[lvpete]

Would any of you lucky people who have already received your V40, be able to give a quick review on the sound systems (user interface, handling, sound in speakers)? I am getting the 7" High Performance system myself.

And are any of you aware of compatibility lists for USB keys (to play music), either officially provided by Volvo, or unofficially, and do any of you have experience with to which level information on tracks, albums etc. are passed on to the screen?

Thanks.

 

[jens-peter]

I've opted for the 7" sound system for my V40, and I really like it! I think the sound quality is good - i've heard a large range of different music and talk radio too. My previous car was a Smart, so it don't take much to impress, but I like it. I also like, that even with high speeds (motorways) you can still hear talk radio - that was not possible in the old Smart..

I haven't tried to play music from a USB stick, only with my iPhone - both connected via bluetooth and via cable. When you have it on the cable, you can navigate your albums/artist/genres etc from the buttons at the steering wheel (or at the dashboard), but when you stream via bluetooth, it just picks up where you left off. This is also pretty cool - we have a airport express hooked up to our stereo, so when I'm home I can listen to a album on my speakers in the livingroom via wifi, when I leave and go to the car, it continues from where it left off, with bluetooth

Also, when connected via bluetooth you can also make and answer calls, this works great too!

I took this photo, when my iPhone was hooked up via a cable:

 

[lvpete]

I've opted for the 7" sound system for my V40, and I really like it! I think the sound quality is good - i've heard a large range of different music and talk radio too. My previous car was a Smart, so it don't take much to impress, but I like it. I also like, that even with high speeds (motorways) you can still hear talk radio - that was not possible in the old Smart..

I haven't tried to play music from a USB stick, only with my iPhone - both connected via bluetooth and via cable. When you have it on the cable, you can navigate your albums/artist/genres etc from the buttons at the steering wheel (or at the dashboard), but when you stream via bluetooth, it just picks up where you left off. This is also pretty cool - we have a airport express hooked up to our stereo, so when I'm home I can listen to a album on my speakers in the livingroom via wifi, when I leave and go to the car, it continues from where it left off, with bluetooth

Also, when connected via bluetooth you can also make and answer calls, this works great too!

I took this photo, when my iPhone was hooked up via a cable:

Tak/Thanks Jens-Peter. Seems like it will work well. Good song choice by the way - always good for driving I am going to change phone as well and have seen that Samsung and IPhone work very well with Volvo. Depending on the phone memory, I would like to plug in a USB stick for listening to my many albums and then use the 12V plug for charging the phone. I believe there is a second 12V plug next to the USD plug in the arm rest compartment, right?

I see you have the Caspian Blue colour. I can still get in doubt whether I would have preferred the warmer colour to the Biarritz I am chosen (I still have time for changing my options, but not for long!!)

 

[Patrickv]

When using USB the only real important thing is to make sure the USB stick is formatted fat32. And that you use a fat32 sorter else the music which you probably have sorted on artist and albums won't be sorted on the Volvo limitation of fat32 but luckily there are tools for that.

I do prefer having an iPod connected.
Am using an old 160 gb click wheel iPod to store my music and have my iPhone via Bluetooth to make calls and use spotify to play music.

 

[raytint]

I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all types, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two speakers on the front doors and two tweeters on the dashboard. No loudspeakers on rear doors! I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Is this correct?
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors? (My daughter is complaining!!!)

 

[volver]

I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all types, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two speakers on the front doors and two tweeters on the dashboard. No loudspeakers on rear doors! I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Is this correct?
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors? (My daughter is complaining!!!)

That is right at least for Greece! I think we are the only country which gets such a low specification audio system as standard. The premium system is charged at 700 euros and the high performance one even more...

 

[London_2012]

When using USB the only real important thing is to make sure the USB stick is formatted fat32. And that you use a fat32 sorter else the music which you probably have sorted on artist and albums won't be sorted on the Volvo limitation of fat32 but luckily there are tools for that.

I do prefer having an iPod connected.
Am using an old 160 gb click wheel iPod to store my music and have my iPhone via Bluetooth to make calls and use spotify to play music.

