Car Audio Place?

Anybody know a good car audio place? I'm in Minnetonka but I'm willing to drive it. I have some fancy setup in there now and I'd like to change over to a 2-dimm unit. Already got the unit sitting here, just need somebody to do the install. Anybody know a place that's not going to rip me off?

 

Easy as cake. Any place could do it, but you could do it for free.

 

Happy to help. Should not be hard swap a single-DIN to double-DIN (stock-sized) unit (knocks on wood).

 

+1

I have yet to find a place I'd even trust taking my stuff apart to fiddle much less one that will do it at a reasonable price. And since I've felt that pain I'll throw out an offer to help, too, if you decide to go DIY.

 

What I got in there is... complex. It's got a 2-dimm LCD screen in the dash, a 1-dimm CD player where the clock goes, and a DVD player in the glove box. There's a remote sensor for the DVD player in the air duct as well. I need to rip all that out and put in a clock (which I have) and a 2-dimm unit. It's not as straightforward.

Thoughts?

 

Well, getting the remote sensor out of the air duct could be tricky - never had to pull mine apart and I always worry about breaking little plastic tabs and such.

As for mounting the deck, clock, etc. it shouldn't be tough. My Subaru ('01 Impreza RS) has very standard mounting brackets that every deck I've ever seen bolts right onto w/o an adapter. Worst case scenario is having to run to Best Buy and pick up a mounting adapter for the deck or clock.

Wiring is a bit futzier but not necessarily difficult. First thing is to locate reasonably accurate diagrams/manuals for the car and the audio components. It's easier if you're just running RCA's to amps, but if the deck is directly driving speakers it's still doable, just more wires to make sure are correct. Helps to have a 12V test light or a multimeter, too.

Also need a harness that connects to the car, but you probably already have one for the currently installed aftermarket deck, if I'm reading you right. It should be hooked up to the harness for the current deck - maybe soldered, wire-nuts, or just twisted and taped. Could simply cut the wires and restrip the ones from the harness for the car.

Then it's just a matter of hooking it up to the harness for the new deck - making a point of getting one part down at a time (like power/accessory first then one speaker at a time) and not making anything permanent (i.e. soldered) until it's certain it's working and the wires are straightened out so you can continue to work and squeeze it all back in the dash.

Pulling wires for the DVD and everything you're removing could get a bit frustrating if they get hung up, but someone got them in there so they probably come out easily enough.

I'd say it'd be much harder if you were trying to install the DVD & remote sensor, but taking them out shouldn't be too bad. And installing a deck & clock in the dash should also be pretty standard fare.

Not sure if that's the kind of info you're looking for?

 

yes, considering the only shop I talked to wanted $50 to ESTIMATE how much it would be and though it would be a full day job (at $80 an hour or some ****). I'm not thinking I really want to shell out $700 just for ripping out what's there and putting in a standard unit.

It's an 04 STi though which might complicate things because it didn't come with a radio.

Gstarin, you want to try your hand at it? Come over for an afternoon? Free beer and some reasonable labor rate? I can of course be an extra pair of hands as well.

 

$80/hr is pretty standard retail labor rate. It probably is a half to all day job, too (closer to half for people who do it every day as a job and depending on snafus).

I'd be up for helping, but it would have to be a weekend, preferably Saturday and as far as I know I've got the next couple weekends free.

You should post a couple pics of your dash & current setup so I can see what we'll be working with. The fact that there's already something there means the hard part should already be done (wiring from deck to speakers/amps). Interesting though, I would've never guessed that the STi didn't come with a stock stereo.

 

Talk to KSAL

 

Any day is good for me actually. I'm home taking car of a new baby with the MRS. I'm in Minnetonka BTW, probably easiest to come to me?

 

Yeah as qstarin said it should be a fairly easy process!! I wouldnt think it would even take half a day. the only thing kinda different is the deck up where the clock is. havn't seen or worked on one like that. but once you pull the front piece off around the screen and get the deck out of the top it should be cake. if you guys have questions while working on it lemme know and i can see what i can do to help.

 

you're welcome to come out as well. I can grille up some food and plenty of cold beer in the fridge. Saturday?

 

There's always Hyper-Tek too.

http://www.hyper-tek.com/

 

I might be going to IL now with the GF to get a car. MAYBE! otherwise i work till 5 will you guys be doing this right away in the morning or afternoon?

 

Doesn't look bad. A shop should be able to knock that out in a couple hours. We could probably handle it in not much more than that.

I can come over Sat, but I'm not so much of an early morning guy - more of an early afternoon guy if that works. I'm in uptown Mpls, so Mtka isn't far and if you've got space to work (garage, driveway, etc.) that'll be fine.

 

http://www.bzcaraudio.com/email.html

I had these guys install my whole system about 4 months ago and they did a great job, for less than half as much as any big box retailer quoted me(Best Buy, Circuit City, Ultimate Electronics)...

I went to the one in Burnsville, and just called ahead of time to set up an appointment. Cool guys and timely work. Plus they, unlike the big boxes will bypass the DVD/Nav unit so you don't have to have the e-brake on to access anything while driving.

Just my .02!

 

the current setup in the car is sweet, i'd leave it!

 

You want to buy it?

Anytime Saturday works for me guys. I don't sleep much anyway with the new baby. I've got a clean 2-car garage, a driveway, and other parking so there should be room.