Audio Shop Recommendations? SoCal

[VE30]

Hey everyone. Im looking to get a simple setup installed in my car. Nothing expensive. Just looking for nice clean sound. Anyone have an audio shop near me that they would be able to recommend? I live in Pasadena. Thanks!

[StereoInstaller1]

Yeah, I bet we can get you hooked up, there are more than a few members on here you can trust...or you can spend $25 on tools and do it yourself.

Either way, generally, do not take a BMW to a car stereo shop.

Luke

[einstein57]

I know a good installer. He did my 4 channel amp after I threw out my back. But I'd listen to Luke. It's not that bad unless your car has been hacked to pieces.

[mcgillaguddy]

I'd say spend the extra dollars on the equipment and not the install.. I go focal for everything but I'm a picky bastard. head-units are hugely important to sound quality as well, many people seem to overlook this. If you really insist on not having to do an install yourself I'm in Palmdale, about an hour away from pasedena and I'd do it.

[einstein57]

If you don't have the equipment yet I can introduce you to my guys in the wholesale district.

[VE30]

Thanks for your responses! I do not have any equipment yet but I was planning to go with Focal since that was recommended to me at first. I already have an alpine head unit installed..its just that the speakers are shot. The problem is I have no idea what im doing at all when it comes to audio. I have no problem with learning to do it myself, id actually prefer that...but im sure i would have tons of questions during the process.

[German Audio Specialties]

Wait..you are planning Focal for a "simple" setup?

No way. Way too bright, not a shred of bass or even midbass.

Or does your idea of "simple" include a subwoofer?

Have you read any of my installation tutorials?

[VE30]

Wait..you are planning Focal for a "simple" setup?

No way. Way too bright, not a shred of bass or even midbass.

Or does your idea of "simple" include a subwoofer?

Have you read any of my installation tutorials?

I actually read the Killer stereo for $500 last night. Good info! To be honest the reason i mentioned focal was because it was recommened to me. I did a bit of research on it last night and have heard they were too "bright". Im not really sure what that means...ahaha Im not looking for a crazy audio system. The back seats of my car are gutted out and i run a straight exhaust so thats aready loud as hell. My speakers at the moment are shot and im just looking for some one to point me in the right direction. This will be my first time dealing with car audio. I just want clear sound that wont break my bank. :D

[einstein57]

Feel free to swing by if you want to hear my setup. Stock speakers can sound pretty nice with a woofer and seperate amp. I should also have the "Luke" setup in one of my e30s by the end of the month. (Luke box, obcon woofer, Jensen 5500, JVC KD-A925BT head unit)

[VE30]

Feel free to swing by if you want to hear my setup. Stock speakers can sound pretty nice with a woofer and seperate amp. I should also have the "Luke" setup in one of my e30s by the end of the month. (Luke box, obcon woofer, Jensen 5500, JVC KD-A925BT head unit)

Sweet deal bro! I may take you up on that. Wont be back in Cali until the 17th though. What part of LA are you in? Are you recommending stock speakers with a woofer and amp for my needs?

[einstein57]

I'm saying you should listen to them and go from there. No point in "upgrading" to something that may not suit your needs.

[StereoInstaller1]

I actually read the Killer stereo for $500 last night. Good info! To be honest the reason i mentioned focal was because it was recommened to me. I did a bit of research on it last night and have heard they were too "bright". Im not really sure what that means...ahaha Im not looking for a crazy audio system. The back seats of my car are gutted out and i run a straight exhaust so thats aready loud as hell. My speakers at the moment are shot and im just looking for some one to point me in the right direction. This will be my first time dealing with car audio. I just want clear sound that wont break my bank. :D

Hmmm...well, we all have our definition of "clear sound", right? To me, clarity is everything. If I cannot tell what strings the bass player is using, I am not impressed.

So, lets talk subwoofers for a second...yeah yeah, I know, "I ain't no kid, don't need to be thumping down the block"...well, good. I hate that shit, even though I am guilty as charged, I still turn it down at lights and in neighborhoods.