I've gone for the budget option of a 16gb memory stick with MP3 files (64gb can be picked up for £20 or 25 euros), works fine, I have the basic sound system which is good enough for me, I see artist and track name, plus track length with a bar to show how far through the track you are. Random works ok too, although it will select from every MP3 file on the stick, which is not always what I'm looking for as I have a couple of audio books and a language course on there. One minute I'm listening to music the next I'm learning Spanish.

 

[lvpete]

Seems like different types of connections will work fine. I have on other occasions seen problems with certain USB keys, but as long as the format is right, it will play as intended and show relevant information. Will have to look for a way to avoid that random play goes across all folders!!

 

[Absane]

I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all types, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two speakers on the front doors and two tweeters on the dashboard. No loudspeakers on rear doors! I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Is this correct?
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors? (My daughter is complaining!!!)

That is right at least for Greece! I think we are the only country which gets such a low specification audio system as standard. The premium system is charged at 700 euros and the high performance one even more...

Performance < High Performance < Premium

 

[raytint]

What is worst is the fact that the audio system can not be "enriched" afterwards. So I have to work out some kind of new patent. Does anyone know smthng about this ?

 

[sbraga]

I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all types, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two speakers on the front doors and two tweeters on the dashboard. No loudspeakers on rear doors! I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Is this correct?
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors? (My daughter is complaining!!!)

That is right at least for Greece! I think we are the only country which gets such a low specification audio system as standard. The premium system is charged at 700 euros and the high performance one even more...

Performance < High Performance < Premium

Hi, I've just received my new v40 and I can confirm that in Portugal the standard audio system has also no speakers on rear doors. I just hope that it's possible to install 2 speakers on the rear doors. Can anyone confirm? I haven't had a clear answer from sales people.

 

[raytint]

I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all types, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two speakers on the front doors and two tweeters on the dashboard. No loudspeakers on rear doors! I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Is this correct?
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors? (My daughter is complaining!!!)

That is right at least for Greece! I think we are the only country which gets such a low specification audio system as standard. The premium system is charged at 700 euros and the high performance one even more...

Performance < High Performance < Premium

Hi, I've just received my new v40 and I can confirm that in Portugal the standard audio system has also no speakers on rear doors. I just hope that it's possible to install 2 speakers on the rear doors. Can anyone confirm? I haven't had a clear answer from sales people.

Hello Sbraga, congrats on receiving your new car. The car is fabulous, as you will soon know for yourself. Unfortunately, I just received an answer email from VolvoCars Hellas (Greece) confirming that nothing can be done. They explain that no speakers can be added on rear doors and the amplifier can not be upgreaded from 2X25 to 4X25. The only way out (for you) maybe that your car has a 4X25 amplifier installed. I shall take a look at the official Volvo site for Portugal.

 

[raytint]

I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all types, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two speakers on the front doors and two tweeters on the dashboard. No loudspeakers on rear doors! I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Is this correct?
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors? (My daughter is complaining!!!)

That is right at least for Greece! I think we are the only country which gets such a low specification audio system as standard. The premium system is charged at 700 euros and the high performance one even more...

Performance < High Performance < Premium

Hi, I've just received my new v40 and I can confirm that in Portugal the standard audio system has also no speakers on rear doors. I just hope that it's possible to install 2 speakers on the rear doors. Can anyone confirm? I haven't had a clear answer from sales people.

Hello Sbraga, congrats on receiving your new car. The car is fabulous, as you will soon know for yourself. Unfortunately, I just received an answer email from VolvoCars Hellas (Greece) confirming that nothing can be done. They explain that no speakers can be added on rear doors and the amplifier can not be upgraded from 2X25 to 4X25. The only way out (for you) may be that your car has a 4X25 amplifier installed. I shall take a look at the official Volvo site for Portugal.

And, more unfortunately, the site of Portugal refers "Performance 2X25 Watt, 4 colunas" as standard for all trim levels.

 

[sbraga]

I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all types, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two speakers on the front doors and two tweeters on the dashboard. No loudspeakers on rear doors! I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Is this correct?
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors? (My daughter is complaining!!!)

