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  1. #1

    Saab 9-5 Audio System FAQ (Angry Kitchen Appliances)

    This information is from a website that stopped working earlier in 2016. Many Saab enthusiasts found this information very helpful so we are reproducing this here on SaabWorld.

    Author: Göran Larsson
    Original website: http://www.mitt-eget.com/saab/faq_audio.shtml
    Website also know as: Angry Kitchen Appliances

    Notice

    This FAQ is my own answers to some frequently asked questions. These pages are provided as a service to owners of Saab 95 all over the world. The answers are, to my knowledge, correct. Any corrections to errors are welcome.

    This FAQ reflects my view of the world. I don't know if that view is shared by Saab, or any other company mentioned here.

    Feedback on this FAQ is appreciated. A feedback button is provided for each of the FAQ entries.

    When the information given in the FAQ differs between model years this is marked using a marker like in these examples; MY 1998 - 2005 for the classic 9-5 and MY 2006 for the Dame Edna edition.

    Note: Questions and requests for help will be answered when time is available. Please don't complain to me if your Saab is making you unhappy or when I can't give you a new SID or DI.

    What are the differences between the Saab Audio Systems?
    Who manufactures the Saab Audio Systems?
    What Saab Audio System do I have?
    CD Changer
    Can I upgrade the audio system?
    Upgrade AS2/ES52 (Premium) to AS3/ES53 (Prestige)
    Add amplifier to AS2
    Can I build an adapter for that quaint amplifier?
    Where is the amplifier?
    What about the connector for the head unit?
    Can I replace the speakers?
    Can I use the steering wheel buttons for a non-Saab audio unit?
    The sound alternates between the speakers. What happened?
    Can I connect a MP3 player?

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  2. #2

    What are the differences between the Saab Audio Systems?

    Q: What are the differences between the Saab factory audio systems?

    A: The different audio systems in the Saab 95 have different head units, amplifiers, and speakers.

    Power output, number of speakers, sound quality, and cost varies with AS1 at the low end and AS3/ES3 at the high end. The AS2 and AS3 systems share the same head units, either the radio/CD/tape head unit or the radio/navigation head unit. The radio/navigation head unit is available as factory option starting with model year 2003½ (on selected markets) and available as aftermarket upgrade for model year 2001 cars, and later, prewired for navigation system.

    The following table lists features of the factory installed audio systems found in the Saab 95.

    DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAAB 9-5 FACTORY AUDIO SYSTEMS

    Model Years Audio System Head Unit Power Speakers CD Changer
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS1 / Popular Radio and CD 80W 4 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Option
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS2 / Premium Radio, CD and tape 150W 7 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Option
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS3 / Prestige
    (4 doors)
    Radio, CD and tape 200W 9 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Rear shelf, L & R
    Option
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS3 / Prestige
    (5 doors)
    Radio, CD and tape 200W 8 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Cargo area
    Option
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS2 + Navigation Radio and navigation
    7 inch LCD screen
    150W 7 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Standard
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS3 + Navigation
    (4 doors)
    Radio and navigation
    7 inch LCD screen
    200W 9 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Rear shelf, L & R
    Standard
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS3 + Navigation
    (5 doors)
    Radio and navigation
    7 inch LCD screen
    200W 8 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Cargo area
    Standard
    MY 2005 AS2 + Navigation Radio, CD and navigation
    6.5 inch LCD screen
    150W 7 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Standard
    MY 2005 AS3 + Navigation
    (4 doors)
    Radio, CD and navigation
    6.5 inch LCD screen
    200W 9 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Rear shelf, L & R
    Standard
    MY 2005 AS3 + Navigation
    (5 doors)
    Radio, CD and navigation
    6.5 inch LCD screen
    200W 8 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Cargo area
    Standard
    MY 2006 Premium 80 ? 80W 4 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Option
    MY 2006 Premium 150 (ES52) ? 150W 7 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Option
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53)
    (4 doors)
    ? 200W 9 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Rear shelf, L & R
    Option
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53)
    (5 doors)
    ? 200W 8 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Cargo area
    Option
    MY 2006 Premium 150 (ES52) + Navigation Radio, CD and navigation
    6.5 inch LCD screen
    150W 7 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Standard
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53) + Navigation
    (4 doors)
    Radio, CD and navigation
    6.5 inch LCD screen
    200W 9 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Rear shelf, L & R
    Standard
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53) + Navigation
    (5 doors)
    Radio, CD and navigation
    6.5 inch LCD screen
    200W 8 locations
    Instrument panel, L & R
    Instrument panel, Center
    Front doors, L & R
    Rear doors, L & R
    Cargo area
    Standard

  3. #3

    Who manufactures the Saab Audio Systems?

