If you owned your own shop?

[jsloan10 10+ year member]

If you you owned your own car audio store, what brands and models would you carry?, and why?.

Now before you go and list all the ultra elite manufacturers out there, imagine that you have a limited amount of costomers with a limited budget (a city of roughly 50000) so the manufacturers must have affordable equipment that performs to the strict demands of the consumer.

For example IMO I would not carry the following.

Alpine

Focal

JL audio

These three examples suffer from extrordnary markups in Canada (A 12 inch JL 12w0 costs over 300 dollars, an Alpine 300watt rms mono amp costs 500)

Some brands that I think would be suitable

Pioneer

Kenwood

Sony

Boss

Legacy/Pyramid/Pyle (same stuff diff name)

Jensen

JVC

These can be found at reasonable prices in Canada and perform well in a proper install.

I work in a small privatly owned store selling mainly Kenwood in its car audio department and I would really appreciate some input from real budget minded consumers like yourselves so I can make some recomendments to my boss on what to carry and to better serve my customers.

Click to read more...

 

[cjjackson85 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/search.gif.e79a63b2b580b39b282dff402646b704.gif

Good recommendations in here --->http://forums.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=70823

 

[Whookid 10+ year member]

I really dont see most people being happy with boss, pyramid, legacy, sony,....etc.

I could understand having a few garbage companies for the newbies, but at least have something worth buying for those who really want a quality system. If not they wont be buying from you. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

 

[Spr0ket 10+ year member]

If I owned my own, I would have to carry JL regardless of markup. I wouldn't carry Legacy/Pyramid/Pyle/Jensen (all four have the same parent company), Sony, or Boss. I would look at Xtant, JBL, CDT, RE, and SoundSplinter to name just a few. I would also look at some of the offname amps (like JL offers an entire line of amps that have the same circuitry as their slash amps but with a different name and look, their 2nds so to speak) which tend to have fewer features than their bigger counterparts with the same sound quality. The offname amps can sound just as good as the mainline products at a better cost. Oh yeah, if you are going to carry Jensen, make sure to include Audiobahn equipment... about the same quality if you ask me. Add in Kicker too... they make some good SPL speaker options, although I heard though some of the dealer channels that circuit city will be offering their entire line just shy of the L7 and Solo X line.

good luck

Your best way to determin what will work, look at all the major stores like best buy or circuit city and see what they don't have to offer. You can't get Alpine Type-R from Best Buy. Also, you can't get Kenwood Excelon line from most of those type of stores.

 

[phluser]

i would carry dls, alpine,image dynamics,arc audio, HELIX,mtx, audio control, and kennwood. screw jl,polk,boston,pioneer,*MB QUART*,and sony. i would really push id's components and subs- try to match up id with arc. for people on a budget you cant go wrong woth mtx good subs and amps. for the sq freaks gotta run with dls iridium's pair them up with helix. i would offer work for evrybody's financial needs- my speciality would be custom amp racks and encloseurs for trucks. i would call the shop sound creations

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

sorry to go OT... but when i first clicked to look at this thread, i only did so because my tired eyes thought it was titled "if you owned your own sheep"

and strangely, i was intrigued...

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

well in alot of cases you cant sell what you want. like kicker, rf, jl and others have protected areas and to go factory direct would require a very large buy in. 8-20k and they pretty well choose what your first order is not you. sure they kick in the good stuff but they also make you carry boxxes and 4" coaxials lol. then to top that off if all you have is high end you are killing yourself to the begineer because alot of 16 yr olds with 500 bucks want more than a deck and have it installed (because if you dont get him suited right then when he is 19 with a job wanting to spend 2500 or more he wont come a knocking to you if he had a bad time before). also with so many brands that are at the same level if you dont sell enough they can cut you off or offer it to a dealer near you...plus if you do big numbers in certain brands they give you rebates and special buys. you might love car audio as a hobby but trust me being in on the otherside selling the stuff isnt easy especially trying to compete with bb cc and ebay. some say its easy but that is because they are already established stores. in the 80's car audio was a big money maker now its like everything else lowwer margins and more competition so unless you can do it via a distributor and get rolling with very little capitol you will struggle or lose alot of your start up capitol(distributors dont carry the "high end stuff") and if someone is direct more than likely they are paying less than you already plus if you can get your hands on sideways highend stuff good luck selling it with a warranty because even if you can i will almost bet my right arm it takes 2-4 weeks longer at LEAST to get it fixxed IF at ALL and a direct dealer 9 times out of 10 will beable to sell it for less because he has less in it. that customer who has a buddy that had that peice and bought it authorized gets it fixxed fast and you cant you are totally screwwed as far as keeping him happy. if you want to carry a net brand they also have drawbacks (wont get into it as i think i already said too much) but it is alot tougher than you think you cant just sit back and say ill do this or that because trust me when its business its totally different.