That is right at least for Greece! I think we are the only country which gets such a low specification audio system as standard. The premium system is charged at 700 euros and the high performance one even more...

Performance < High Performance < Premium

Hi, I've just received my new v40 and I can confirm that in Portugal the standard audio system has also no speakers on rear doors. I just hope that it's possible to install 2 speakers on the rear doors. Can anyone confirm? I haven't had a clear answer from sales people.

Hello Sbraga, congrats on receiving your new car. The car is fabulous, as you will soon know for yourself. Unfortunately, I just received an answer email from VolvoCars Hellas (Greece) confirming that nothing can be done. They explain that no speakers can be added on rear doors and the amplifier can not be upgreaded from 2X25 to 4X25. The only way out (for you) maybe that your car has a 4X25 amplifier installed. I shall take a look at the official Volvo site for Portugal.

Thanks raytint. It's hard to believe that a car such as this one has an audio system which supports only 2 speakers! Very bad publicity for Volvo... I'm still waiting for a clearer answer from Volvo representatives and I'll let you know if I have any news. Thanks once again.

By the way, I'm quite pleased with the car in spite of some details such as this one... another one is the car key which seems quite "cheap". One of the best things is the interior illumination - at night, the car looks amazing in the interior.

 

[raytint]

That is right at least for Greece! I think we are the only country which gets such a low specification audio system as standard. The premium system is charged at 700 euros and the high performance one even more...

Performance < High Performance < Premium

Hi, I've just received my new v40 and I can confirm that in Portugal the standard audio system has also no speakers on rear doors. I just hope that it's possible to install 2 speakers on the rear doors. Can anyone confirm? I haven't had a clear answer from sales people.

Hello Sbraga, congrats on receiving your new car. The car is fabulous, as you will soon know for yourself. Unfortunately, I just received an answer email from VolvoCars Hellas (Greece) confirming that nothing can be done. They explain that no speakers can be added on rear doors and the amplifier can not be upgreaded from 2X25 to 4X25. The only way out (for you) maybe that your car has a 4X25 amplifier installed. I shall take a look at the official Volvo site for Portugal.

Thanks raytint. It's hard to believe that a car such as this one has an audio system which supports only 2 speakers! Very bad publicity for Volvo... I'm still waiting for a clearer answer from Volvo representatives and I'll let you know if I have any news. Thanks once again.

By the way, I'm quite pleased with the car in spite of some details such as this one... another one is the car key which seems quite "cheap". One of the best things is the interior illumination - at night, the car looks amazing in the interior.

Let me know if you find something more. The speakers are four, two tweeters on the dashboard, two main speakers on the front door panels. The bad thing, as I have learned by the email I received from Volvo, is that the amplifier, being 2 X 25, can not support six speakers. As I already told you in a previous message, the Portuguese Volvo site in the "build your car" section describes the sound system as "Performance, 2 X 25, 4 colunas", but in "specifications" they made the same mistake as they had done on the Greek site (they ammended it on the Greek site, after I made an observation to them). They write there "Performance 4 speakers" and they describe it as having an amplifier 4 X25, which is wrong, look it up for yourself. I am looking for market solutions now, but I do not know if shall get such a solution, as any mistake may make guarantees to get void. Pls, let me know if you find some good solution.
Otherwise the car is fine, it has a very good ride, which you understand better if you sit on the co-driver's side and let someone else drive, it is economic (D2 real consumption after 2300 km is less than 5.2 lt/100 km, shared in and out of city) and the feeling overall (as you say) is superb. Which trim level and engine you got ?

 

[sbraga]

Performance < High Performance < Premium

Hi, I've just received my new v40 and I can confirm that in Portugal the standard audio system has also no speakers on rear doors. I just hope that it's possible to install 2 speakers on the rear doors. Can anyone confirm? I haven't had a clear answer from sales people.

