Changing standard radio?

[mark_eire]

I'm going to be changing my standard radio in my 850R soon, the car has a cd changer in the boot which I'd like to keep,
I've read that as the cd changer is alpine that I'd need to get an alpine headunit, is this so?
I also read that I'll lose the factory amp in the car, so will the new headunit have enough power to keep a decent level of quality through my speakers? (I'll probably be getting a 4x50w unit)
Thanks in advance, any suggestion's on a specific headunit to get?

[t5 pete]

you can buy an adapter for the cd changer to work with sony i think i have a sony head unit and i think the sound has improved

[Jon K]

You may have a few problems with the changer in the boot which should be alpine as you have said.

I fitted a Alpine CHM-S630 changer to my Volvo and the protocol (to the standard head) is different so you need the Vola2 adaptor box which works great. I would not think that would work the other way though.

The other problem is that the Alpine control bus has changed since our cars were new.

The older system is M-bus, this is what you would need probably with an adaptor if it is going to work. the new ones though are Ai-net which definitely will not work. The way the Alpine model designations work is CDE is "economy" and have no changer bus CDA is Ai Net and CDM is M-Bus.

Because of all this I went for a high end Alpine unit and just play MP3, You can then have approx 7 albums on each disc (@320kbs) then if you get the genuine volvo 8 disc CD holder from Rufe that is about £20 ish then you will no longer need a CD changer. As you will have a truck load of music in your dash.

By the way if you buy a new head unit check out Sextonsdirect website. They were £70 cheaper than list price on the unit I bought and the service was excellent.


I hope that helps

[killersuzuki]

another few options

usb hard drive into headunit

or sony do what called megadisc or gigadisc (can't B bother 2 google)
takes a single MP3 DVD 4.4gig! on a dvdr disc (9p a disc!)