, I pressed Enter, which allowed me to browse the iPod file structure on the stereo LCD--Albums, Artists, Songs, Genres, Composers--they were all there. Do you have any other secrets up your sleeve you'd like to share with us? Better still, call Volvo and offer to revise the iPod interface manual because currently it leaves this "minor" detail out.
As you can tell, I'm still giddy with excitement but I had pretty much given up on the idea of being able to listen to an album from start to finish.
Thanks for you help
Ivo
#1 - A few moments after I start the car, the audio is interrupted with the message that my phone is connected. This is normal. However, about two thirds of the time that I drive, a minute or two later, the Bluetooth link is "lost" and has to be restored. Seems weird that it is always a block or two after I start the car, wherever I am. Is anyone else having this same problem?
#2 - One reason I bought the Volvo system was that the audio plays through the stereo. However, the volume adjustment is not the stereo's volume knob, but instead the pushbutton on the Bluetooth accessory. As someone else mentioned on this board, with the top down it is simply not loud enough. Does anyone know if this can be re-wired to allow the volume knob to control the volume so that it can be louder than what the accessory pushbutton allows?
I pulled out the whole audio system of my volvo C70 and pluged in another one. It asked me to input a code, I input the one on the card, but after I input the code 3 times, it said:" system off" and does not work at all. I pluged in the previous one, input the code, but it does not work either. What should I do now?
Here is my question...Has anyone had any kind of bluetooth installed in their Volvo with Dynoaudio? I am hoping that there is a good quality bluetooth that can be integrated into the stereo so that I can hear the caller clearly and so that they can hear me clearly. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated since the dealership that I purchased my car through has been less than helpful. They do not have any valuable advice. As a matter of fact, the Sales Manager suggested that I purchase one that attaches to my visor. I already own one. It is a Parrot that I purchased for $99 and it allows too much wind noise when the top is down.
Thanks everybody,
Wendy
I have the Bluetooth from the dealer. It works well with the top up, but is useless with the top down. You either have to pull over to answer the phone, or use the handset (not a big deal to change, one button). I thought the price on the Bluetooth was crazy, but there is alot more to it than a plug-in. It is mounted on the dash, and wired somehow into the car. It took them a day to install mine. We also have one in our Infiniti SUV, and theirs works better in some ways, but the voice recognition in the Volvo seems better. If your only reason for having the Bluetooth installed at the dealer is to use it with the top down, stick with the Parrot. The Volvo Bluetooth is pretty, but big bucks!
Judie