Hello Sbraga, congrats on receiving your new car. The car is fabulous, as you will soon know for yourself. Unfortunately, I just received an answer email from VolvoCars Hellas (Greece) confirming that nothing can be done. They explain that no speakers can be added on rear doors and the amplifier can not be upgreaded from 2X25 to 4X25. The only way out (for you) maybe that your car has a 4X25 amplifier installed. I shall take a look at the official Volvo site for Portugal.

Thanks raytint. It's hard to believe that a car such as this one has an audio system which supports only 2 speakers! Very bad publicity for Volvo... I'm still waiting for a clearer answer from Volvo representatives and I'll let you know if I have any news. Thanks once again.

By the way, I'm quite pleased with the car in spite of some details such as this one... another one is the car key which seems quite "cheap". One of the best things is the interior illumination - at night, the car looks amazing in the interior.

Let me know if you find something more. The speakers are four, two tweeters on the dashboard, two main speakers on the front door panels. The bad thing, as I have learned by the email I received from Volvo, is that the amplifier, being 2 X 25, can not support six speakers. As I already told you in a previous message, the Portuguese Volvo site in the "build your car" section describes the sound system as "Performance, 2 X 25, 4 colunas", but in "specifications" they made the same mistake as they had done on the Greek site (they ammended it on the Greek site, after I made an observation to them). They write there "Performance 4 speakers" and they describe it as having an amplifier 4 X25, which is wrong, look it up for yourself. I am looking for market solutions now, but I do not know if shall get such a solution, as any mistake may make guarantees to get void. Pls, let me know if you find some good solution.
Otherwise the car is fine, it has a very good ride, which you understand better if you sit on the co-driver's side and let someone else drive, it is economic (D2 real consumption after 2300 km is less than 5.2 lt/100 km, shared in and out of city) and the feeling overall (as you say) is superb. Which trim level and engine you got ?

I was given a tight budget (it's a company car...) so I had to go for the D2 with a standard equipment version (in Portugal, it's called Kinetic) plus a style pack. Not as shining as a Momentum but still nice

 

[sbraga]

Regarding the absence of rear speakers on the standard audio system, I got the unfortunate response from dealer saying that the car audio system wasn't prepared to have rear speakers... however, I was told there's a workaround to install rear speakers which consists of splitting the audio output which is currently being directed towards the front speakers in two audio streams. Basically, it can be made some kind of cable connection which would link the rear speakers directly to the front ones, dividing audio output between both.

But it seems to be hard work... in fact, the dealer priced this work at 290€! So I will forget it... at least for now.

 

[raytint]

Regarding the absence of rear speakers on the standard audio system, I got the unfortunate response from dealer saying that the car audio system wasn't prepared to have rear speakers... however, I was told there's a workaround to install rear speakers which consists of splitting the audio output which is currently being directed towards the front speakers in two audio streams. Basically, it can be made some kind of cable connection which would link the rear speakers directly to the front ones, dividing audio output between both.

But it seems to be hard work... in fact, the dealer priced this work at 290€! So I will forget it... at least for now.

Thnx a lot for the information. Fact is that this "2X25" seems to be the standard all over Europe ! Volvo should have second thoughts on this. My dealer, after a negative answer from Volvo Cars Greece, is looking for an after market solution, which, I suppose, will be similar to the one you found. Will let you know !

 

[jefvdv]

I've tested High Performance during a test drive. Good quality sound but I had to turn the level all the way up to max. It isn't very powerful.
iPhone 5 did connect via Bluetooth without any problems, but it didn't work at all via USB. They said a future software update will fix that, but you've got no idea if that's 100% sure and when it will happen.

I used a Lightning to USB cable. I've read people having success connecting iPhone 5 with Apple's Lightning->30-pin Dock connector.

 

[raytint]

I reply a question set some time ago, just in case anyone has, in the meantime, found some kind of solution:
"I have the simple "Performance" audio system, which is standard on all trim levels, up to Summum.
It is described as incorporating four speakers, but I realized that this "four" actually refers to two woofers and two tweeters on the front doors.
No loudspeakers on rear doors!
I should have imagined this, as the amplifier is described as "2X25".
Has anyone found some way to add two more speakers on rear doors?"