I can't understand why there's always someone who wants to say "I know more","Your s#@t *****","You are all a bunch of chumps" If you can't say something nice or constructive without being a total D!#K than who wants to hear from you anyway, right? Anyone who has been in the business for longer than 6 weeks, knows that you should always have a certain level of respect for your fellow piers, even if they don't have enough knowledge to know exactly what's the right thing to do. There are sooooo many companies out there claiming that they are the best that even if you do a massive amount of research you may still not get what you were hoping for. I love car audio and would never tell anyone that they are an idiot or a chump for making a small mistake. At least they will know more about the process for the next time they do something. Oh, and as for CarToys, I think it's great to be able to go and listen to a set of Focals on a JL amp, yes I said JL!!! At least you get a great idea of what you want and what you can expect from what is out there. It's not always about the product, power, or the mainstream stuff, in fact didn't EIDSMOE say he had a kicker amp, well what's more mainstream than that?
I have heard a $1000 stereo setup sound better than a $4000 setup. It's all about the install and what makes you as a person happy. If you have a set of Pioneer highs and subs, and they are great for you, than I'm happy for you. It's not my brand of choice, but I'm not going to knock you for it. I've been going to shows and competitions every since I was able to walk, and if there is 1 thing I have learned, don't be a prick about something that someone else is so proud of. Talking about a man's car is just as bad as talking about that man's woman, YOU JUST DON'T DO IT!!!! Just because it's not up to your standards, that doesn't give you the right to tear that man's pride and joy down. In fact what the hell do you know about standards anyway EIDSMOE's Brother? If you're the GOD of all audio, than you must have a hell of a clientele knocking down your doors. You must be rich, in fact where can I go to see these cars that GOD himself has seen fit to do the install on? I would love to know what your setup looks, and sounds like.
The only people that need anything more than JL Audio are the people who are competing, know what the hell they are doing, and have sound proofed the hell out of their car. You can't even come close to a speakers full potential until you make sure you have all the basics in place which usually costs as much as a good setup anyway. How many people that buy high end equipment actually takes the time and care to perfectly tweak every frequency, make sure every panel has about 20 square feet of properly applied sound proofing? Most people want stuff for the name without having any clue of what it can really do. I have a set of 5 year old Sound Stream Exact 6.2's powered by an 8 year old PPI amp in my Astrovan that will sound better than 80% of most "professionally installed" high end equipment. How many people can really appreciate a set of CDT's, Focal's, MB Quart's, etc. to their fullest potential? How many people want to go to a theatre to watch a movie and how many people just want to go see it in their car?
I think that someone as pissy as Eidsmoe's brother is, has lost the passion that drives so few of the rest of us!!!!!!!!
Good Luck on selling your stuff J Miller and don't worry, if anything, you've lost a little money in order to gain that much more knowledge!!!
Happy listening!!!