C30 Electrics : C30 Audio options

[paignton]

Hi all, Brought my first Volvo this weekend, previously had Celica for 6 years, MX5 for a year, seat Arosa and Skoda Felica before that. Picked up a 2007 Volvo C30 D5 SE for 2.8K at the weekend. Really happy for it. It has been fitted with a parrot phone adapter, and I've noticed that AM radio doesn't work. Assuming the two are connected? Anyway I am football fan and would like AM radio, or ability to play via my iPhone (with the current parrot doesn't allow). What are your best suggestions?

[volvopilot]

I am happily using a FM transmitter that I bought off aliexpress for only 6 pounds. The sound quality is surprisingly good in combination with the high performance audio. I got the 'Onever FM transmitter'

The FM transmitter even seems to be generating a stronger signal than all other FM stations.

That's by far the cheapest and easiest way to listen to your football games and play some spotify.

Other options are: replace your current parrot for a parrot 9100 for example. That one is able to play music.

[paignton]

For £6 one of those Bluetooth fm transmitters is worth a shout. I’ll try one of those and see how I get on. Part of me is tempted to remove the old parrot but I’ll see how big a job that is first......

[volvopilot]

it's not a massive job, but the parrots that support bluetooth audio are priced around 150 GBP. Audio quality is probably a little bit better compared to the FM transmitter, but still not great.

honestly, the FM transmitter surprised me big time. I expected lots of static and noise.

the main thing is to find a frequency that works in your area. What you can do is listen to all FM frequencies with the FM transmitter off and pick a frequency where you do not have any audio and the least static. Then move on and turn on the FM transmitter onto that particular frequency.

[paignton]

in case anyone is interested....
had the week off with the missses parents staying this week and decided today was the day I would have a go at this one. I want to remove the parrot and go back to stock, then try out one of these bluetooth fm transmitters. Took the "waterfall" off which was surprisingly easy to get at it. Pulled a load of gubbins out, there was wiring harness that needed to removed out the back of the cd player. The harness was particularly hard to remove from the CD player for some reason. It seems to run behind the glove box so that will be the next challenge, I presume there is some kind of amp living there. Will need to see how I can get at that.......

[Thassos]

If yours doesnt have an aux in in the centre armrest box, it is possible to modify the electronics to have a switchable aux in socket, not a trivial mod, but just worth mentioning, have done it on a 2007 C30 with good result, no noise whatsoever and you can then connect your iphone or ipod even works well as a hands free phone as a bonus

[paignton]

Thanks Thassos. That sounds ideal, will have to look into how that is possible......

[paignton]

Is this what you were talking about?
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F221469940057

[paignton]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-XC9...kAAOSwE9pb4ufb
Found a cheaper one this morning that looks like it uses the CD player pins, that along side a longer AUX lead than in the pictures would work nicely.