I am opening a Car Audio store in Austin, TX, need some input on brands

[elite08 10+ year member]

carrying the lighter brands, might do you justice. Since not everyone is made of money...

keeping some of the lower lines in stock will do you well.

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

First off congrats hope it all works for you. Also looks good, gotta start off small. Just as an insight I would start a forum asking people on here what they expect, cause there are dozens of car audio places here in Louisville, but they all dont give the same experience. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[djarmy2004 10+ year member]

I'm stationed in Killen which is like 30 mins from Austin and from what ive seen so far you need a good shop that can install and carrys some good stuff. I dont think any one else has mentioned it but you might try to carry some sort of alts, like mean green or excessive apperage maybe. For a nice cheap brand maybe JVC might work. The shop I worked for in hawaii sold JVC speakers, HU's and subs and did pretty decent as long as you dont try putting them on too big of amps. I havent seen any one mention Directed electronics yet, and i know they carry a low end brand called extreme, but then they also have there directed, orion, precision power, polk, and a few others they own. So that may be an option. Also please get a bitwriter. I havent seem to found any one with one around here yet that i can use to unlock my orion d5000 amp GL and hope it all goes well and will deff stop in once it gets opened. PM me if you wanna know what brands there carrying in Killeen, TX

 

[Alpineforever 10+ year member]

If you're looking for cheaper lower end amplifiers maybe you could carry cadence, I haven't heard much bad stuff about them. Sundown has some cheap ten and twelve inch subs that are great quality and low power applications, as far as other things for people looking for budget items I don't know... maybe Ascendant audio (entry line Assasins)?

I'd also love to see mach 5 or Soundsplinter in a shop around here, that would be amazing

 

[P.T.R. 10+ year member]

I would go against grain and say ED might be a good option. They get lots of hate for their deadening, but I think their nicer subs sound really good, and my nine.5 is pumping nice so far. Infinity speakers and subs are some of my favs for cheaper stuff, 110 dollar comp sets and 120 dollar subs (kappa line) that run at 2 ohms, great if someone is just trying to throw in 4 speakers and a sub off a 5 channel or some lower Wattage amps that aren't going to require a new battery or alt.

It's easy for me to find installs for 150 bucks and installs for 800 bucks. The 800 dollar installs are perfect, the 150. Make your install price reasonable, but don't make it so low that you are going to cut corners to save time. It shouldn't be more than 300-400 bucks to put in a basic system with speakers, amp, HU and Sub. Joke around with your customers and make sure they feel that you have time for them, before, during and after the sale/install. I hate going somewhere, feeling like a king, then going back with a problem and feeling like I'm getting the run around just so that they can get me out of there. Tint is a good idea, it's a nice option because the down-time on the car is less. I got tint and alarm with my system just because they asked me and told me they could do it all at the same time. I was planning on alarm/tint anyways, just not RIGHT then. Offer a discount on tint/alarm when doing it all at once, and install the stuff you sell for a good amount less than customer products, enticing people to buy your products instead of shopping online.

IMHO Alpine heads are a must from the low end to the high end. Everybody knows alpine, and recognize it as a quality product, regardless of the annoying low Pre-v outputs they have been pumping on their mid-level HU.

 

[GLN305 10+ year member]

carrying the lighter brands, might do you justice. Since not everyone is made of money...
keeping some of the lower lines in stock will do you well.

I agree, what brands do you guys see as cheap, but still quality? So far Cadence is recommended quite often.

 

[GLN305 10+ year member]

First off congrats hope it all works for you. Also looks good, gotta start off small. Just as an insight I would start a forum asking people on here what they expect, cause there are dozens of car audio places here in Louisville, but they all dont give the same experience. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

Luckily I have friends in the business and have a really good idea of what to expect. I think that a small business is what you make of it. If you hire people that love car audio and music, then you can tranfer that love to your work and to the customers. I find it very weird that few installers are enthusiasts, they just do it to make money.

 

[GLN305 10+ year member]

I'm stationed in Killen which is like 30 mins from Austin and from what ive seen so far you need a good shop that can install and carrys some good stuff. I dont think any one else has mentioned it but you might try to carry some sort of alts, like mean green or excessive apperage maybe. For a nice cheap brand maybe JVC might work. The shop I worked for in hawaii sold JVC speakers, HU's and subs and did pretty decent as long as you dont try putting them on too big of amps. I havent seen any one mention Directed electronics yet, and i know they carry a low end brand called extreme, but then they also have there directed, orion, precision power, polk, and a few others they own. So that may be an option. Also please get a bitwriter. I havent seem to found any one with one around here yet that i can use to unlock my orion d5000 amp GL and hope it all goes well and will deff stop in once it gets opened. PM me if you wanna know what brands there carrying in Killeen, TX

Good info I'll check into JVC. I am just so leary of carrying equipment that isn't really good quality, but I know I need something for the people that have a limited budget. As far as bitwriter, if I see a need for it when I carry DEI related items, it's a definite purchase.

