Why is car audio dead around here?

[Guest]

The shit getting stolen thing amazes me. I've had multi-thousand dollar systems in my cars over the past 19 years and never had anything stolen....and until my WRX, never had an alarm in them. I guess my advice is, don't bump your system close to home...

As for JohnW's comments...here is my thoughts:

1. Everyone wants to be different by doing the same thing their friends did?!?!?!
2. I can assure anyone that my amp kits are reasonably priced, and I'll never sell anyone a capacitor....EVER.
3. I'd be happy as shit selling prefabs all day every day. WAAAAAAAY more profit in that stuff.
4. Again....never had shit stolen
5. I'm in the book, on this forum and any other forum that will have me...lol...and I guarantee I am among the lowest priced legit dealers out there.
6. It is my personal goal to offer guidance only when asked for....you tell me what you want in your system and I may offer a couple suggestions for improvement, but I won't push you to get it. I've been on the consumer side, I remember how bad it sucks to spend money on something you didn't really want in the first place.

Faber: Most of the stuff I sell in Mpls is not installed by me. I am ok with this. I am, however, working on a major project for a high-end client right now....I will post pics when completed.

[KA-T_240]

I will let you know when I need the deck and install for the car.

It has a old ass 250w amp under the passanger seat. Is it really worth keeping.... Or should I just rip it out. From what I can tell the outputs on it are wired back to the stock wires where they should be hooked up to the deck....

[ichibankilla]

If I may also add.

A lot of the newer cars today make it vary hard to install an after market deck, some of which need damn near the whole dash removed just to put in another deck and others need a shit ton of custom work to install one. Then there's wiring, a friend of mine had a 2000 or so chevy van and he wanted to put a really nice alpine cd player in, well after he installed it his instrument cluster didn't work and later he found out he needed a special wiring harness so he could keep the factory radio plugged in with the after market deck. Most people just don't want the hassle.

[weshole]

bubba;215818 wrote:
Id rather spend my money on making it go faster/handle better.
Let me know when you actually DO <u>exactly</u> that.

bubba;215818 wrote:
My 2 door speakers and a good head unit are good enough for me.
Ya cuz I'd hate to see someone make their stereo louder than their intake/exh. I's really annoying to have to turn the stereo down to hear the VTAKKKK kick in. And what do you consider a GOOD head unit?

I agree with Tony... There doesn't seem to be as much of the younger crowd into the REAL QUALITY end of the car audio/video area. I'm going out on a limb here but, I think that most of them are too cheap to spend any money on the stuff.

[JohnW]

tjamz;215892 wrote:

1. Everyone wants to be different by doing the same thing their friends did?!?!?!

I agree with what you said, i'd like to make a comment about this tho. Alot of kids don't care about being different with thier systems. they just want the name brand or just the 'cool' factor of having a system, not really to discuss install techniques or specs. i guess not everyone is as into it as they should be What i'm trying to say is there doesn't seem to be as big of 'enthusiast' market around here. It's funny how deathly afraid people are of buying something they've never heard of. I could convince someone to buy a pyramid amp before an Fi Q sub, you know? Do they have competitions around here any more? I haven't paid any attention for a long time.

[Jim]

revolutionz_s13;215811 wrote:
yesh. people that be stealin shit. have had my car broken into 3 times now
fuck systems. good components with a good 4ch amp and good head unit ftw.

Stuff gets stolen like 2x as much in the cities tho

[Guest]

ichibankilla;215901 wrote:
If I may also add.

A lot of the newer cars today make it vary hard to install an after market deck, some of which need damn near the whole dash removed just to put in another deck and others need a shit ton of custom work to install one. Then there's wiring, a friend of mine had a 2000 or so chevy van and he wanted to put a really nice alpine cd player in, well after he installed it his instrument cluster didn't work and later he found out he needed a special wiring harness so he could keep the factory radio plugged in with the after market deck. Most people just don't want the hassle.

Most people don't need to update their deck on these types of systems. JL Cleansweep, Rockford 360.1, RE-Q, etc....all make OEM integration a snap.

