95 850, got the standard issue stereo (cassette with CD changer feature, no CD in the trunk). Has anyone ever added a jack or maybe a remote line, to plug in an MP3? My old 1988 (bedroom) clock radio has an input jack and the Ipod hooks right up. Ideas? thanks, Dave

 

I did this with my 850 -- the basic idea is to take a 3.5mm audio cable, and wire one end to the tape deck preamp. Then, put take a cassette tape, remove all of the tape, and put the blank cassette into the tape deck. When you press play, it will attempt to play the tape, which has nothing (you removed the tape) so its a blank signal. But you've wired the audio cable into the same signal path (at the preamp) so it just starts playing anything it hears on there.

The writeup I went off of is here (no pics though) -- http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/200...r-volvo-radio/

 

jj- very cool-I'm gonna do it. I was thinking about buying a CD player for the old girl, and then I thought-why not just see if I can hook up an MP3 instead?

Does the MP3 get it's power from the car or do I need to switch it on / off every time I use it? I like his idea of placing the cable in the glove box out of sight, but not too convenient to scroll through what I want to listen to though.

thanks for the link!

Dave

 

Or you can buy a tape 3.5mm ipod jack from walmart for about 20 bucks.

 

If you have a changer control on the radio then you can buy this-----> iPod Adapters

 

That looks nice, Only 180 problems with that set up though. :-) Dave

 

This is what I have. This is actually cheaper online.

Walmart.com: Macally Cassette Tape Car Adapter For iPod Devices: iPods & MP3 Players

good sound quality and doesnt break the bank.

 

I have yet to come across the best option yet.
Sound quality is going to suffer on the system with tape deck, soldering, or radio transmitter

I searched and searched from the fabled cord that can possibly be plugged into CD changer on the SC-815 unit but nothing found. The best option which I'm too cheap for is a knock off of the convertor system IPD sells. It does use the CD changer input in the back but with a few other conjunctions.

I mean i don't care how close you get a radio transmitter to the receiver, it's gonna pick up interference. Who wants that on their premium sound system?

 

You could always replace the stock radio with one that has ipod/mp3 inputs or even a usb input.

Mine has ipod control but I also have a 64GB USB flash drive plugged in with 57GB of music.

 

The sound quality is probably fine for my ears using the cassette input thing. That Wal Mart thing is a good deal and would be the easiest way to go for sure. The thing I like about the take it out and solder internally method is that I dont end up with wires hanging out of the stereo front. It's all hidden away. might velcro the Mp3 under the parking brake handle. In the glove box it is out of sight from thieves. Dave

 

I got one of these:

VOL/ALP DMX V.1 - Blitzsafe VOL/ALP DMX V.1 CD Changer interface for select 1996-00 Volvo - .Browse By Vehicle - Accessories - Blitzsafe - Blitzsafe - CD Changers - Discount Car Stereo.com - Detail

I think I paid less than the $75 asking price. It works great for me (there aren't any ipod controls, its just an input).

While I had the radio out I built a plug to go into the preamp output of the radio. The radio may look factory but the amplifiers and sub in the trunk don't sound factory.