 

[GLN305 10+ year member]

If you're looking for cheaper lower end amplifiers maybe you could carry cadence, I haven't heard much bad stuff about them. Sundown has some cheap ten and twelve inch subs that are great quality and low power applications, as far as other things for people looking for budget items I don't know... maybe Ascendant audio (entry line Assasins)?
I'd also love to see mach 5 or Soundsplinter in a shop around here, that would be amazing

I think I'm gonna call Cadence in the very near future and see what they can do for me. I honestly see Cadence as mid-range not really low end, their equipment is great bang-for-the-buck. I never though about Mach 5 or Soundsplinter, good suggestions!

 

[GLN305 10+ year member]

I would go against grain and say ED might be a good option. They get lots of hate for their deadening, but I think their nicer subs sound really good, and my nine.5 is pumping nice so far. Infinity speakers and subs are some of my favs for cheaper stuff, 110 dollar comp sets and 120 dollar subs (kappa line) that run at 2 ohms, great if someone is just trying to throw in 4 speakers and a sub off a 5 channel or some lower Wattage amps that aren't going to require a new battery or alt.
It's easy for me to find installs for 150 bucks and installs for 800 bucks. The 800 dollar installs are perfect, the 150. Make your install price reasonable, but don't make it so low that you are going to cut corners to save time. It shouldn't be more than 300-400 bucks to put in a basic system with speakers, amp, HU and Sub. Joke around with your customers and make sure they feel that you have time for them, before, during and after the sale/install. I hate going somewhere, feeling like a king, then going back with a problem and feeling like I'm getting the run around just so that they can get me out of there. Tint is a good idea, it's a nice option because the down-time on the car is less. I got tint and alarm with my system just because they asked me and told me they could do it all at the same time. I was planning on alarm/tint anyways, just not RIGHT then. Offer a discount on tint/alarm when doing it all at once, and install the stuff you sell for a good amount less than customer products, enticing people to buy your products instead of shopping online.

IMHO Alpine heads are a must from the low end to the high end. Everybody knows alpine, and recognize it as a quality product, regardless of the annoying low Pre-v outputs they have been pumping on their mid-level HU.

At this point, tint and alarm are necessary in my mind. Too many people mentioned them hehe. Package deals are a must, people like getting alot of things for a good price, including me. In reality, I will be looking for good "package" deals from distributors and manufacturers so that I can pass the savings on to the customer.

BTW, I have an Alpine 9887 and can't see me not carrying Alpine. Most everything that Alpine manufactures is great stuff.

As far as the customer service part, I will provide as much service as I would expect....and that's ALOT. I would rather not make it in the car audio world than make it by ripping people off or ignoring their problems. Honestly though I have done hundreds of installs out of my home and never had anyone have a problem which with electronics amazes me. I put a Pioneer DEH-P47DH head unit in a 1993 Dodge Dakota back in 1996 and it's still working great, the display is really starting to dim, but it still works wonderfully .

eD may be an option for me, I just need to talk to them and see what kind of dealer support they offer. The name itself may work well in Austin since there are alot of "earth friendly" people there hehe

 

[djarmy2004 10+ year member]

Good info I'll check into JVC. I am just so leary of carrying equipment that isn't really good quality, but I know I need something for the people that have a limited budget. As far as bitwriter, if I see a need for it when I carry DEI related items, it's a definite purchase.

If you carry DEI's new amps or any of there car alarms the Bitwriter will help alot cause you can just program with it. Just an Idea hope everything works out.

 

[GLN305 10+ year member]

If you carry DEI's new amps or any of there car alarms the Bitwriter will help alot cause you can just program with it. Just an Idea hope everything works out.

Looks like I will be getting it then hehe.

 

[DoubleJ]

What about Diamond Audio? I know that there is one dealer there in Austin, Alpha Audio, according to Diamonds dealer finder site. When I called them looking for a particular product, they did not carry it and when I asked if they could get me one, I was told flat out no. Just one more brand that no one has mentioned yet.

 

[lostdaytomorrow 10+ year member]

I'll come visit.

 

[Fear Of Theive 10+ year member]

hey Gln contact revrider1 and offer him a job //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif he's only 30 mins from the shop and he could help