 

[jsloan10 10+ year member]

For further input-

In my city we have 2 stores that carry basic car audio, Canadian tire and Wal-Mart they carry Sony, Pioneer, Scoshe, Koss and Jensen.

There is also a mainsteam car audio shop that we compete with, Sound city, they carry Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, JL audio and Pioneer.

So the following are represented

JL audio

Alpine

Rockford Fosgate

Pioneer

Scoshe

Koss

Jensen

We carry Kenwood and legacy and we have off site installation, We also have JVC and Pheonix gold but we are selling off remaining stock and doing away with them because JVC offers little to no dealer support and almost every Pheonix gold product we sell comes back for warranty repair or replacement. Our main bread and butter comes from selling cell phones and satellites followed by HD TVs and home audio then finally car audio.

Ive done a little research and found a list to choose from of available Canadian car audio maufacturers.

What do you think?

Clarion - developer and manufacturer of cutting-edge car audio and multimedia equipment.- Possible

Alpine - maker of a full range of mobile audio and video products.-Covered

ARC Audio - manufacturer of speakers, amplifiers, and processors for mobile audio installations.-To expensive

Audio Enhancers - manufactures speaker cabinets for cars and trucks.-Possible

Audiobahn, Inc. - manufacturer of car audio amps, speakers, subs, video products, and more.-Possible

AudioLink - specializes in professional car audio interface products, line-level converters, Bose interface devices, preamps, stereos, LOC, line output, Ford JBL, Nissan, GM and crossover devices.-Possible

Becker of North America - manufacturers of CD players, radios, amps, and speakers. Has a repair facility and parts for Becker products and Hirschman antennas.- Not interested

Blaupunkt - makers of a range of mobile audio, video, and GPS navigation systems.- Possible

Bose Automotive - music systems for automobiles.-No thanks

Boss Audio Systems-possible

Bostwick - manufacturer of car audio products such as: woofers, tweeters, coaxial speakers, amplifiers, electronic crossovers and accessories.-To expensive?

Cadence Sound Corporation - manufactures car audio amplifiers, subwoofers, speakers, signal processors and components.-I don't like their products

Crossfire Car Audio - manufacturer of professional car audio components including amplifiers, signal processors, speaker components, woofers and boxes.-Never heard of them

Elemental Designs - manufacturers of sub-woofers and eDead sound deadining material.-possible

Fujitsu Ten Eclipse - manufacturer of car audio products, including speakers, head units, amplifiers, and more.-Way too expensive

Harrison Labs - specializes in amplifiers, crossovers, capacitors, digital voltmeters, ammeters, car audio accessories, and high power battery enhancement equipment.-Not well known

HiFonics - resource for HiFonics car audio amplifiers, loudspeakers, and signal processors. Includes installation technical assistance.-Possible

Hollywood Sound Labs - producing amplifiers, speakers, crossovers and more.

Image Dynamics -Possible

Infinity Systems - manufacturer of high-performance speakers for home audio, home theatre, and car audio applications.-expensive

JBL - maker of home audio, car audio, and home theatre speakers.-unsure

Jensen - audiophile head units, speakers, amplifiers, and more.-Covered already

JL Audio - manufacturer of car audio speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers, and enclosures.-Covered already

Kenwood-We already carry that

Kicker - offering a line of car audio products that includes amps, speakers, head units, and more.-Too expensive

Kriss Industries - manufactures motorcycle headlight modulators, brake light flashers, driving and running lights, battery chargers, and amp and volt meters. Also makes sound level meters.-Not interested

Legacy Car Audio - specializing in CD players, equalizers, amplifiers, and other audio equipment.-We already carry this

MA Audio - manufacturer of car audio equipment including amps, speakers, subs, mobile video products, and more.-possible

Milbert Amplifiers, Inc. - vacuum tube car audio equipment.-Too expensive

Mobile Authority - Car stereo, audio, amps, crossovers, preamp, speaker boxes, manufactures, accessories, enclosure, radio, receivers, compact disk, cassette.-Too crappy

Morel Speakers - manufacturer of loudspeakers for stereos and home theatres, car speakers, and raw drivers.-Expensive

MTX Audio - makers of high performance car, home, and professional audio products.-High order requirment? mininmum sales requirment?, Need to learn more about dealship oppertunities, I really like this brand

PhatNoise - manufactures high-capacity digital media systems and car MP3 players.-We already carry mp3 players

Phoenix Gold - manufacturer of car audio equipment. Branded apparel available online.-Unreliable

Pioneer Car - official site of the Northern American manufacturer. Products include CD players, DVD navigation, speakers, and subwoofers.-Covered

Precision Interface Electronics, Inc. - manufacturer of OEM integration devices and car audio installation accessories.-Possible

Pyle Audio - product news, catalogue information, and more.-Craptastic

Rockford Fosgate - manufacturer of high performance car audio source units, signal processors, amplifiers, speakers, and accessories.-covered

Sony Xplod - car audio products including CD, MP3, cassette, and speakers.

