Frankenguy

Does anyone have any good experience with any shops in Dallas? I'm a little leery of the chain stores (Car Toys, Tweeter) and I won't go near a Best Buy or Circuit City for this type of work. I would like to find a good independent.

Sputnik

I hope you'll forgive me, but I cannot remember names.

In Irving, on MacArthur, just NorthEast of MacArthur and 183 (Airport Freeway), in the same shopping center as the Hooters and Subway (across the street from the mall). It is North of the Target and Chili's that you can see from the freeway. Yes, there is a CarToys in the same shopping center as the Target, but that's not what I am talking about.

In Dallas, on Lover's Lane, one block West of the Tollway, on the North side of the street. This shop has been there for awhile, and do a lot of nice, high end work for all of the well-funded people in that area.

In Dallas, on Greenville, North of SouthWestern Blvd., South of NW Hwy (but I can't remember if it was North or South of Caruth Haven), on the East side of the street, near a Blimpies. I've gotten all of my Alpine equipment from them for my past three cars.

---jps

Knerk

Its called the car stereo store - there are pretty good always $100,000+ cars parked there. Car toys has been trying to run them out of business. With no sucess

Frankenguy

I dealt with The Car Stereo Store back in '99. For the most part they did a good job. BUT, they cut all (or most) of the factory harnesses, cut the wire to the car's computer (dealer had to rewire it to run diagnostics), and I had no AM on the radio. When they were almost finished with the install, I took a look, and there was my brand new car (<50 miles on it) with a layer of dust all over the entire interior. That did not leave a good impression! Had they cleaned it before I saw it, I would have never known (or cared).

They had a guy there that had been doing installs for 15 years. He did a nice job on the sub box but he's gone now. I think they said he went to build Mustangs.

TheGreatRenesis

Wasn't aware the Car Stereo store was so close to me (greenville)... I'll have to go check it out tomorrow. Woo, another excuse to drive.

TheGreatRenesis

Did mine at an Ultimate Electronics on the tollroad. Thought they did a damn fine job, too.

Here is a pic of the install, lemme know if you are headed up there I'll tell you who to talk to.

wayneside

looks nice

Frankenguy

TGR,

How about a system description? And, how much did it cost (if you don't mind)?

TheGreatRenesis

hoo doggy. Had to dig up the receipt. The labor may be a little VERY skewed as it did include a Valentine+Alarm install.

$300 for a pair of Infinity Perfect 10's
$336 for a 800w PPI amp...
$620 for Labor (see above.. )
$300 for Supplies (Monster cables, etc)

So about $1500 ish for all the stereo stuff. May be $1-300 too high but it's hard to tell on the reciept which parts were for the alarm and which were for the stereo.

Ajax

Cool.
I cant wait to hear it on sunday night.
I personally don't have any problem with the stock system except it's a little weak on base.

Bose has really gone downhill these days, but honestly, I can't complain as my last system was JBL. I might look into a new system in a year when new faceplates and satellite are available for the 8, but not right now.

As far as excuses to drive go, I make every excuse to go somewhere. I just got back from my parents' house in frisco. I always love taking 121 west 1 block to spring creek and then zooming down that section of spring creek at high speed. I probably waste more gas on that one little section of road than all of my normal driving. It's got hills and some decent curves and if you hit the lights right, you can really zip through there and have some fun.

TheGreatRenesis

Ahh, I agree that the factory system sounds pretty good, but my bass guitars still needed a little boom.

wayneside

cant wait to start on the audio...=)

Ajax

Right. The bass is a little weak, but liveable for now. I'm still engrossed in the sound of the engine anyway.