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jmlaudio
Newbie
Posts:14
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| 06/18/2010 1:44 AM |
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Copied from the latest issue of Car Audio and Electronics Magazine
How to Choose a Car Audio Installer
What you Need to Know to Find the Right Person to Work on Your Car
by Sam Kim, Jun 01, 2010
One of the most important decisions you can make after you purchase your car audio gear is who your “go to” expert is going to be for the installation. Car audio enthusiasts fall into one of two general camps, Do It Yourselfer (DIY) or Do It For Me (DIFM). Whether you are a pretty adventurous DIYer installing your own gear or you’re a music lover who isn’t technically savvy enough for the installation of a great car audio system and who needs to rely upon a professional doing the work, everyone needs the expertise of a seasoned installer at one time or another (even if it's only for proper advice). Let’s talk a little bit about what kind of car audio enthusiast you really are and what kind of considerations best fit your profile.
Do It For Me!
“I’m an enthusiast who does not have the time or expertise to install my own stuff, but I love music in my car.”
If this sounds like you, it’s comforting to know you are in the majority. Even though many DIY enthusiasts are trying their hand at installing certain items, the vast majority of the enthusiasts prefer to leave it to a professional for several reasons.
Vehicle-Specific Experience
First thing to consider is that today’s vehicles are very complex and full of sensitive computers, electronic systems, and gadgets. If you do not have some of the specialty hand and electrical measurement tools to proceed safely and efficiently with an installation, this is one of the first things you’ll seek in a professional installer. Ask if they’ve worked on your type of vehicle before and ask what system designs they’ve used as well as the outcome of them. Ask what inherent challenges this particular car presents and if there are products specifically geared to work well for overcoming those installation challenges. Often an experienced professional will have worked on a number of similar vehicles in that make/model and can immediately recommend system plans that they know have worked well with previous cars. This can save you tons of grief right off the bat.
Check for Types of Tools
Second, check out their tools! Installers who are in the business as a career make substantial investments in their tools. They often have no problem showing prospective customers just how much they’ve invested in their craft. Professional tool brands such as Beta, Facom, Snap-On, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, Craftsman Professional, SK, and Fluke are sure signs that an installer has chosen tools that will last a lifetime and it often reflects on their personal commitment to their career as a professional installer. Besides the hand tools and electrical meters, many installers also leverage their computer as a tool for subwoofer enclosure design as well as for accessing various databases of vehicle wiring schematics and fitment information. If your prospective installer is carrying around a set of cheap K-mart tools in a fishing tackle box, maybe you should keep searching!
Discuss Sound Quality
Third, talk to them about their philosophy of getting better sound. Quite often you will find that what you may think is the next logical step to take is not necessarily the step that they’ll recommend for the best immediate result. There is no sense in going in with a shopping list of parts when it’s really a great way to lean on the expertise of the installer to allow them to suggest what would be the best bang for the buck and (this is very important) what offers the most reliability. Installers put car electronics products in all day long, week after week. They know the reliable and not-so-reliable products and if you give them the opportunity to help steer you in the right direction with your own choices, you will thank yourself (and them) later.
Service and Warranty Policy
Fourth, you need to feel comfortable with your ability to call on them for service after the sale and installation. Whether it’s for questions on how something operates or ironing out any small noises or squeaks in the interior panels, ask up front what their policy is for service and warranty after the sale. Once again, this is where their expertise can be a real plus. Many products will carry a longer warranty period when installed by that authorized dealer/installer and the best installers will warranty their work for many, many years—sometimes as long as you own that car.
Installation Costs
You should also know many shops and installers do not offer installation of items you purchase on your own from other outlets (like Internet retailers), but the ones who will install them often charge a different rate than for items they sell and they may also handle any offer of installation warranty differently as well. This is why it really pays to visit the shop and strike up a conversation with some local installers way before buying anything on your own. Again, the savings of time and hassle are well worth the efforts. If you're not a DIYer, then you can skip the next section and go directly to the general tips list at the bottom.
Do It Yourself!
“I’m a total DIY installer and love to install my own gear, yet I often need advice or some clear direction on more complicated wiring or certain aspects of custom work”.
If this sounds a lot like you, guess what—it’s exactly how most professional installers got their start in the business. The message here is you have to give respect to get it in return when you seek help or honest advice. There are a lot of great installers who are very willing to work with a DIY customer who respects the fact that professional installation is how they make a living.
You can really benefit by being a sponge and soaking up information from an experienced installer, but also understand the importance of reciprocating by doing business with that shop whenever you can. Nobody in a professional installation job likes people coming in to ask for free help and questions when they bought everything from somewhere else and never plan to even buy installation accessories from the shop. Being a DIY enthusiast is such an exciting way to have a hands-on experience on the installation side of car audio that you can sometimes overlook the reality of needing an experienced, qualified resource for backup when you hit some speed bumps in the process. And you will eventually hit these speed bumps!
