Car stereo help

[minus1972]

alright, so after looking around online and through the stores this week, I went to Best Buy tonight and picked up a nice Sony head unit that was on sale and had a free install on top of it. Well, I buy the thing, walk outside to the bay where they install car audio stuff to make an appointment for tomorrow, and after talking to the guy for a minute he is kind enough to inform me that he will not install my head unit in my car (2000 volvo S40), because it requires too much wiring [each speaker has a small amp, as opposed to the amp being in the stock head unit], even though I asked about this problem before I bought the damn thing. He suggests I try tweeter instead. Should I head back tomorrow and try to get them to install it anyways, risking paying more for "custom" installation; or just return the thing and pay more elsewhere?

 

[kt]

You're going to let those monkies touch your car? I rather pay extra to have it professionally done or do it mysel if I had the time.

 

[Spoooon]

Return the head unit and go visit a professional.

 

[Blueopticalmouse]

I helped a friend that had a factory amplifier. He bought a bypass harness, I unplugged the harnesses from either side of the amplifier and connected with the bypass. btw I doubt that their is a separate amp for each speaker just one four channel amp

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: Blueopticalmouse
I helped a friend that had a factory amplifier. He bought a bypass harness, I unplugged the harnesses from either side of the amplifier and connected with the bypass. btw I doubt that their is a separate amp for each speaker just one four channel amp

Its not that uncommon for manufacturers to piggy back a small amp on the back of each speaker actually.

Best buy does sometimes have competent installers, but sometimes not. They still might not even want to do it. Decide if you trust them and then compare their pricing to that from a reputable stereo shop.

 

[minus1972]

after looking around for some more info and speaking to someone at circuit city who actually checked some things in my car before rendering a decision, it turns out that my car does not have an amp in each speaker, and the install would be just like any other car. Knowing this I might just buy the stuff from Crutchfield and do it myself, unless I can get CC to pricematch, in which case it'd be cheaper to have them do it. Unfortunately I can't do anything until BB refunds my money onto my credit card...

 

[Spoooon]

Check mmxpress, tms-electronics, soundomain for prices on headunits. Will probably be cheaper than Crutchfield.

Also, if you search from something like "install bay" on Google, you might find this site that has step by step instructions for head unit installation for a lot of different cars. I know I posted a link to the place in another thread a while back.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Blueopticalmouse
I helped a friend that had a factory amplifier. He bought a bypass harness, I unplugged the harnesses from either side of the amplifier and connected with the bypass. btw I doubt that their is a separate amp for each speaker just one four channel amp

It's probably just a built in crossover
my old LeBaron had a circuit boad on each speaker in the car.. they were just crossovers..

 

[richardycc]

pricematch crutchfield? now that's a good deal.

 

[alkemyst]

headunits are simple...30 mins tops once you have done a couple. However some cars have very wierd things and they require rewiring all the speakers or something equally easy, but labor intensive.

The drone should have consulted the queen bee there and usually they will do the head unit part free and tell you what the speaker wiring will cost.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: richardycc
pricematch crutchfield? now that's a good deal.

lol

 

[murphy55d]

I have heard horror stories about the monkies at CC/BB/etc "flagging" vehicles after they install the audio stuff...they let their thug friends know what was installed on what vehicles, and then your new stuff gets ripped off.

I don't know how true any of it is, but I would not feel comfortable having those people install the stuff. I am also looking for car audio stuff now and I'm either going to have someone I know do it, or have it done professionally.

 

[alkemyst]

almost all audio shops have the potential to have a crook working there, plus nothing stops crooks from checking out the install bays and seeing what the cars are getting.

Many people end up blasting their new items all over the place and bragging about them though, when they get ripped off 1 week later, it's easy to say the shop must have done it.

 

[MikeMike]

check out

http://www.ikesound.com , http://www.partsexpress.com , http://www.thezeb.com

BTW: sony h/u's suck. they put out crappy quality sound. not many ppl like them.

try pioneer, alpine, kenwood (higher end stuff)

alpine puts out some amazing sound quality, and has many many options on the h/u

pioneer has the sweet visuals goin for it. and nice sound quality.

kenwood can be a mix.

or find a nice eclipse dealer around you.

they have 3 year theft warranty, and are some of the nicest h/u's around.

MIKE

 

[RayH]

Well if the car has factory Bose system, good luck getting it sounding right without replacing everything. Alot of the factory Bose systems have special equalizations built into the head units and amps to get full range out of speakers.

 

[Aharami]

if you are buying a sony headunit, you probably arent a audiophile. so go ahead and let the BB guys install it for you

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Aharami
if you are buying a sony headunit, you probably arent a audiophile. so go ahead and let the BB guys install it for you

One thing Sony has going for them...best FM sensitivity I've seen @ 8dBf for most of their Xplod models. Also, their high end Xplod model has a pretty damn sweet TFT screen...but it's steep @ ~$700.

Check out a place like Sounddomain.com because they have great prices, and they include a free install kit and wiring harness for your car. I'm will be in the market for one early next year since my Kenwood Excelon unit and dual 12" box/subs were stolen recently. :frown:

I'm leaning toward the high end Kenwoods again, but the Pioneer DPH-7500 or 8500 with it's nice silver face might get me to switch brands. I'll likely add a Class "D" amp and a single 15" setup then as well.

 

[rommelrommel]

I sincerly doubt that any of you could tell the difference inbetween a Sony and an Alpine in a car with factory speakers. Hell, even make that a Rampage and a Nak.