Alex, I am just using the iTrip FM transmitter. Works fine and does not kill the battery too quick. I put the iPod, with itrip under the arm rest and it seems to be fine on the reception.

Cheers!

Ok thanks a lot for the help!! here at my country is a little hard to find the Itrip, so i will take my shoot with the Kennsington RDS FM Transmitter and see what happen!! :banana: by the way i used a TDK R Disc and it works fine! without any truble!!!

Alex

I have tried iTrip around the city - where i live - and its rubbish. althoguh, drove down the coast on holiday the other week and once i got away from the city a little and all the radio waves etc. it was perfect!

With thie disc thing.. I have had many stuck. the annoying thing for me is to dat eis that I always use the same discs, always burn the same way - sometimes they get stuck other times they do not. very frustrating.

I am considering buying a 06 S40 - I was wondering has anyone considered installing an ipod compatable head unit AS WELL as the volvo built in one?

I am assuming the speaker wires in the s40 are normal wires so surely it would not be hard to get a specialist car audio shop to wire up the speakers to the new head unit and connect it to the car power?

Yes it may have to go in the glove compartment or somewhere wierd but then at least you can use your iPod properly?

Is that possible? Are the speaker wires standard wires? all this fibre optic stuff surely doesn't apply to the speakers as well!

And if that fails then what about hard wiring the FM modulator into the cars FM input? again surely that would work?

I have to be honest its slightly stupid that here I am with a 98 S40 that is falling apart but I have full ipod control from my head unit and the car which I may buy has such an "advanced" sound system its useless with modern technology like iPods!?

Does anyone undestand what this guy is saying? I think he is saying he connected something to the speakers in his S40 at the point at which the wires became analogue? If someone can understand please explain!

Its an American guy so its in dollars:

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http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=58870

JL Audio Cleansweep installed into the trunk, spliced into the factory speaker wires.


Then RCA wires from the cleansweep to two amplifiers mounted in the trunk also.
One amp drives the front end which is Bostonacoustics Pro60 components in the front doors, Polk Momo Carbo 6.5s coaxial mounts for the rear doors with external crossovers.
The other amp drives One JBL GTi directdrive 12" sub with about 600wRMS in a .75 ft^3 box. This woofer is outstanding for the money. THey used to be pricey but now they are more affordable and it just hammers out the bass. It is a bit heavy, about 35lbs though.
Anyway, you cut the speaker harness when it is on its way to the door speakers, route the signal side into the JL unit. The output is RCA's, four or two channel and go into the amplifier. THe DSP in the JL unit calibrates the radio output so it produces a completely flat output signal to the amps in spite of any DSP action the head unit does on its own. THe only negative is you can only calibrate the volume on the radio at one position because if you cange the volume you "may" cause the internal DSP in the head unit to alter the radio signal more (as in reduce bass when you turn up the vol to prevent distortion in factor speakers) and in so doing it will throw off the calibration until you return to that volume setting.
So the JL unit provides you with a remote volume/switch knob that I mounted next to the bezel where the 12v adapter is aft of the shifter in my car. It came with two knobs, one in black and one in brushed aluminum just like the center console stack in the volvo so it matches very well.
Anyway, the volume knob is also a push button that changes over to remote Aux input for the cleansweep.
So I ran the rca-stereo jack cable to the back of the console stack where I can now plug in my MP3 player/Ipod and get any kind of audio signal right into the JL unit without any distortion or secondary devices....and hence a clean signal right to the amps.
Perfectly clean sound and costs about the same as if you upgraded your car in the old days with a new cd player, speaker and amps. I did all the work myself and spent about $1000 on the speakers and JL Cleansweep.
I already had the amps so that was a pretty good savings.
Still, I bought all pretty high-end equipment.

The JL costs about $350, a decent 4 channel amp is about $250, Speakers can be had for another $350 for component sets for all four doors.
So $1000 in parts if you do it yourself is reasonable for very good clean sound.
Figure $1500 if you pay someone to do it right.
For high end equipment and amps with a sub like I did and paying someone, figure about $2000-$2500 for what I put in myself.

