> "e4fx" <e4fx@syd,net> wrote in message:
>> now i have a cassette stuck in the machine and i can't listen
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Mike
"Randy G." <frcn@DESPAMMOcncnet.com> wrote:
> Remove the radio and open the case. Nothing to lose- it already
> doesn't work and probably would cost more to fix than to replace
> from a breaker anyway. As it turned out, mine got stuck in a half-
> load position and the loading motor was fried...
> __ __
> Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
thanks a million to both of you!
once i removed the faceplate it was pretty easy to get the cassette
out. didn't do the whole deal with the cover 'cause i really don't
care to pursue repairing the cassette player.
see below if you can follow with help re: replacement
"James Sweet" <jamessweet@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Replace the radio with an aftermarket CD player, if you can find
> one that's not too gaudy. Those OEM units weren't very good to
> begin with, I was shocked at how much better the radio performance
> was on the new one I installed in my car, though it plays MP3s so I
> almost never use the radio.
curious about two points.
1. i was always told it was the volvo speakers that weren't good. is
it the radio, the speakers, or both that were subpar as stock units?
2. i have two fairly nice auto radio combos sitting around my house.
is there some sort of radio flaceplate frame i can buy so that i can
install one of these where the original volvo unit was? (i'd keep the
original if i ever decide to sell the car...)
thanks again
Mike F - 11 Aug 2005 13:40 GMT
> curious about two points.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> thanks again
The weakest link is the low end amplifiers Volvo used. Upgrading the
amp is the single biggest improvement you can do to your system. Of
course, if you change out the head unit, your new one will most likely
have an amp built in, so you get both benefits. You should still be
able to get the frame so you can neatly install standard DIN sized
radios into the current radio location. Since you have a radio, buy a
faceplate adapter and a wiring adapter, then see if you need to change
your speakers.

Signature
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
Peter K L Milnes - 12 Aug 2005 01:29 GMT
Don't bother to change the radio. It and the speakers are made by Alpine and
are capable of very good sound quality. If you have the full six (or 8)
speaker set-up which has an amplifier as well the reproduction is of
excellent quality. I am sure that you can find a cassette unit from a
scrapyard that will work.
All the best, Peter.
>> "e4fx" <e4fx@syd,net> wrote in message:
>>> now i have a cassette stuck in the machine and i can't listen
[quoted text clipped - 58 lines]
>
> thanks again
James Sweet - 12 Aug 2005 07:38 GMT
> Don't bother to change the radio. It and the speakers are made by Alpine and
> are capable of very good sound quality. If you have the full six (or 8)
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> All the best, Peter.
Most of these had 2 or 4 speaker setups with a crappy underpowered amp and
it's getting near 20 years old. I know when I replaced mine the speakers
were tattered at the surrounds and sounded fuzzy, the tape player belt was
slipping, the radio got lousy reception and of course no CD player. $250
later I have a nice CD/MP3 player and nice new speakers that sound far
better than the original and have far more features.
Of course these last couple years it's hard to find anything that's not
outrageously gaudy looking.
James Sweet - 12 Aug 2005 07:35 GMT
> 1. i was always told it was the volvo speakers that weren't good. is
> it the radio, the speakers, or both that were subpar as stock units?
The speakers are nothing spectacular, but they're not difficult or expensive
to replace if you want better.
> 2. i have two fairly nice auto radio combos sitting around my house.
> is there some sort of radio flaceplate frame i can buy so that i can
> install one of these where the original volvo unit was? (i'd keep the
> original if i ever decide to sell the car...)
You can buy mounting and wiring kits to adapt a standard DIN sized unit with
no modifications to the car.