Build Relationship with Shop
First, when you seek out a shop and installer to work with, you should be up front about being a DIY installer. The shop and installer will both appreciate that candor. You may find a little technical conversation with the installer goes a long way to helping the two of you get on the same page about what your overall goals are with your system and what tools, capabilities, and previous experience you have to complete certain aspects of an installation. For instance, if you lack significant wood working or fabrication expertise, perhaps a pre-fabricated subwoofer enclosure or ABS plastic speaker adapters for a door location become more appropriate to help get your installation completed successfully.
Accessories
Second, ask if they can sell you the accessories you will need to complete your installation. This will include any small parts like butt connectors, crimp terminals, relays, mounting hardware, dash kits, wire harnesses, antenna and speaker adapters, etc. By doing so, they’ll know right up front you want to work with them and they will definitely be more cost effective than purchasing those same items piecemeal. They’ll certainly save you money on the little connector parts that will cost considerably more at an auto parts, hardware store or home improvement store. There are many advantages to dealing directly with a local car audio retailer!
Potential Loss of Warranty for DIYers
Third, ask what their policies are with merchandise sold over the counter so that you understand right away the warranty, return, or cost differences without installation. Should there ever be any issues, knowing these policies up front is helpful and it’s certainly better than having to box up items that have to go back to somewhere purchased from the internet. If the shop has a policy with a much longer warranty period if they install a particular piece of the system, consider the real cost vs. benefit of that as what may seem like a savings by installing it yourself sometimes may not be in the long run if there’s a much longer warranty available to you. Again, the installer will usually appreciate you asking about this up front so you know your options.
Check Hourly Rates
Fourth, when you get into your install you’re going to need advice. Ask the shop and installer what their hourly rate is for looking over your install and helping you work through any issues you might be having. The reality is that having already worked with a shop up front, you’ll hopefully have avoided some of the major potholes that DIY installers commonly hit. Still, when you need to get help from a professional, an hourly rate (prorated by a section of an hour) is a great way to ensure to the installer that they’re getting compensated and that you can get the help you need. An experienced and skilled installer can troubleshoot common problems and mistakes in very short periods of time so that you can get down to the business of enjoying your car audio system sooner than later.
General Tips
Any installer that has been to technical training classes or seminars will only add to their value as you seek out a professional. In addition, installers that have credentials from the Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) program demonstrate to you that they voluntarily choose to maintain an industry standard certification at one of the three MECP levels (Basic, Advanced, or Master). If you are lucky enough to work with an MECP Master you will quickly realize they are at the top of their game.
Photo logs and build photos of previous installations that installers have done are also a helpful tool to see what goes on behind the scenes, particularly if you’ll be having them do the work. Don’t be afraid to ask about how components are going to be mounted or finished out. You should also ask about how the items can be serviced down the road should something need adjustment or replacement. One of the big things DIY enthusiasts sometimes overlook is how serviceable the install will be after it’s done.
Taking time and having patience can great virtues when you’re seeking out installers and getting your gear installed (whether or not you’re doing it yourself) because you ultimately want to be in the driver’s seat enjoying that great audio system for years to come. Thinking about some of the choices you’ll make equipment and accessory wise will be important and you can often find that the advice and guidance of a great installer will ensure you’re getting the best value!
[Sidebar]
Installer Resource
These are some of the installers to check out if you’re in their area!
Drive Customs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Jay Oliphant
(805) 541-4455
drivecustoms.com
JML Audio
Fenton, MO
Joshua Landau
(636) 343-2020
jmlaudio.com
Adrenaline Autosound
Clayton, NC
Dave Evans
(919) 359-0009
adrenalineautosound.com
Handcrafted Car Audio
Mesa, AZ
Jon Kowanetz
(480) 580-2283
handcraftedcaraudio.com
The Specialists
Tucson, AZ
Peter Riker
(520) 571-8500
az-specialists.com
California Soundworks
Lancaster, CA
Jeff Meece
(661) 945-0971
Benchmark Motoring
Bellevue, WA
Anthony Aiello
(425) 614-4100
benchmarkmotoring.com
Kingpin Car Audio
Wilsonville, OR
Jason Kranitz
(503) 582-1315
kingpincaraudio.com
Sound In Motion
Allston, MA
Derek Kenny
(617) 787-7744
sound-in-motion.com
Audio Logic
Hollywood, FL
Charles Dixon
(954) 437-0400
audiologic.net
SRQ Custom Autosound
Sarasota, FL
Ryan Pepsin
(941) 923-6200
srqcustoms.com
Crush’s Custom Soundworks
Effingham, IL
Roger Collins
(217) 342-9773
Ocala Car Audio
Ocala, FL
Parish Tanner
(352) 351-1920
OcalaCarAudio.com
Radioactive
Tullahoma, TN 37388
Chad Beyer
(931) 455-6491
Sonus Car Audio
Clarksville, TN
Micah Williams
(931) 802-8913
sonuscaraudio.com
Westminster Speed & Sound
Westminster, MD
Mark Miller
(410) 876-1227
westminsterspeed.com
Bay Area Audio Visions
Corpus Christi, TX
Louis Gonzales
(361) 853-0936
CT Customs
Houston, TX
Todd Krueger
(713) 896-8324
ctcustoms.com |
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