    Q: Who manufactures the Saab factory audio systems?

    A: The audio systems are manufactured by the companies in the following table.

    MANUFACTURERS OF SAAB 9-5 FACTORY AUDIO SYSTEMS

    Model Years Audio System Head Unit Amplifier Speakers CD Changer
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS1 / Popular Clarion (inside head unit) Pioneer Pioneer
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS2 / Premium Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS3 / Prestige Pioneer Harman Kardon Harman Kardon Pioneer
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS2 + Navigation Kenwood/Becker Pioneer Pioneer Kenwood
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS3 + Navigation Kenwood/Becker Harman Kardon/Becker Harman Kardon Kenwood
    MY 2005 AS2 + Navigation Denso Pioneer Pioneer ???
    MY 2005 AS3 + Navigation Denso Harman Kardon/Becker Harman Kardon ???
    MY 2006 Premium 80 ??? (inside head unit?) Pioneer ???
    MY 2006 Premium 150 (ES52) ??? Pioneer Pioneer ???
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53) ??? Harman Kardon/Becker Harman Kardon ???
    MY 2006 Premium 150 (ES52) + Navigation Denso Pioneer Pioneer ???
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53) + Navigation Denso Harman Kardon/Becker Harman Kardon ???


  4. #4

    What Saab Audio System do I have?

    Q: What Saab Audio System do I have?

    A: The following clues can be used to identidy the installed audio system.

    HOW TO IDENTIFY SAAB 9-5 FACTORY AUDIO SYSTEMS


    Model Years Audio System Clue
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS1 / Popular Head unit with no tape.
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS2 / Premium Head unit with CD and tape, but fails the AS3 clue.
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS3 / Prestige
    (4 doors)
    Head unit with CD and tape. Subwoofer speakers in rear shelf.
    Harman Kardon logo on rear shelf speaker mesh.
    Harman Kardon logo on dashboard between steering wheel and head unit. MY early 1998
    MY 1998 - 2005 AS3 / Prestige
    (5 doors)
    Head unit with CD and tape. Subwoofer speaker instead of storage
    compartment in right side wall of cargo area.
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS2 + Navigation Seven inch LCD screen, no CD slot, but fails the AS3 clue.
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS3 + Navigation
    (4 doors)
    Seven inch LCD screen, no CD slot. Subwoofer speakers in rear shelf.
    Harman Kardon logo on rear shelf speaker mesh.
    MY 2002 - 2004 AS3 + Navigation
    (5 doors)
    Seven inch LCD screen, no CD slot. Subwoofer speaker instead of storage
    compartment in right side wall of cargo area.
    MY 2005 AS2 + Navigation Six ½ inch LCD screen, CD slot, but fails the AS3 clue.
    MY 2005 AS3 + Navigation
    (4 doors)
    Six ½ inch LCD screen, CD slot. Subwoofer speakers in rear shelf.
    Harman Kardon logo on rear shelf speaker mesh.
    MY 2005 AS3 + Navigation
    (5 doors)
    Six ½ inch LCD screen, CD slot. Subwoofer speaker instead of storage
    compartment in right side wall of cargo area.
    MY 2006 Premium 80
    (4 doors)
    Ugly GM head unit, but fails the ES52 and ES53 clues.
    MY 2006 Premium 150 (ES52)
    (4 doors)
    Ugly GM head unit, but fails the ES53 clue. Front door speakers.
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53)
    (4 doors)
    Ugly GM head unit. Subwoofer speakers in rear shelf.
    Harman Kardon logo on rear shelf speaker mesh.
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53)
    (5 doors)
    Ugly GM head unit. Subwoofer speaker instead of storage
    compartment in right side wall of cargo area.
    MY 2006 Premium 150 (ES52) + Navigation
    (4 doors)
    Six ½ inch LCD screen, CD slot, but fails the ES53 clue.
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53) + Navigation
    (4 doors)
    Six ½ inch LCD screen, CD slot. Subwoofer speakers in rear shelf.
    Harman Kardon logo on rear shelf speaker mesh.
    MY 2006 Prestige 200 (ES53) + Navigation
    (5 doors)
    Six ½ inch LCD screen, CD slot. Subwoofer speaker instead of storage
    compartment in right side wall of cargo area.