Soundstream - manufacturer of car audio amplifiers and speakers.-covered

Southern Audio Services, Inc. (SAS) - offers Bazooka subwoofer systems.-Possible

Stinger Audio/Peripheral Interface - accessories - product information, technical help, tech tips, mobile audio links, car-of-the-month, and more.-Possible

SubSolutions - maker of compact subwoofers for any vehicle.-Not well known

TDS Audio - passive technology that enhances music playback in home/car systems.-Not interested

Trisonicar Car Audio & Parts Manufacturer - manufacturer and exporter of car audio, consumer electronics, loudspeakers, and more.-Not interested

U.S. Acoustics - manufacturer of mobile audio amps and home and business security products.-possible

U.S. Amps Inc. - manufactures high fidelity, high power car audio amplifiers, signal processors, and crossovers, and sells high current 12V power supplies and batteries.-Too expensive

Zapco - manufacturer of street and competition class car audio amplifiers and signal processors.-Too expensive

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

if you want to compete with known brands you gotta have a nitche to draw people away.

A .kick their ***** at local events in competition

B. have at least 1 really solid demo car

C. be priced right with the right product WITH better service

D. at least 2 of the above with a little luck

all the advertising in the world dont mean jack if you cant get customers to believe and with so much bullcrap out there and marketing tactics you will be fighting against you need proof flat out that you are better

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

For further input-In my city we have 2 stores that carry basic car audio, Canadian tire and Wal-Mart they carry Sony, Pioneer, Scoshe, Koss and Jensen.

There is also a mainsteam car audio shop that we compete with, Sound city, they carry Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, JL audio and Pioneer.

So the following are represented

JL audio

Alpine

Rockford Fosgate

Pioneer

Scoshe

Koss

Jensen

We carry Kenwood and legacy and we have off site installation, We also have JVC and Pheonix gold but we are selling off remaining stock and doing away with them because JVC offers little to no dealer support and almost every Pheonix gold product we sell comes back for warranty repair or replacement. Our main bread and butter comes from selling cell phones and satellites followed by HD TVs and home audio then finally car audio.

Ive done a little research and found a list to choose from of available Canadian car audio maufacturers.

What do you think?

Clarion - developer and manufacturer of cutting-edge car audio and multimedia equipment.- Possible

Alpine - maker of a full range of mobile audio and video products.-Covered

ARC Audio - manufacturer of speakers, amplifiers, and processors for mobile audio installations.-To expensive

Audio Enhancers - manufactures speaker cabinets for cars and trucks.-Possible

Audiobahn, Inc. - manufacturer of car audio amps, speakers, subs, video products, and more.-Possible

AudioLink - specializes in professional car audio interface products, line-level converters, Bose interface devices, preamps, stereos, LOC, line output, Ford JBL, Nissan, GM and crossover devices.-Possible

Becker of North America - manufacturers of CD players, radios, amps, and speakers. Has a repair facility and parts for Becker products and Hirschman antennas.- Not interested

Blaupunkt - makers of a range of mobile audio, video, and GPS navigation systems.- Possible

Bose Automotive - music systems for automobiles.-No thanks

Boss Audio Systems-possible

Bostwick - manufacturer of car audio products such as: woofers, tweeters, coaxial speakers, amplifiers, electronic crossovers and accessories.-To expensive?

Cadence Sound Corporation - manufactures car audio amplifiers, subwoofers, speakers, signal processors and components.-I don't like their products

Crossfire Car Audio - manufacturer of professional car audio components including amplifiers, signal processors, speaker components, woofers and boxes.-Never heard of them

Elemental Designs - manufacturers of sub-woofers and eDead sound deadining material.-possible

Fujitsu Ten Eclipse - manufacturer of car audio products, including speakers, head units, amplifiers, and more.-Way too expensive

Harrison Labs - specializes in amplifiers, crossovers, capacitors, digital voltmeters, ammeters, car audio accessories, and high power battery enhancement equipment.-Not well known

HiFonics - resource for HiFonics car audio amplifiers, loudspeakers, and signal processors. Includes installation technical assistance.-Possible

Hollywood Sound Labs - producing amplifiers, speakers, crossovers and more.

