Does Volvo really care about the buyer? I ask this question because we know that Volvo builds one of the safes cars in the world. But every time I log in and check the new messages some one is complaining about the radio especilly playing burnt CD. I love my C70, but the radio in my volvo is junk.sc901 Does Volvo not realize that we spend 30-70% of our time in a car. I like to listen to my music that I can not hear on the radio and it relaxes me when I drive. I don't like to go after market because I like the look of me dash, it is to bad that volvo doesnt realize that so many people today have Ipod mp4 players, etc This would discourage me again froming buying a Volvo.

From what I have read, the new Volvos have inputs for an external mp3 player or ipod through a mini plug. Does Volvo care? I would have to say, only if it sells their cars and makes them money. The sc 901 uses Alpines cd technology that was crap. I installed hundreds of Alpines that had the same problem, they would not read burnt discs. Using blanks under 74min and less tracks made a difference. Also by not changing the track and allowing the cd to play through its entirety helped as well. Try a cd lense cleaner to help it read cds better. There are many ways to integrate new audio equipment and still keep your factory radio. You could add a cd changer that reads mp3 encoded discs. All you have to do is figure out the route you want to take, and spend the money doing it. Good luck.

IMHO this is an unfair question.

Not sure about the age of your car, but mine is 8 years old. I understand that Volvo is not extremely keen on providing me the latest and greatest features on a car with this age. They rather sell you a new one which does do what you want it to do.

What would you consider to be a fair period?

My 99 audi plays any burned CD. I have a 96JVV that play CD's. so does my 97 Saturn. My arguement is that Volvo know that this unit 901 is crap, even though it is built by alpine it is a terible HU. Forget about burnt CD I have some old CD from 15 years ago and it won't recognize them. You have to agree that in your C70 if you are in 1st 3rd 5th gear the shifter gets in the way of the buttons. The radio in this car and all owner who own a 901 have said that the radio isjunk. You spend that kind of money you would expect a bit better. if my Saturn 97 play CD then Volvo is well behind.

Sounds as if you are unhappy with your car because the 901 does not play cd's well. So are you just venting, or are you looking for solutions to your problem? BTW the shifter does not impede any buttons while in 1st, 3rd, or 5th. Maybe an AUDI radio in your VOLVO is the answer.

To me it sounds like you are focussed on 1 issue: playing burned DC's. If that is so important to you, why did you not try this before you bought the car? If the only issue is listening to music (as you stated) why not try one of the following:

- Buy CD's instead of burning them
- Go aftermarket and make sure the device you buy plays burned CD's
- Buy yourself an iPod and a Blitzsafe iPod adapter (or any other MP3 player-solution)
- Listen to the radio
- Sing / have someone in the car sing for you
- Play casette tapes
- Swap cd-players between your audi and your c70 (=note: Audi will then no longer be able to play burned cd's!)
- ....

Will you sing for me? :lol: What are tapes, Are does the things that Mozart recorded on? :grin: I am not unhappy with my Volvo, but it makes my wonder with all the complaints with the radio system Volvo hasn't done anything about it. Not only Burnt CD but the magazine is just as bad. The performance of the car is great and the ride quality is fantastic, but as a person who drives his car daily music does play am important part. I had a s80 and never had a problem with that radio. I do love the sound of the Dynaudio, crisp clear, descent bass, it the HU that fustrates me.

The current model Volvo audio systems play MP3s - I haven't tried playing a burnt red-book format CD in my 2007 C70's player, but if it plays MP3's then I believe it should also play burned red-book CD copies.

It also has a jack for direct connection from an iPod or other MP3 player, albeit just an audio connection, without integrated control of the player.

I'm not sure what you would expect Volvo to "do about" older players that are not compatible with certain CD recording formats. They are certainly not going to offer free replacement systems for older cars.

I don't know what year your car is, but there was a period of several years where the ability to play home-recorded CDs was very hit-or-miss, not only in car players, but also in home CD/DVD players. Some of this was simply a matter of designing the players for compatibility with the various data formats and recording formats. But in some cases the player manufactureres were being pressured by the recording industry to not provide compatibility, and for a couple of years it was unclear how some of the legal cases were going to come out.

Also, compatibility may depend on the recording format used by the burning computer (whether it is CD-R+ or -, for example), and not just the source data format.

My 2007 C70 seems to play almost everything (at least that I've tried so far).
My 2000 Ford Expedition, and my son's 2002 Ford Escape will play burnt CDs that are in red-book format (i.e., direct copies), but not MP3 format.
I have a home Toshiba unit (DVD/CD 6-disk changer - not sure how old) that won't play any burnt disk.