Craig,

I believe we are pursuing different goals.

I got only the boom mike and headrest speaker combo at a close-out price from the dealer. The rest of the installation kit included the handset cradle and Ericsson or Nokia phone specific control module.

Since I wanted to use my own phone (LG-Sprint) and also wanted to take advantage of technological advances, I opted to drive the speaker from the micro-mini plug outlput on most cell phones. The microphone does not require amplification.

The micro-voltage output from the 2.5mm cell phone jack is not powereful enough to drive the 8 watt RMS / 8 ohm headrest speaker. Hence the need for a line-in (RCA) connection to the amplifier for boosting signal strength to the speaker.

However, it you just want to use an aftermarket headset to connect to your cell phone, you ought to be able to find a brand specific headset or an adapter.

Your Volvo system should work very well. Ater all, my cobbled together project sounds as clear as a land line. Check for corrosion on the connections, a broken wire or defective component before taking drastic action.

Good luck,
Bryan