  5. #5

    CD Changer

    Q: Will brand XYZ CD changer work in my new Saab 95?

    A: No. Only the CD changer sold by Saab for the 95 and 93 will fit.

    The Saab CD changer for the 95 and 93 is made for Saab by Pioneer. The interface to the head unit is not the ordinary Pioneer cable, instead the CD changer attaches to the I-BUS (a CAN bus, Controller Area Network bus, J-2284, used as a local area network in the car) and uses it for communications to/from the head unit. The TWICE security computer will not allow the CD changer to communicate on the I-BUS unless it has been married to the car using the TECH 2 diagnostics tool.

    Before moving a CD changer from one car to another car it has to be divorced (also using the TECH 2 tool) before it can be married to the new car. All this because some low ranking life forms does not understand the concept of "mine" and "yours".

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    If the CD changer is not married to the car it is installed in, then this message will be displayed on the SID.

  6. #6

    Can I upgrade the audio system?

    Q: Can I upgrade my AS1 or AS2/ES52 audio system to AS3/ES53 just by plugging in AS3/ES53 parts?

    A: Not easily.

    Modern Saabs have almost no unused wires, so if the car was ordered without AS3/ES53 it has no AS3/ES3 wireing at all. For the audio system the cars are wired at the factory for

    • No audio preparation (no audio cables at all)
    • Audio preparation (like AS1, but without AS1 head unit)
    • Audio System 1
    • Audio System 2
    • Audio System 3

    With model year 2006 cars the AS1 system is replaced by the Premium 80 system (standard) and the AS2 and AS3 systems have been replaced by Premium 150 (ES52) and Prestige 200 (ES53).

  7. #7

    Upgrade AS2/ES52 (Premium) to AS3/ES53 (Prestige)

    Q: Can I upgrade my AS2/ES52 audio system to AS3/ES53 by adding two speakers?

    A: No, it is involves much more than two new speakers.

    You need to do the following to get to factory spec AS3:

    1. Remove old seven channel AS2 amplifier (made by Pioneer).
    2. Remove seven old AS2 speakers (made by Pioneer).
    3. Remove old AS2 cable harness.
    4. Install new AS3 cable harness.
    5. Install nine new AS3 speakers (made by Harman Kardon) and Harman Kardon logo on rear speaker grilles (4 door models).
    6. Install new nine channel AS3 amplifier (made by Harman Kardon).

    You need to do the following to get a working AS3 system:

    1. Remove old seven channel AS2 amplifier (made by Pioneer).
    2. Remove seven old AS2 speakers (made by Pioneer).
    3. Add missing speaker cables to AS2 cable harness.
    4. Install nine new AS3 speakers (made by Harman Kardon).
    5. Install new nine channel AS3 amplifier (made by Harman Kardon).

    Note that the AS2 speakers have different sizes, different impedances, and different frequency ranges than the AS3 speakers.
    This upgrade is everything but cheap and easy...

    My local Saab dealer did investigate the cost of this upgrade, i.e. rebuilding the AS2 audio system to what it would have been if the AS3 was a factory install. The cost, including all labour, came out at SEK 50 000, EUR 5 600, or USD 4 800. Lucky me ordered the factory installed AS3. :-)

    Swedish Saab dealers offer a "fake" AS3 upgrade, AS2+, consisting, at least in 1999, of a plain off-the-shelf Pioneer amplifier and a pair of plain off-the-shelf 6" x 9" full range speakers. I have listened to this upgrade and did not like it, especially not the full range sound from the rear.

  8. #8

    Add amplifier to AS2

    Q: Can I add an extra amplifier to my AS2/ES52 audio system?

    A: Yes, with an adapter.

    The low level signal between the head unit and the amplifier is not the common single ended (signal & ground) used in ordinary consumer audio, instead it is a balanced (signal+ & signal-) used in pro audio. Attaching the new amplifier here requires an adapter.