You don't need to keep the factory radio plugged in, they make nice little harnesses that mimic the factory radio and still allow for full onstar, bluetooth, etc...

You are right, it is harder on newer vehicles, however, MOST of the people on this site have older vehicles which are insanely easy to install equipment into.

[Guest]

Jim;215908 wrote:
Stuff gets stolen like 2x as much in the cities tho

QFT!!!

It is 10x worse in Winnipeg too, but they seem to have a booming car audio industry.

[harm]

seems like most - MOST - thefts are just grab-and-run.. like the two times with my busted-ass '85 accord. fuckers. I bet that portable cd player fetched a mint at the hock shop.. the broken window cost me 40 bucks the second time and all they took was a big-ass, cheap-ass knife from the trunk. THAT WAS FOR MY MARSHMALLOW STICKS, DAMN IT!

..but I guarantee, if I had anything valuable that wasn't bolted down, and some little asshole heard or saw it, it'd be gone as soon as they had a chance to take it. Theft is a huge reason I haven't put anything other than crap replacement speakers into my cars.

That being said, I need to talk to you about a deck and speakers, maybe an amp, for one of my cars. Factory radio finally quit working.. time to upgrade.

[capitlj]

I just plain can't afford it right now. Trust me chuck if I could I'd have a two way autostart/alarm installed, then put in some good components, a sub or two, and a deck that I can run an iPod from.

[bubba]

weshole;215903 wrote:
Let me know when you actually DO <u>exactly</u> that.

Ya cuz I'd hate to see someone make their stereo louder than their intake/exh. I's really annoying to have to turn the stereo down to hear the VTAKKKK kick in. And what do you consider a GOOD head unit?

I agree with Tony... There doesn't seem to be as much of the younger crowd into the REAL QUALITY end of the car audio/video area. I'm going out on a limb here but, I think that most of them are too cheap to spend any money on the stuff.

Wow, sorry I dont want a bunch of fucking speaker in my car so everyone hears it... Car audio isnt my thing, I could give a shit less if I even had a stereo in my car...

[Guest]

Wes is just giving you shit Bubba, don't sweat it.

I agree with you, I don't want people outside my car hearing my music either for a daily driven car. I agree you don't need/want a bunch of speakers. In fact, my ideal system is one that incorporates only 3 speaker locations and one 3 channel amplifier.

Headunit
Amplifier
Front Left Speaker (Coaxial or Component) in the kickpanels
Front Right Speaker (Coaxial or Component) in the kickpanels
1 Subwoofer in a properly designed vented enclosure in the trunk/hatch/cargo area/behind seat

This is nearly an ideal sound quality setup (with proper speaker placement) that won't bankrupt anyone's budget or annoy anyone's neighbors.

Maybe that is the problem, everyone thinks that the only reason to do stereo's is to be loud (which for some is the case), but my highest priced speakers ($5200/set) were never intended to be super loud.

[weshole]

bubba;215939 wrote:
Wow, sorry I dont want a bunch of fucking speaker in my car so everyone hears it... Car audio isnt my thing, I could give a shit less if I even had a stereo in my car...

Geez Brandon..... Wash the sand out of your vagina. I was merely joking with you. Your fully entitled to do what you like to your car.

I chose to run a semi decent stereo in my car cuz I hate it when shit sounds whack and I only run 3 speakers in my car as well. Wait, make that 4 now.

[Erik]

I can only speak for myself, and personally, audio gear is last on my list right now.

Between the two cars I own and 10 possible speakers, only 3 work.

[amicheze]

I'm perfectly happy with my factory "Premium Sound" speakers and CD player. The only reason I upgraded the factory deck was because I wanted something to run my iPod. I am, however, putting in a single 10" and a 700w amp here soon. If I listened to a lot of rap/techno I'd probably want something louder, but for the kind of music I listen to I don't need anything with tons of bass.

[99civic]

yeah this town has gone to shit for well put together cars and audio its getting to be just a bunch of high school ricers and g-unit kids there are no show cars anymore cause A. the weather is always shitty and cold B. dont have the money for all the parts C. alot easier to get a shitty car and auto x it or just drag race it cause thats the only thing to do around here thats fun!

[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.