Car Stereo Advice

[Wildfire]

Hey all....I need some advice. Im looking to buy a car stereo + speakers for my Golf GTI.
I dont like the idea of going to a big company (i.e future shop).
Can anyone recommend any other business or person where I can buy a stereo +speakers and have them fitted professionally at the same time?

Any advice appreciated.

[Pshrynk]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

I have used Audio Concepts on 32 Avenue NE before -- recently was in there and the customer service was meehhh. They didn't seem to give a **** if i gave them my business or not -- IMHO many businesses are going to have to "re-educate" themselves on how to treat customers if the economy continues to slide.

Have also used ARA before -- they did a good job.

[MusicalGenius]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

Honestly the best place I can recommend is the Future Shop in Country Hills. Why? A really good friend of mine actually runs his own installation bay. If you go and ask for his help he should give you the right info. Ask for Jon, say that Jayson said you should talk to him. He probably won't do much on price but he knows car audio inside and out.

[stefan]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

bad experiences with soundsaround.....

[MusicalGenius]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

I used to be "friends" with one of the sons of what's his nuts Grassi who own Soundsaround. My advice, stay the fu*k away from that company.

[Kor]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

Audio Concepts was always cool, but I have heard they might be having hard times lately. Maybe some layoffs, not a lot of customers... economy?

There is a big new place on Barlow Tr that is supposed to be pimp.

[Kor]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

I think this is the new place:

http://mobilesolutionscalgary.com/

[Stonewall]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

I was just going to mention Mobile Solutions as I read about them in PAS the other day. I think I might go and check them out there one day.

[Satnam]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

ARA south calgary - sucks the donkey's nuts, don't even waste a bit of your life looking them up

[P Arkus]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

I did all my purchasing and work through visions and they did a great job. If you go to the one in westhills, the install guys know their stuff!

[Kor]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

I did all my purchasing and work through visions and they did a great job. If you go to the one in westhills, the install guys know their stuff!

What did you end up buying?

I would say that depending on what you want you will not be able to get really great gear at any of Visions Soundsaround BestBuy Futureshop.

If you want to order online, a popular US website is woofersetc.

[Pshrynk]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

Audio Concepts was always cool, but I have heard they might be having hard times lately. Maybe some layoffs, not a lot of customers... economy?

I was in there in the last few months -- looked at some high end units -- told them what I wanted and they "said" they were going to try and track down some adapters/etc to make my factory steering wheel audio controls work with an aftermarket unit -- I even called in to tell them the name of a company that made said adapters -- well...

It's been over a month and a half & no call no nothin --- it seems to me that they couldn't care less about my business or my $2500 I was likely going to spend there.

Like I said above -- companies like this are gonna need to get their heads out of their asses and actually serve their customers to get business.

[P Arkus]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

What did you end up buying?

I would say that depending on what you want you will not be able to get really great gear at any of Visions Soundsaround BestBuy Futureshop.

If you want to order online, a popular US website is woofersetc.

My whole set up is JL Audio with Alpine DVD headunit. The major things, (subs, amps, components and headunit) I got from vision, but I got all my wiring (ALL JL Audio) from ebay cause visions doesnt have it. NO REGRETS about the system!

[blackradon]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

ill second westhills. I bought all my stuff from them and got a guy from beyond(no longer does installs, makes carputers now) too install it all. He use to work at visions on westhills and said if i ever need anymore work too go there. I went will all alpine type-r and type-x speakers and subs. Eclipse head unit tho.

[PRY4SNO]

Re: Car Stereo Advice

I say hit up eBay for good deals on hi-end stuff, and find a decent head unit (Pioneer/Eclipse) you don't mind selling with the car (but you keep your speakers/amps) at the place you get the install done.

Component suggestions:

- Focal Utopia Be

- JL Audio 8w7 or 10w6

- Precision Power Amps (PPI)

You'll love life in your car so much that you'll never want to leave.