Impact of Impending Tariffs on Car Audio Industry

[larrydavid Premium Member]

I wanted to get some opinions on how y’all think the impending tariffs will affect the car audio industry. With the price of goods already high, will this dampen sales even more? Also has the possibility of transferring manufacturing back to the US, like the old school days. High quality equipment made here. Could be a good thing.

Thoughts?

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[AnthonyO 10+ year member]

If we can get back to American made amps, the prices will be higher. Americans get paid more than the sweat shops in China. But if its anything like it was in the late 80's and 90's, the customer service was TOP NOTCH. You gotta remember though, back then we paid $1 a watt. So these 8000 watt amps would have been $8000 back then.

 

[RobGMN Premium Member]

Seems that some retailers are going to start jacking up the prices right away, even on stock that they already have on hand (like gas stations do), while others are waiting until they incur the new costs for merch they will take future delivery on.

The "gas station" plan makes the most sense to me as it balances out the potential for a tariff spike followed by a decline.
If/when tariffs drop, the retailer who sets prices based on the actual cost of that item will have to sell at a higher price than the guy using the "gas station" method.
In today's market, price is king. Trying to sell your amp for $45 more than the other guy while offering nothing extra? Nope.

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

I don't think it would be a problem. In fact I think we would then import better quality amplifiers. China is but one country supplying amps to America. When other countries renegotiate with America on imports and exports we can still get great quality amps from Korea, Japan, Italy, France, Brazil and so on.

Is it sad that name brand companies here sent their business to China to have them build amps? Yes, but then can shift that over to places like Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil and many other countries that know electronics assembly. I'd buy a Korean made JL Audio Amp or a Japanese made Rockford Fosgate amp.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

China is the main target of the tariffs, so I suspect speakers & subs will be most affected. This could be a good thing for the Brazilian manufacturers. There is still American made/assembled equipment, but they tend to be at the higher end of the market. Could American made compete at entry level prices?

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

I would LOVE to see more hi end Japanese car audio.

 

[Old_Slapper]

What I have noticed, with the popularity of custom car audio, is a major decline. We all know that most of it is due to modern vehicles coming with better sounding system and/or systems that are almost impossible to replace. I have noticed a lot of people lose interest because they have previously dumped a lot of money on poor equipment and had it installed by poor installers. So, they feel the headaches of all the issues, of the system breaking down, are not worth it. They are afraid to waste their money again.

With China products being on the same price level as better made equipment, ghetto shops will stop pushing the garbage.

But, back to the OP's question, Yes... the prices will be affected.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

ghetto shops will stop pushing the garbage.

There will always be flea market type junk to push no matter what

 

[Eggs 5,000+ posts]

Maybe North Korean will throw their hat in audio game with zero tariffs?

Initial price hikes are expected till negotiations are sorted with and won’t know till the dust settles. But few American made/assembled sub companies. New ones like ONE audio (scott atwell fi audio), Bobby Gately, and Ruthless (prototype). For amps there Biketronics and Mmats IRC both offer lifetime warranties. If all else fails Temu

 

[Eggs 5,000+ posts]

I would LOVE to see more hi end Japanese car audio.

I miss the old school single din stuff like pioneer iconic swimming dolphin. I wish they still made single din EQ

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

I buy all my audio equipment from meth heads so I'm good.

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

I miss the old school single din stuff like pioneer iconic swimming dolphin. I wish they still made single din EQ

JVC had a bad *** head unit that transformed. Well, a couple of the El Kameleons.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

I buy all my audio equipment from meth heads so I'm good.

They beat the competition's prices

 

[Eggs 5,000+ posts]

They beat the competition's prices

Damm my local chronic has internet so it’s eBay prices and won’t budge “I know what I got”

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Damm my local chronic has internet so it’s eBay prices and won’t budge “I know what I got”

A $20 bag is worth a hundo in trade