As others on the forum have shared I will contribute my efforts and results on upgrading a 2021 V90 HPA audio system and the search for the holy grail of Volvo audio improvement. You know who you are. In my search to replace my 2008 V70, no longer offered, I began my mid-west search for a low mileage V90 Unicorn. Bowers and Wilkens or H/K audio optioned vehicles are a rarity. I found a low miles V90 that satisfied my needs except audio.
Following significant research and some over confidence I mistakenly opted to begin the upgrade from HPA to BW. I purchased a salvaged B&W speaker set from Erie Volvo in the US. Once I started the actual modification work I soon discovered this upgrade is a serious and laborious task to undertake, primarily due to the fact that wire harnesses require substitution or wire pairs added for completion. H/K to B&W is doable. HPA to B&W or H/K is much more difficult.
Potential issues with a BW upgrade I was unwilling to test.
Therefore, My upgrade I installed is what I’ll modestly label a hybrid BW audio option which I believe is a worthwhile undertaking and does not require new harness installation. The quality difference in the BW drivers from HPA are obvious and immediate. Larger magnets, larger voice coils, heavier baskets, and better quality cone material.
The BW hybrid audio system in summary:
This hybrid BW system in my V90 satisfies my expectation for the best audio result as can be obtained without significant cost or vehicle tear up. I am quite satisfied with the outcome.
Following significant research and some over confidence I mistakenly opted to begin the upgrade from HPA to BW. I purchased a salvaged B&W speaker set from Erie Volvo in the US. Once I started the actual modification work I soon discovered this upgrade is a serious and laborious task to undertake, primarily due to the fact that wire harnesses require substitution or wire pairs added for completion. H/K to B&W is doable. HPA to B&W or H/K is much more difficult.
Potential issues with a BW upgrade I was unwilling to test.
- Inner door disassembly to add BW speaker harnesses.
- Obtaining and reverse engineering Volvo electrical diagrams and variations.
- Sourcing the correct terminals and re-pinning Volvo connectors.
- Disassembling the center console to route the center speaker wire harness.
- Lowering the roof headliner to install the rear pillar speakers and wires.
- Configuring/programming the installed BW amplifier using VDASH.
Therefore, My upgrade I installed is what I’ll modestly label a hybrid BW audio option which I believe is a worthwhile undertaking and does not require new harness installation. The quality difference in the BW drivers from HPA are obvious and immediate. Larger magnets, larger voice coils, heavier baskets, and better quality cone material.
The BW hybrid audio system in summary:
- Add Dynamat sound suppression material to door/door panels as required.
- Substitute the 6 front door drivers from HPA to BW. One for One.
- Substitute the 4 rear door drivers from HPA to BW. One for One
- Add the HPA tweeters from the front door to the rear door existing opening.
- The rear door now has 3 speakers all in parallel running off one HPA channel.
- Install the BW sub-woofer in the OEM position and run a wire pair into the spare tire compartment.
- Purchase a harness that allows a patch from the HPA amplifier and add taps for the sub input (Front Door Woofer) while leaving the installed harness intact.
- Install an aftermarket mono block sub-woofer amplifier into the spare compartment.(Sony XM-GS100)
- Sell the unused BW amplifier, center speaker, and rear pillar speakers.
This hybrid BW system in my V90 satisfies my expectation for the best audio result as can be obtained without significant cost or vehicle tear up. I am quite satisfied with the outcome.
