Why is car audio dead around here?

[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.

[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