Why is car audio dead around here?

[SPANISH-RICE]

well if it helps im in the market for some new 6.5" LMK what ya got

[Guest]

what price range? under $100 or over $5000?

[Parker]

i think he should splurge on the $5000+ ones

[treimche]

Car stereo stuff is really nice to have again, after about 8 years of not having any of it. In car video is awesome, and hard to live without once you have it. Having a head unit that controls an Ipod is also pretty much a necessity any more.

[RidinRails]

There are quite a few people into car audio still.....but they all seem to go to best buy.

[harm]

Say I have a budget of around 500 bucks, don't want a sub, just decent sound range, good quality, and have space for 4 speakers. I think they're all 6.5" but I'd have to check.. and I need a deck, too. Anything available in that range?

I don't want show quality, just a functional freaking radio. I miss having music on the occasional drives I take longer than 20 minutes.

[harm]

(double post FTW) ..and I heard rumor of the project you're working on, can't wait to see pics of the finished project. Nice story about the customer picking up a run-around car for the couple days you've got his vehicle. some people.. =D

[Guest]

harm;216276 wrote:
Say I have a budget of around 500 bucks, don't want a sub, just decent sound range, good quality, and have space for 4 speakers. I think they're all 6.5" but I'd have to check.. and I need a deck, too. Anything available in that range?

I don't want show quality, just a functional freaking radio. I miss having music on the occasional drives I take longer than 20 minutes.

Sure...

Clarion DRX585USB Head Unit

Zapco I-602 Coaxials Front & Rear

the above can be had for ~$500

OR say screw the rear speakers, do that same deck and put a set of RE Audio XXX6.5 components in and have near subwoofer like bottom end with one of the best tweeters I've heard to date....for about $100 more than the above setup

[Guest]

harm;216278 wrote:
(double post FTW) ..and I heard rumor of the project you're working on, can't wait to see pics of the finished project. Nice story about the customer picking up a run-around car for the couple days you've got his vehicle. some people.. =D

Hehe...yeah, got a little project in the works right now for a wealthy client out of the cities. Since I had his vehicle for a while, he decided he would go buy a brand new Caddy CTS-V for a few weeks until I get his truck back to him....then sell the car again.

[out there]

i was thinking about the slump in stereo interest, too. actually, my roommate is thinking about getting some equipment in his new car... but i couldn't find a whole lot of stuff from my usual choices. as a benchmark for current products, i check crutchfield, and their car stuff has really gone down in volume; which leads me to my hypothesis about why car stereo is suffering: a) excess debt b) bad national economic situation c) the rush for hd tv.

with all of these other things sucking at peoples' finances, they don't have time, money or interest to devote to car stereos. in fact, most people that i've met, recently, don't even listen to that much music.

as for why i haven't been buying any stereo stuff... i'm still rocking the mtx components with audiobahn subwoofers and a couple of powerful amps

[treimche]

Another thing I think is killing car audio, is that everyone still has their old stuff from 3,4,5,6 years ago, and its still working. I couldn't tell you how many times i put in used old shit when I worked at Team. If they don't still have their old stuff from their 89 Cutlass, they bought some old used stuff that "bumps" from their buddy for $100 and want that put in.

[GhettoFabulousCRX]

I've been through many stereo systems. I think what's killed it for me is I've replaced ONE blown sub. But I have replaced way more stolen systems. Another thing is the work isn't hard realy so people get their friends to do it and such. If i get another system it will be a kicker L7 10 in a false floor I'll do myself. I just wanna make something hard as hell to steal

[CivicEX7777777]

I am into car audio to a point, just have so many choices on what to buy when on my car as im just starting out on it, theres a million things i want just dont have the $$$$ all at once unfortunately......

[Guest]

GhettoFabulousCRX;216498 wrote:
I've been through many stereo systems. I think what's killed it for me is I've replaced ONE blown sub. But I have replaced way more stolen systems. Another thing is the work isn't hard realy so people get their friends to do it and such. If i get another system it will be a kicker L7 10 in a false floor I'll do myself. I just wanna make something hard as hell to steal

I'm not a Kicker or MTX dealer...but do yourself a favor and listen to the MTX Square sub before you even contemplate that Kicker GARBAGE (notice I don't normally cut down a product line....I'm making an exception here). I'm sure Tintmasters or AudioGarage would be more than willing to let you hear one of the square subs if you are hell bent on being super loud and using a square sub.

[GhettoFabulousCRX]

I know you do stereos and I value your opinion but I wouldn't call them garbage. I've had a lot of different setups and I just like the kicker line best out of everything and have never had any problems with them. I've had an l5 15. two l7 12's and an l7 10. I just like the sound of them and they're pretty cheap. I had the L7 12 in a custom vented box in my Z and Haven't heard a system with one sub louder than that before. fucking rediculous.

[Guest]

Just the L7's are garbage...listen to them...they don't get stupid loud and they aren't clean, yet they cost a fair amount..seriously, listen to the MTX series.

I like most everything else kicker makes besides the square subs...

[hondo04]

Kicker has gone way down hill from what they used to be IMO Kicker = Jensen

[Guest]

hondo04;216511 wrote:
Kicker has gone way down hill from what they used to be IMO Kicker = Jensen

I don't know if I'd go THAT extreme, but I do think you pay a lot for them in relation to what you get.

[whiteaccord]

the mtx square is much better than the L7 just give it a try i wont let you down,

[ChrisNelson]

I didn't get a chance to read the whole thread, but I thought it might be interesting that up here in Bemidji, the car audio scene is pretty dead also. People are so enveloped in going fast that the extras aren't as important.

I work at Overbeek Electronics and Music in Bemidji and we've had a better summer sales then the last 2 years, but compared to 4 years ago it is practically non-existent. I'll look forward to reading this whole thread soon.