Image Dynamics -Possible

Infinity Systems - manufacturer of high-performance speakers for home audio, home theatre, and car audio applications.-expensive

JBL - maker of home audio, car audio, and home theatre speakers.-unsure

Jensen - audiophile head units, speakers, amplifiers, and more.-Covered already

JL Audio - manufacturer of car audio speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers, and enclosures.-Covered already

Kenwood-We already carry that

Kicker - offering a line of car audio products that includes amps, speakers, head units, and more.-Too expensive

Kriss Industries - manufactures motorcycle headlight modulators, brake light flashers, driving and running lights, battery chargers, and amp and volt meters. Also makes sound level meters.-Not interested

Legacy Car Audio - specializing in CD players, equalizers, amplifiers, and other audio equipment.-We already carry this

MA Audio - manufacturer of car audio equipment including amps, speakers, subs, mobile video products, and more.-possible

Milbert Amplifiers, Inc. - vacuum tube car audio equipment.-Too expensive

Mobile Authority - Car stereo, audio, amps, crossovers, preamp, speaker boxes, manufactures, accessories, enclosure, radio, receivers, compact disk, cassette.-Too crappy

Morel Speakers - manufacturer of loudspeakers for stereos and home theatres, car speakers, and raw drivers.-Expensive

MTX Audio - makers of high performance car, home, and professional audio products.-High order requirment? mininmum sales requirment?, Need to learn more about dealship oppertunities, I really like this brand

PhatNoise - manufactures high-capacity digital media systems and car MP3 players.-We already carry mp3 players

Phoenix Gold - manufacturer of car audio equipment. Branded apparel available online.-Unreliable

Pioneer Car - official site of the Northern American manufacturer. Products include CD players, DVD navigation, speakers, and subwoofers.-Covered

Precision Interface Electronics, Inc. - manufacturer of OEM integration devices and car audio installation accessories.-Possible

Pyle Audio - product news, catalogue information, and more.-Craptastic

Rockford Fosgate - manufacturer of high performance car audio source units, signal processors, amplifiers, speakers, and accessories.-covered

Sony Xplod - car audio products including CD, MP3, cassette, and speakers.

Soundstream - manufacturer of car audio amplifiers and speakers.-covered

Southern Audio Services, Inc. (SAS) - offers Bazooka subwoofer systems.-Possible

Stinger Audio/Peripheral Interface - accessories - product information, technical help, tech tips, mobile audio links, car-of-the-month, and more.-Possible

SubSolutions - maker of compact subwoofers for any vehicle.-Not well known

TDS Audio - passive technology that enhances music playback in home/car systems.-Not interested

Trisonicar Car Audio & Parts Manufacturer - manufacturer and exporter of car audio, consumer electronics, loudspeakers, and more.-Not interested

U.S. Acoustics - manufacturer of mobile audio amps and home and business security products.-possible

U.S. Amps Inc. - manufactures high fidelity, high power car audio amplifiers, signal processors, and crossovers, and sells high current 12V power supplies and batteries.-Too expensive

Zapco - manufacturer of street and competition class car audio amplifiers and signal processors.-Too expensive

kove is a good one to look at and us amps are different now with at least 2 of their lines and oz is another goody to do something with as they will work with you.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

http://www.mobileaudio.com/intdir/ click on manufacturers also reps and distributors

http://www.12volt.com/ click on links these will get you alot of info on brands and contacts

 

[jsloan10 10+ year member]

Thank you audiolife. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/veryhappy.gif.fec4fed33b4a1279cf10bdd45a039dae.gif

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

need any help let me know advice is free worked retail for 6 yrs, owned and worked a car audio distributorship for a yr was a rep for 5 months and an installer for 4 years plus fooked with this stuff for a total of 16 years. trust your initial gut and dont get into anything weird. after you see what they have to offer think exactly what to do with it where it falls in your line up then dont more than double stack companies at levels of performance/price points because it can really effect your bottom line depending on the company.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I really dont see most people being happy with boss, pyramid, legacy, sony,....etc.

If I owned my own, I would have to carry JL regardless of markup. I wouldn't carry Legacy/Pyramid/Pyle/Jensen (all four have the same parent company), Sony, or Boss.

You'd be amazed........

In my area, the shop that sells all the crappy equipment (Legacy, lower-end Lanzar, Pyramid, Crunch, Power Acoustic, etc) is the one that's always packed and doing the best. Yet the local JL dealer just went out of business a few months ago //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

You gotta offer what sells and what people buy, not what you *think* would be nice to sell or the brands that you like. Just because you like JL, doesn't mean people will buy it. And if people don't buy it, you're not going to be in business long.

 

[monte_carlo97 10+ year member]

Here is what i would Carry

Memphis

Rockford Fostgate

JL

Audiobahn - Well because some people just want it to look good and not care about sound

Power Acoustik - Awesome Bang for buck

JBL

Infinity

Alpine

Eclipse

Pyramid - Just so you can compare a JL sub to a Pyramid sub.