Hello

I just bought my new 2006 s40 over the weekend. I got the upgraded Sound System, moonroof and climate package. I was thinking about purchasing the stock Volvo sub for the back, however when I found that they wanted $750 for an 8" woofer...I was a bit discouraged.

Who has this? Do they recommend it or some other option? I figured for $750 I could hook something sweet up to this let alone a factory 8" sub...any thought?

I am also looking for inexpensive options for body kits, ipod hookups, rear spoilers and tires/wheels for my new s40. I bought the black one...like in my Avatar. I will update on my search as time goes on and any info that you can provide on any of these topics would be great.

Thanks in advance

Unfortunately, the Volvo sub is your only option there because it is a Fibre system (no analog signals). That is the same reason there is no way to hard wire an IPod to the S40/V50. You can use the FM transmitter and that is it.

As for the body work there are more and more kits coming out. Check out Heico, MS designs, and IPD for starters.

Cheers

That 8" is expensive but it works well and really gives the system excellent balance. I just spent the money and think it was worth every cent.

not sure what site, but I just typed in Volvo s40 audio upgrades and found that sub, for 450.00 I have the base system and was wondering if I could have a radio store hook up the infinity that has a build in sub?

There is one thing that perhaps should be mentioned regarding the Volvo S40/V50 subwoofer kit assembly. Even with the raised floor in the S40 AWD T5, the existing lower floor supports have to be replaced with a (different) material configuration that is not part of the kit. Only the the sub, fiber optic cable, power supply wiring, and adapters came in the package along with the instructions. I had assumed that everything was set when ordering from my dealer. Yesterday, they phoned and said that these additional pieces (clearly indicated in the installation booklet) are needed to be back ordered ($90.00). Unfortunately, this was not clear at all on their website or accesseries brochure. I'm now working on getting this done gratis due to what I consider misinformation or incomplete disclosure!

Tacitus, good point. When I was looking into the optional sub I made sure the price included the pieces to raise the floor. Also, anyone looking into this option needs to realize that adding a subwoofer raises the floor of the trunk (boot, back, whatever we call it) about 2 1/2 inches.

Cheers

What I found a bit deceiving was that Volvo "claimed" that ONLY FWD vehicles needed raised floor supports. That may in fact be true, but the floor supports in the AWD cars (while raised) don't match the configuration required to accomodate the sub. Hence new supports are needed at extra cost.

Here is another solution, JL Audio asctually has a digital converter, thus allowing amps, speakers, subs to be installed as per normal.

Please help me with this. From what I understand there is a way....... Yes most of the wireing is fiberoptics. But I believe that the acutal speaker wireing is normal. If this is so then it would be possible to add a High Low adapter to the rear speakers to add RCA connection. If it is so that the cable is fiber then the upgraded stereo has an amplifier.... That being said the amplifier should not run off of fiber meaning it would be possible to add the high low converter to the rear speaker wire comming out of the factory amp.... I am not sure if I am correct I have only had my 07 for 2 weeks but I have already purchased 2 hifonics amps and L5's for the trunk. I look at it this way no matter what Volvo says where there is a will there is a way. I will let everyone know what I found out when I start tearing it all apart...

Jason is right... I had my amp and subwoofer installed with a high/low adapter... sounds great!

Hi guys. Maybe I can help. You can connect a simple power amplifier with a good subwoofer (JBL, SONY; PIONEER, etc etc etc) if you get the audio from the rear speakers (or any pair of speakers) of your volvo.

Some power amplifiers have integrated the impedance / adaptors in order to reduce the output you have on the speakers to the required ammount of miliwatts in the input of the amplifier.

You can buy an adapter separately too (a high low converter) if your power amplifier don't have this option available.

An audio without a subwofer is not a good audio, no matter if you have good speakers, excelent signal noise levels, frequency ranges, distorsion levels, etc.

I don´t know if this kind of installation can void de volvo warranty. Remember you need to drain power to the power amp too.

I add the original volvo subwoofer and I'm happy with that

Regards!

I have an Infinity Basslink that I absolutely love in my current car and was going to transfer it. What is this Fibre junk? Are all of the speakers active (amplifiers built into speaker module itself)?

Volvo S40 have a very good audio. The most advanced choice have a dual graphic equalizer, 12 speakers and dolbyprologic 2. On this models, you can install the available subwoofer from Volvo with an active power supply and power amplifier integrated.

This require some modifications on the trunk of the car. Versions with AWD come already prepared.

The active original subwoofer is optional and required optical cabling too. Software needs to be updated in the car in order to control the subwoofer features.

regards!

Thanks for that, I am considering the OEM sub too, glad to hear it is worth the cost.

You mentoned 8" but the picture on the Volvo site hear in USA shows what appears to be a smaller ducted port speaker tucked in around the spare wheel well, is that where yours is installed?

How much space did you lose in the trunk, later in this thread where is mention of needing to raise the floor, I presume that means in the trunk? Do you mind revealing the total installed cost?

Hi. Sorry for the delay in the response. Unfortunately I don't receive any email from the forum about your reply.

I'm audio engineer and I add several high end audio to several cars out ther. With S40 Volvo is better to use the original audio.

Only in the trunk you lost space.

I spend 1000 USD in Mexico (everything in mexico is expensive), so where do you live?. I have vendors contacts in USA with excelent price (500usd + installation). I believe you can receive a full pack with soft upgrade included in less than 700 usd.

The subwoofer is 8 inch High end with a 140 Watts Mosfet RMS power amplifier, fiber connected. The power supply is pulse w/ peak suppresor and w/ a high efficience converter.

CM, the oem sounds like the way to go then, maybe the only way as you imply but dealer here in US is around $900usd. That is probably out it out of my reach for a single speaker I would like to have.

The investment is not only for the speaker. The 900USD must be payed for:

- Woofer
- Box
- Amplifier
- Power Supply
- Power cables
- Optical cables
- Installation
- Software upgrade

When the job is finished, you can turn off / on the Sub on your radio screen and even you can adjust the sub level. this is very nice (but still expensive).

Regards