So, here is the deal: every single car sold today that has a "decent sound" uses a subwoofer...but most guys really don't understand what a properly set up sub is supposed to do...here is the trick: a proper subwoofer is NOT intended to just make "BOOM". Its job is to take the strain off of the mids and highs so they can play clearer, cleaner and louder, more efficiently.

So, if I had a car like yours, IE., a "trackish" car here is what I would recommend

1. One of my LTW 8" subwoofer enclosures, about $200ish
2. a small 4 channel amp (runs fronts and sub, use the deck to power the rears) roughly $100, plus about $40 for cables and such. Virtually all of these amps are about the same, but the MBQuart Onyx 4.60 is a great call. I also like several of the new small amps, like the Soundstream "stealth" series.
3. a cheap 8" woofer (Infinity Reference is just about my #1 choice, about $50

One of several different decks, but very first choice is the Pioneer DEH64BT ($135) as it has all of the features you need and is very easy to use...plus matches your dash just about perfectly.

If you do that setup as described, you would be well suited to use the stock "premium sound" speakers, as they easily have the best midbass of any 5.25" speaker ever made.

If yours are in fact trashed, you would do just fine to use an inexpensive component kit up front, say the Powerbass SC50 (about $40) or the Orion XTR 5 (about $90)

So, that whole setup would add about 30lbs total to your car and is absolutely tiny in your trunk. It also will do something to make your car quieter, as it is 100% sealed into the cabin.

in terms of musical quality...well, lets just say that it will blow your mind how good it sounds.

And, just for the record, I ONLY recommend the 8" for guys like you who are into the whole "track" thing, otherwise, the 10" is a way better value, but then you want a 5 channel amp (about $150ish) and a DVC woofer...but you get 10X the sound and still only weighs about 50 lbs total.

Here are a few pics of the 8" box as installed:





Out of the car:



Showing part of how it fits and why it seals the cabin from noise. There is a layer of 1/4" closed cell foam under the upholstery. You need to use 4 screws to hold it firmly against the bulkhead, or you could (hint hint) make it removable by using something like Jeep hood straps, but whatever it takes to shove it tightly against the wall.



Oh, and as a final word on that whole "Focal" thing...yeah, they are good. Not great, but all of my favorite speakers are $2K+ a set. If I were to spend $2K on a set of speakers, they would not be Focal. Dynaudio FTMFW, or Hybrid Audio Technology, maybe Morel, possibly JBL, their high end is amazing.

I say in something as noisy as a stock E30, don't waste your money on high end crap. In yours, well, lets just say unless you are parked you ain't gonna hear it well enough to spend that kind of dough, IMO.

LMK if I can help.

Luke

[E30_Pare]

I've had a good experience with infinity components. Specifically the reference series. Stock door tweeters 5.25in kick panel & 6.5in rear deck speakers. Had a garbage sub & amp that still bumped. How ever the speakers had pretty decent highs. No mids or lows, but that's where the sub takes over. The weak point was definitely the garbage Sony color deck.

If I were u I'd just look out for stock premium speakers with a small sub. Probably the cheapest setup you could run.

[StereoInstaller1]

I've had a good experience with infinity components. Specifically the reference series. Stock door tweeters 5.25in kick panel & 6.5in rear deck speakers. Had a garbage sub & amp that still bumped. How ever the speakers had pretty decent highs. No mids or lows, but that's where the sub takes over. The weak point was definitely the garbage Sony color deck.

If I were u I'd just look out for stock premium speakers with a small sub. Probably the cheapest setup you could run.

The only reason I no longer recommend Infinity components is how they fit. You cannot put them (easily) under the stock grill in the back, and you have to space the kick panels up front.

I agree 100% with the sound though. possibly a bit harsh in the upper midrange, but nice and punchy, which is needed in the E30.

[E30_Pare]

I agree on the harshness, but that was really turned up. At that point depends on the music. Nothing compared to the kicker highs that can make your ear bleed. Never agian. Silk tweeters for life.