Page 93 of 256
93 Saab 9-3 Audio System
Saab 9-3 Audio
SystemQuick guide to the Saab
9-3 Audio System ........... 95
Sound controls................. 97
Radio ................................. 98
CD player .......................... 100
CD changer ....................... 102
General functions ............ 105
Steering-wheel controls .. 106
Security lock..................... 106
Technical data .................. 107
Fault codes ....................... 109
IB1934
ProCarManuals.com
Page 94 of 256

94 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemSaab 9-3 Audio SystemThe Saab 9-3 Audio System comes in two
levels, Premium and Prestige. They are
specially adapted to the cabin space in the
Saab 9-3.
The Saab 9-3 Audio System consists of a
main unit with a radio and an in-dash CD
player. There is a also a CD player and a CD
changer for 6 CD discs available as an
accessory.
The Premium Audio System has two loud-
speakers at the front and two at the rear.
Output is 4x20 watts.
The Prestige Audio System 3 has two addi-
tional loudspeakers. They are mounted in
the front doors and reproduce bass tones
below 200 Hz. These subwoofers have their
own amplifier of 2x40 watts. The Audio Systems are interconnected with
SID (Saab Information Display) which is
located above the radio in the instrument
panel. The Audio Systems uses the display
of the SID instrument to show text/charac-
ters and indications.
Indicator
AS Radio is in Autostore mode
RDM Random playback of CD
tracks when CD player
selected
ProCarManuals.com
Page 96 of 256
96 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemCD player. See page 100 CD changer (option). See page 102
Touch: change to CD playback when other
sound source is active.
Press and hold briefly (a chime will sound):
random playback.
Touch: SEEK at either end to change track.
Press and hold briefly: fast playback or fast
track changes.
Touch center on SEEK (a chime will sound):
change between functions fast playback
(PLAY) and fast track changes (TRACK).
Remove CD.
CDRDMSEEK
To u c h : change to CD changer when CD player
is active.
Two touches: change to CD changer when
radio is active.
Press and hold briefly (a chime will sound):
random playback of entire magazine.
To u c h : SEEK at either end to change track.
Touch and hold briefly: fast playback.
Press SEEK (center) once: Switch between
Rapid play (PLAY) and Fast track search
(TRACK).
Selects disc in magazine.
CDRDMSEEK2 13
5 46
ProCarManuals.com
Page 102 of 256

102 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemCD changer (accessory)Important! Always keep the sliding cover
closed to keep dust out of the CD changer,
so that it will continue to provide satisfactory
service for a long time.
To load the CD changer, which is installed
in the trunk and can accommodate six CDs,
proceed as follows:
1 Slide the cover back.
2 The CD magazine will automatically
eject after it has retrieved all discs.
3 Press the catch on the magazine to one
side.
4 Withdraw one CD tray at a time and
swap or load the CD (label side up).
Slide the tray back into the magazine.
Note the position of the magazine for load-
ing (see picture).
Insert the entire magazine carefully inside
the CD changer and slide the cover closed
again.
To select the CD changer If the Audio System is in the RADIO
mode, touch the CD/RDM button twice.
If the CD player is active, touch the
CD/RDM button once.
If the CDs in the magazine have not been
changed, the system will restart playback
from where it left off.
If there is no magazine in the CD changer,
the following will appear on the display: If the magazine in the CD changer is empty,
the following will appear on the display:
NOTEDo not use writable CDs in your audio
system, as in certain cases these types of
CD are only suitable for home use and
can therefore cause operational prob-
lems (overheating).
IB383
4
3
IB799
CD changer in trunk
ProCarManuals.com
Page 103 of 256
103 Saab 9-3 Audio System
If the CD changer is activated immediately
after a magazine has been loaded, the fol-
lowing will appear on the display:
The CD number will change as each CD is
played.
After a magazine has been loaded, play-
back will start with the first track on the first
CD when the CD changer is selected, and
the following will appear on the display:
Selecting CDs (1) When the CD changer is operating, the
radio preset buttons work for the six CDs in
the magazine. Press the button for the cor-
responding CD.
If the selected CD is already being played,
playback will restart from the first track. If the selected CD-tray, e.g. 3, is empty, the
following will appear on the display:
IB1930
ProCarManuals.com
Page 104 of 256

