so due to recent problems I've been having I've decided to change out the head unit on my car, and go for a new alpine or pioneer head unit, now because of this I'm gonna have to buy an amp, something that is totally alien to me. I was told I was gonna need a four channel amp, which are pretty damn expensive. Another place I went to said that they could wire the front speakers off of the head unit, and I'd only need a two channel amp to run all of the back speakers. Does anyone know which one would be better, or does anyone have an aftermarket system in their car who could give me a little advice? Thanks for the help....

 

For the best sounding results...I would have all the speakers runfrom an aftermarket amp.
I would choose an Alpine, Infinity, Kenwood, orRockford. You can get one for $200.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....c=abcat0300000

 

Also after you install the aftermarket radio the Dealer will need to download software into the car. The car sees the radio as a module in a network.

 

doesnt make sense, the only reason you would need an amp is for a sub or high performance compontents speakers. the new head unit should have pre-outs, like 4x100Watt and so on. the stock volvo amp was for the premium sound system. i could be wrong

 

So here's what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna purchase my head unit, and install it. Then see if I'll need an amp, because it really doesn't make sense, if my old stereo could power my speakers, why wouldn't a brand new one be able to? SO I'll give that a shot, and I will post how it all turns out. Thanks for the advice!

 

SO if I install it myself, I will need to take it to the dealer right after? What complications will I see right after I install it? Thanks for the help...

 

SRS light might stay one all the time. Some of the computers might have brain farts and act funny till the software upgrade is done.

 

yeah you will have to get the radio code also i believe, which is as easy as calling your dealer with your s60s VIN number to get, some dealers are to cautious and want you to bring it in so they know that they are giving it to the right person. so yeah, what tech said, software upgrades.

 

What happened to the good-old-days where one can put in a stereo system and not have to worry about anthing else hooked intothe stockradio?

 

The P2 cars don't use radio codes.
P2 = S80 99- S60/V70 2001-

 

i thought anytime you disconnect the battery you will have to have to do the codes or something with the radio to "reset" it. i guess im wrong.

 

That is only for the older cars.
The 2001 to 2004 S40's are the only ones of the newer cars that have a radio code.

 

oh ok, good to know! thanks

 

When I bring it in for downloads, how much are they gonna charge me? I know in this world (the volvo one) nothing is free!! Thanks for all the knowledge.

 

The software will be $30.00 and the labor will be between .5 and 1.0 labor.
Some dealers charge .5 and others charge 1.0 hours labor.

If they start giving you a hard time saying something like they cannot find the part# or something like that let me know and I will give it to you.

A few people in the past have had trouble getting it done.

Then I gave them the part# and they went back and asked to have it downloaded and all went fine

 

awesome thanks, I will let ya know how it all goes, when it gets here, and I install it. Thanks!

 

No problem.