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    Another possible location is to use the high level signal at the rear passenger door speakers using a common high level to low level converter. The problem is that this signal may not be full range as it may have been filtered in the amplifier, the workshop manual gives the frequency range as midrange/treble.

  9. #9

    Can I build an adapter for that quaint amplifier?

    Q: Can I build an adapter that converts the weird signal Saab uses to something I can use?

    A: Yes.

    An adapter that converts between a balanced professional audio signal (like the Saab head unit) and a single ended consumer audio signal (like consumer automotive amplifiers) is relatively easy to build. The drawing below shows an example of a balanced to single ended adapter using a common dual operational amplifier (OP-amp) connected as an amplifier with a differential input. The drawing is just an untested example showing what my first try would look like if I needed such an adapter. More work may be needed to make it into an adapter sutiable for automotive use.

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    Instead of building an amplifier with a differential input it is possible to use transformers. Such transformers are sold as galvanic isolation adapters for use in car audio. The intended use for these adapters is to break up ground loops to reduce noise, but they should work as a balanced to single ended adapter as well.

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    Examples of galvanic isolation adapters are


    Make sure that no signals are common between the left and right sides of the adapter, i.e. Left IN+, Left IN-, Right IN+ and Right IN- should not be connected together. Example: The left and right grounds are joined inside the Biltema adapter and must be separated by cutting a trace of the circuit board inside the adapter.

  10. #10

    Where is the amplifier?

    Q: I want to connect my own amplifier, where is the AS2/AS3/ES52/ES53 amplifier?

    A: The amplifier is mounted by the front passengers feet (left hand drive) or drivers feet (right hand drive), below the A pillar near the wheel.

    The wires from the head unit and battery connect to the amplifier using one big connector. The balanced low level signals should be twisted. The big connector has two rows of pins. The first row starts with two large red wires and is numbered 1 through 20. The second row starts with two large black wires and is numbered 21 through 39. With this reference it should be possible to find the wires needed to connect an extra amplifier.

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    Note that the low level signal between the head unit and the amplifier is not the common single ended (signal & ground) used in ordinary consumer audio, instead it is a balanced (signal+ & signal-) used in pro audio. Attaching the new amplifier requires an adapter.

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    The information the table below was taken from the 95 workshop manual for model years 1999 and 2002. Unfortunately wire colours/colors may vary between model years. There were few wireing changes until model year 2001.

    AS2/AS3/ES52/ES53 AMPLIFIER CONNECTOR

    Function Direction Pin # Colour/color
    Power
    Power supply in 1 RED
    Ground - 21 BLACK
    Power supply in 2 RED
    Ground - 22 BLACK
    Line Level Inputs
    Line in right front + in 3 red
    Line in right front - in 23 blue
    Line in left front + in 4 blue/white
    Line in left front - in 24 red/white
    Line in right rear + in 5 gray
    Line in right rear - in 25 brown/red
    Line in left rear + in 6 yellow/white
    Line in left rear - in 26 orange/white
    Speaker Outputs
    Speaker, subwoofer, right - (AS3) out 7 black/white
    Speaker, subwoofer, right + (AS3) out 27 black/green
    Speaker, subwoofer, left - (AS3) out 8 gray
    Speaker, subwoofer, left + (AS3) out 28 brown/red
    Control Signals
    No connection - 9 -
    No connection - 29 -
    No connection - 10 -
    No connection - 30 -
    Mute control in 11 black/white
    No connection - 31 -
    Remote on control for
    amplifier (also antenna)
    in 12 green
    No connection - 32 -
    No connection - 13 -
    Speaker Outputs
    Speaker, rear door, right - out 33 blue/white
    Speaker, rear door, right + out 14 red/white
    Speaker, rear door, left - out 34 green/white
    Speaker, rear door, left + out 15 brown/white
    Speaker, front door, passenger - out 35 green
    Speaker, front door, passenger + out 16 brown
    Speaker, front door, driver - out 36 red
    Speaker, front door, driver + out 17 blue
    Speaker, front panel, right - out 37 gray
    Speaker, front panel, right + out 18 brown/red
    Speaker, front panel, left - out 38 brown
    Speaker, front panel, left + out 19 brown/white
    Speaker, front panel, center - out 39 yellow/white
    Speaker, front panel, center + out 20 orange/white

 

 

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