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About the cleansweep thing:
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_cleansw...php?page_id=211

“The CleanSweep® CL441dsp will not work on cars with fiber-optic databus audio systems.”
FALSE. No matter how complex the system, at some point the audio has to become analog to drive speakers. This is where the CL441dsp can be connected in even the most complex automotive systems. You may need to sum crossed-over signals which requires some extra work and extra equipment, but it can be done with great success.

Also apparently this will do the job - hardwiring the FM into the unit- as I understand it all they have to do is plug the FM wire into it and the other end that was originally for the aerial into the other end, then it allows you to connect iPod and all into your S40:

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/produ...S-A200/details/

It is about £120 and the iPod adaptor is about £50:

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/produ...ries/KCA-iP500/

I am also guessing that it can be connected anywhere along where the FM/Aerial lead goes - if that stops at the back of the car then it would have to be at the back and I guess you would have to plug your iPod in and stick it at the back of the car (which is not perfect but it works) but if the FM wire connects at the front of the car well then the iPod could be kept at the front of the car.

If you consider that I spend £400 on an iPod Alpine head unit and for about £200 I can get that equipment and THEN maybe have to pay for fitting (although you never know they may not charge you) it is not too bad if you ask me.

I am gonna ring up the in car audio people near me and see what they say about it all tomorrow... but there is hope! But definately get it fitted professionally!

http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=64805&page=2

Someone did it with the Kenwood there - have a read... Sorry bout all the posts but at least everyone knows it is possible now...!!!

I wanted to add I did speak to a car audio specialist and he said there were 3 ways to do it:

- using an iPod FM transmitter (but thats rubbish quality)

- using the Kenwood unit I mentioned above hardwiring it into the car!

AND

He said that there was a unit that can "talk" directly to the fibre optic system in the car and they use it on Mercedes and Porsche and other exotic cars using fibre optics - he said he did not know if it would work with a Volvo but he said he would call and let me know - but he said then I would have full control of my iPod and everything and more inputs as well!

He didn't give me a price though which probably means its prohibitively expensive but he did say they would install the Kenwood and iPod adaptor for £400 - seeing as the combined total cost of the adaptor and iPod link is around £200 I know there is room for negotiation there but seeing as I was just asking about the options I didn't push him on the price.

I am the guy who installed the Kenwood KOS A-200 mentioned above. The unit is great! It was pretty easy to install and it sounds really good! One bit of advice though, don't bother with the KCA-iP500. I only used it for a very short time before I ditched it.

Hi - Just bought the '06 Volvo S40 and am joining the club of disappointment about iPod connectivity. Also just got an iPod for xmas and once again something better and bigger came out shortly after I purchased. SO, what's up with the iPhone? It has iPod and Bluetooth technology. I do have the hands-free bluetooth component installed...now could the iPod in the iPhone possibility transmit through the Bluetooth hooked-up in my car??? I am going to be SO upset if the FM transmitter is the only option I have without voiding my warranty...considering my warranty has been extended to 2011!!! I'm researching about this option and will post anything I find out. Just curious if someone has already learned if this will be an alternative option to the FM Transmitter which doesn't work so well living near San Francisco. Thanks in advance!! I am happy to have found this forum!! Let's all work together on getting this solved. haha. how pathetic am i?

Congrats on the new car! Unfortunately, the Bluetooth won't work well. If you are able to play music with the iPhone, only the front door speakers will work; all other speakers are muted while the Bluetooth is activated.

If you install an FM modulator, your warranty will not be voided. The only change you would need to make to the car is to disconnect a cable and it is completely reversible.

Thanks for the info. After thinking about it, I started to think what's the point of using the Bluetooth feature. I remember reading one of the postings that did say it'd only work through the front speakers and personally, I want CD quality sound from my iPod. What exactly does the FM modulator do and how is it better than the FM Transmitter?

A FM modulator converts the output of an iPod (or other type of MP3 player) to an FM signal. It differs from a FM transmitter because it doesn't transmit the FM signal over the airways. The modulator has cables that come out of it which allow you to connect it to the antenna line (or with some cars, directly into the back of the head unit). With a modulator installed, you will still need to tune the radio to a specific frequency, but the sound quality is much better than with a transmitter because it is hardwired instead of broadcasted.

Since the signal is going through the radio, it isn't going to be CD quality; but it still sounds good. I still can hear a little white noise, but usually it is only when I have my iPod paused.