104 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemAfter two seconds, the status of the trays in
the magazine (i.e. loaded or empty) will be
shown on the display, e.g.:
If for some reason the CD selected by the
preset button cannot be played, playback of
the current CD will continue. Track change (2) Touch or repeatedly to move
to preceding or following tracks. Pressing
once will restart playback from the
beginning of the current track. Thus, to play
the preceding track, touch twice. Rapid play When or is pressed and
held, rapid play will be initiated, with the time
and track showing on the display, e.g.:
If the button is depressed for more than
5 seconds, the rapid play will be even faster.
Rapid play stops when the button is
released.
Fast track changes Touch SEEK (mid-segment) to switch
between the CD PLAY and CD TRACK
modes.
The CD-PLAY and CD-TRACK modes
change the function of and .
The selected mode will also be active the
next time the system is switched on.
Choose the mode that you find most conve-
nient.
Random playback (RDM) (3) Press and hold the CD/RDM button to
select/deselect random playback of the
CDs in the magazine. When this function is
selected, RDM will appear at the bottom of
the display.
Touch to move from the current
track to the next during random playback.
Touch to repeat the current track
during random playback.
Pressing and holding or will
start Rapid play.
To stop playback from the CD changer,
simply select another source (RADIO/CD).
The CD changer will now enter stand-by
mode.
CD PLAY Pressing and holding
or starts
Rapid play.
CD TRACK Pressing and holding
or activates
track changes.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 106 of 256

106 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemSteering-wheel
controls To facilitate use of the Audio System and to
promote safer driving, most of the functions
can be operated using the integral remote
controls on the steering wheel. Control functions: NEXT:
RADIO mode: preselect buttons
1⇒2⇒ ... ⇒6⇒1⇒ ...
CD mode: Inoperative.
CD-changer mode: Change CD in the
magazine 1⇒2⇒ ... ⇒6⇒1⇒ ...
<< SEEK >>:
RADIO mode: Auto/manual seeking.
CD/CD-changer mode: Track
change/Rapid play.SRC (SOURCE)
Press repeatedly to switch between
RADIO ⇒(CD changer) ⇒ RADIO ⇒ ...
VOL +/–:
Volume adjust.
Security lock The Audio System is equipped with an elec-
tronic security lock. The special code is
unique to the car in which the Audio System
is fitted.
Each time the Audio System is switched on,
a check is made to ensure that the codes
match.
If not, the following will appear on the
display:
If a CD changer has been installed, it will
also have been security coded.
If the security code for the CD changer does
not match when the changer is selected, the
following will appear on the display:
If a CD changer is to be installed or if you
wish to move the main audio-system
module and/or CD changer to another car
(Saab 9-3), you
must
consult an authorized
Saab dealer so that the modules can be
given the correct security codes.
IB945
Audio System controls on steering wheel
ProCarManuals.com
Page 107 of 256

107 Saab 9-3 Audio System
Technical data
These specifications comply with the new IHF Standard
Since the policy at Saab is one of continual improvement, we retain the right to alter
specifications and design without prior notice.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer for compliance
could void the user´s authority to operate the equipment.
Tone controls
Bass _________________________ ±12 dB at 40 Hz
Treble ________________________ ±10 dB at 15,000 Hz
Power output __________________4 x 20 W (4 x 12 W at 1%
THD (total harmonic dis-
tortion) and 13.5 V)
Radio module
Radio system __________________ PLL dual-synthesizer
tuner
Number of presets
FM __________________________ 3 x 6
AM __________________________ 2 x 6
Frequency range
FM __________________________ 87.9 MHz – 107.9 MHz
AM __________________________ 530 kHz – 1710 kHz
Scanning steps
Automatic seek tuning: ___________ VHF (FM) 200 kHz
AM 10 kHz
Manual seek tuning: _____________ VHF (FM) 200 kHz
AM 10 kHz CD player and CD changer
1-bit system and 8 x oversampling
Frequency range ________________ 5-20000 Hz
±0.5 dB
Stereo separation _______________ 45 dB
Distortion _____________________ < 0.008%
Dynamics _____________________ > 95 dB (1 kHz)
CD-changer capacity: 6 discs
Amplifier (cars with extra speakers in
front doors)
Power output ___________________ 2 x 40 W (2 x 30 W at 1%
THD 50 Hz)
Crossover frequency _____________ 110 Hz (-3 dB)
ProCarManuals.com