SAAB 9-3 2001 Owners Manual
Page 101 of 260
101 Saab 9-3 Audio System
Music search forward/reverse (5) To search forward for a track, press   
and release quickly (within half a second). 
The following will now appear on the dis-
play: 
To perform a backward search, press 
 instead. 
A forward search will continue until a gap of 
at least 4 seconds is found, or until you 
press   or   (mid-segment). 
Pressing and holding the button during a 
search will initiate the fast-forward function. 
Fast forward/rewind Press and hold   to start fast-
forward to the end of the tape. The following 
will now appear on the display: 
Press   once to cancel fast-forward. 
Press and hold   until a chime sounds 
to switch to music search. 
Fast rewind (<< WIND) is performed in the 
same way as fast forward. 
Auto music search (Blank skip) To switch the Blank-skip function ON/OFF, 
press and hold   (mid-segment). 
When the Blank-skip function is active (dis-
play: BL SKIP ON), unrecorded gaps that 
are longer than 15 seconds will automati-
cally be skipped. 
When auto music search is in progress, the 
following will show on the display: 
If a track has been recorded at an unusually 
low level and is therefore identified incor-
rectly as a gap between tracks, it could ini-
tiate a spurious “auto music search". 
To cancel such a search, press and hold 
 (mid-segment) during playback. 
The following will now appear on the dis-
play: 
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Page 102 of 260
102 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemType II (metal) tapes The cassette has an automatic tape-type 
selector. Cleaning-due indicator After 30 hours’ playing time, the following 
message will appear on the display: 
The message will be displayed for ten 
seconds each time the cassette player is 
selected. 
A cleaning tape should be used to clean the 
heads inside the cassette player to maintain 
good reproduction and to prevent unneces-
sary wear. 
To reset the playing-time meter: 
1 Remove the current tape. 
2 Load the cleaning tape and play it for the 
required time. 
3 Remove the cleaning tape and reload 
the other one. 
Tape care Do not expose cassette tapes to direct sun-
light or to extremes of temperature as this 
can damage the cassette and the tape. 
Always keep cassettes in their boxes when 
not in use. 
If a cassette should become jammed in the 
deck, seek help from an authorized Saab 
dealer. 
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Page 103 of 260
103 Saab 9-3 Audio System
CD player(option)To select the CD mode, load a CD into the 
deck or, if one is already loaded, press the 
CD/RDM button.
Insert the CD, label-side up, and allow the 
mechanism to load it automatically. Play-
back of the first track will start and the follow-
ing message will appear on the display: 
A tiny, amber-colored LED indicator to the 
left of the disc tray is illuminated when a disc 
is loaded. 
When all the tracks have been played, the 
CD player will restart playback from track 1. 
To cancel playback, press the eject or 
RADIO button. 
Track search (1) Touch   or   repeatedly to move 
to preceding or following tracks. Touching 
 once will restart playback from the 
beginning of the current track. To change to 
the preceding track, touch   twice. 
Rapid play (passage search) 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. 
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).
IB1165
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Page 104 of 260
104 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemFast 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) (2) Press and hold the CD/RDM button to 
select/deselect random playback of the cur-
rent disc. When this function is selected, 
RDM will appear at the bottom of the dis-
play. 
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. 
Eject (3) Touch   to remove the disc. 
If you press the eject button to open the tray 
but fail to remove the disc, the CD player will 
automatically close the tray again after 
10 seconds to protect the disc, without 
restarting playback. CD PLAY  Pressing and holding 
 or   starts 
Rapid play. 
CD TRACK  Pressing and holding 
 or   activates 
track changes. 
IB1165
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Page 105 of 260
105 Saab 9-3 Audio System
CD 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
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106 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemIf 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: 
IB1164
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107 Saab 9-3 Audio System
After 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. 
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Page 108 of 260
108 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemGeneral functionsVolume-preset modeTo select the volume-preset mode, press 
and hold the WB button at the same time as 
you switch the Audio System on. 
Use the   button to select the 
required function. 
The following volume settings can be prese-
lected: 
STARTVOL - maximum volume level 
when the Audio System is switched on. 
 TEL VOL - preset volume level when an 
in-car phone is activated. 
 SP D VOL - speed-dependent volume. 
The Audio System will automatically 
adjust the volume level to suit the back-
ground noise, such as road noise, occur-
ring while the car is in motion. 
 LOUDNESS ON/OFF - boosting of the 
highest and lowest frequency ranges to 
enhance the sound image when the 
volume is set to a low level. Adjusting the volume The default setting for START VOL is 
volume setting 9, and that for TEL VOL is 
volume setting 14 (the highest volume set-
ting is 30).  Maximum START VOL 
TELVOL 
To change the volume setting: 
– Press and hold the WB button at the 
same time as you switch on the Audio 
System. 
– Adjust the volume.
– Wait 10 seconds or touch one of the 
buttons on the bottom row of the Audio 
System, e.g. RADIO/BAND, to save the 
new volume setting. 
Speed-dependent volume 
(SP D VOL) ON/OFF To change the volume setting: 
The default setting for this function is ON. 
– Press and hold the WB button at the same time as you switch on the Audio 
System. 
– Select SP D VOL using   . 
– Select ON/OFF by turning the VOL 
control. 
– Wait 10 seconds or touch one of the but-
tons on the bottom row of the Audio Sys-
tem, e.g. RADIO/BAND, to save the new 
volume setting. 
Loudness ON/OFF To change the loudness setting: 
The default setting for this function is ON. 
– Press and hold the WB button at the 
same time as you switch on the Audio 
System. 
– Select LOUDNESS using   .
– Select ON/OFF by turning the VOL 
control. 
– Wait 10 seconds or touch one of the but-
tons on the bottom row of the Audio Sys-
tem, e.g. RADIO/BAND, to save the new 
volume setting. 
WARNING
These functions should only be carried 
out when the car is stationary.
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Page 109 of 260
109 Saab 9-3 Audio System
Steering-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⇒ ...
TAPE mode: Play other side of tape.
CD mode: Inoperative.
CD-changer mode: Change CD in the 
magazine 1⇒2⇒ ... ⇒6⇒1⇒ ... 
<< SEEK >>: 
RADIO mode: Auto/manual seeking.
TAPE mode: Music search/Fast forward or 
rewind.
CD/CD-changer mode: Track 
change/Rapid play.SRC (SOURCE) 
Press repeatedly to switch between 
RADIO ⇒TAPE or CD ⇒(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 
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Page 110 of 260
110 Saab 9-3 Audio SystemTechnical 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. 
 Dolby noise reduction is produced under licence from Dolby Laboratories Licensing 
Corporation 
 ”Dolby” and the double-D symbol   are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licens-
ing Corporation
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 
WB ___________________________ 162.40 – 162.55 MHz
Scanning steps 
Automatic seek tuning:  ___________ VHF (FM) 200 kHz
AM 10 kHz 
WB 50 kHz
Manual seek tuning:  _____________ VHF (FM) 200 kHz
AM 10 kHz Cassette player
Fast forward/rewind ______________ < 110 s (C-60)
Frequency range ________________ 50 Hz - 12500 Hz ±3 dB
WOW _________________________ 0.1% WRMS
Signal-to-noise ratio______________ 45 dB
Dolby NR effect _________________ 10 dB
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) 
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