I'm still amazed that this issue has not been resolved yet. No Aux connection to S40's 05 models prior to 2007,2006 models (I can't remember). However I like this last post from ElectricSiver T5. Finally someone start to talk about sound quality in a more detailed manner. I know it is hard to talk about sound quality. All of us have different tolerence and sensitivity put yet I like this post...

Greg :thumbsup:

Thanks Greg! I'm glad you liked my post.

I'm working on a step-by-step installation instructions with pics; hopefully I'll be done soon. I just need to find the time to take my car apart again so I can take the pics. In the mean time here is an overview of the KOS-A200 and its features, as well as the other things I bought for the install.

The KOS-A200 is a media controller with a built-in FM modulator with RDS capability. It has several inputs: a USB input (for an external hard drive or a thumb drive), two AUX inputs (AUX 1 is for an RCA cable, AUX 2 is for a mini-jack cable), and an input for a KCA-iP500 iPod controller.

I don't recommend using the iPod controller if you want to be able to control your iPod by using the touch wheel. The iPod controller is designed to give you the capability to control the iPod with the stereo controls—which we all know isn't possible in our cars. The only way to control the iPod with the iPod controller installed is with the remote control that comes with the KOS-A200. And if you read what I wrote in the post that is linked above, it is a pain in the butt.

Here are the things I bought, with prices and links.
- Brodit Mounting bracket. The one I bought mounts on right side of the center air vent. I bought the one for a right-hand-drive S40 because I didn't want the iPod to block my view of the navigation screen with it mounted on the left side of the vent.
Price: 15.99 GB Pounds http://www.siocommunications.co.uk/Shoppin...?product=653500

- ProClip Padded iPod Holder. This cradle screws onto the mounting bracket above. I bought this one because it has an open bottom. They make a holder that you can mount the iPod dock connector into in order to easily remove the iPod, but I didn't get that one. I'll explain why in a minute.
Price: $36.99 http://www.proclipusa.com/default.asp

- XtremeMac RoadShow Car Audio/Video Cable for iPod. This cable is really cool! It has three ends: one end plugs into the 12V power outlet in the car to charge the iPod, the second end is an RCA cable, and the third end is an iPod dock connector. This dock connector is more than twice the size of a standard iPod dock connector which is why it is important that I bought the cradle that has an open bottom.
Price: $49.95 http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/ipod_cables/roadshow/

- Patch Cable with button connectors. These are adapter cables that have a Motorola connector on one end, and two 9V battery connectors on the other end. These are the cables that are required to connect the FM modulator cables from the KOS-A200 to the cars antenna line.
Price: $14.00 http://www.greggrocheford.com/volvo/audio_solution.html

- Kenwood KOS-A200. You can read more by clicking the link.
Price: $199.99 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-qU6e9ZS08Od/c...00&i=113KOSA200

Hello people, hello ElectricSilver T5!, i have been using the FM transmitter for a while, i am so unplaced with the performance and sound quality but now i am looking there is another option, the one you are using, so tell me there is around the forums or the internet some instructions how to do that? Or maybe you could give us some explanation about it? I am not so good for these electronic things so if I will buy the stuff you told here I will do anything!!! But with some instructions a lot of us are going to be very happy!! Thanks a lot for the help!! :grin:

Alex

I'm working on instructions with pictures. I'll post them when I'm done.

You don't necessarily need to buy the exact things I posted above for the install; I just wanted my set-up to be a specific way, and those are the items that I bought.

ElectricSilverT5 you ROCK!! Thank you so much for the instructions and all your research and information. You deserve to get paid for this! Taking donations?...hehe. I RARELY use emotions, but you deserve an applause so here it goes ... :clap:

I checked out the links and noticed the Kenwood KOS-A200 is satellite radio-ready (subscription required). Do you have your satellite portion working on the KOS-A200 and is subscription all that is required to get it working?

I don't know a whole lot about satellite radio, but I have read about people hooking up satellite radios through FM modulators, so I know that it is possible. All you would have to do is buy a satellite receiver that can be hooked up to the KOS-A200 with an RCA cable, USB cable, or mini-jack cable, and mount it somewhere in your car.