Is Car Audio Alive and Well?

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Its weird though, I had a Chinese OEM just about shove some samples down my throat the other day //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif .. they might be hurting over there too //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, some of the china stuff isn't that bad. You just have to push them to produce quality, it will always be cheaper there because labor is cheaper. The Sundown amps that are made in China are not that bad. And I think personally, the Maxxsonics Brutus and some of the other smaller Maxxsonics amps (but not all of them) that are made in China are top-notch, just as good of quality as the Korean made amps of their equivalent size. So the product being "Made in China" doesn't mean the quality isn't good, some are some aren't. Best way to gauge it is ask around to find out who is "happy" with their "Made in China" amp, alot of people are.
As far as features vs ? I am not sure. I think most amplifiers at least, since I don't deal with head units or any other components, just amplifiers, most amplifiers features suit the needs of the consumer already. People are simply price vs performance vs durability on amplifiers and I think that's always the way it will be with amplifiers.

I agree on the China parts. I think we as members could do more to help each other out with what is good and bad. I just picked up an Eenon (spelling wrong I'm thinking) dvd double din. I know it has gotten bad reviews online, but I worked out a decent price with the lady and I'm going to run a bunch of testing on it and write up a full review for the board. My thought on this was that it was only 240 or so bucks for this thing. It may have some short comings but I want to see what it does WELL. All of the reviews I read (some were horrible some were pretty good) were from other boards. I think we could do better on here with reviews.

I agree and disagree on the amp features and performance. I personally want a very well built amplifier, but I'm not as interested in power as I am quality and the likes. I don't want to turn it into "amps doesn't make a difference in sound quality" but I will say that some amps do a better job than others at not adding things to the signal.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Its weird though, I had a Chinese OEM just about shove some samples down my throat the other day //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif .. they might be hurting over there too //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

They are more than we are. Takes far less money to make them run. Which is good when its busy, but even small changes impact them. Most of my suppliers have been coming in offering price reduction half way through contracts.

 

[dB-r 10+ year member]

Good point, unemployment rate is increasing rapidly.... Makes people paranoid, as it should. I tell everyone that I see the economy having problems "as it is" as a good thing because in my opinion too many people have jobs where they don't do anything, they don't produce anything for the company, don't make the company that pays them well enough to cover their costs. Forces the companies to operate more efficiently and I can't think of a single reason why that is a bad thing, people with skills who "produce" should be getting paid good, people who don't have any skills, just a "body on the floor" or behind a desk just pushing paper need to get some skills and make some real money and will be looking for a new job when the companies are forced by the economy to become more efficient. The companies that survive will be stronger and more efficient than ever when the "slump" is over and that is a good thing. The people forced out of "easy non-producing" jobs will have skills because they were forced too and the US will have more "skilled" workers and more efficient companies when the economy rebounds I think that is excellent and I cannot see any bad thing about it period. I think rather that "it's about time" it happened....

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

wow, tell us how you really feel chris //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[simpsonbuck 10+ year member]

As The U.S. goes, so goes the World.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Good point, unemployment rate is increasing rapidly.... Makes people paranoid, as it should. I tell everyone that I see the economy having problems "as it is" as a good thing because in my opinion too many people have jobs where they don't do anything, they don't produce anything for the company, don't make the company that pays them well enough to cover their costs. Forces the companies to operate more efficiently and I can't think of a single reason why that is a bad thing, people with skills who "produce" should be getting paid good, people who don't have any skills, just a "body on the floor" or behind a desk just pushing paper need to get some skills and make some real money and will be looking for a new job when the companies are forced by the economy to become more efficient. The companies that survive will be stronger and more efficient than ever when the "slump" is over and that is a good thing. The people forced out of "easy non-producing" jobs will have skills because they were forced too and the US will have more "skilled" workers and more efficient companies when the economy rebounds I think that is excellent and I cannot see any bad thing about it period. I think rather that "it's about time" it happened....

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/clap.gif.178cba2c538c68e720c727fcb024b19c.gif

Darwinism at its best (if I spelled that incorrectly, you get the point). Too bad we can't just shoot those people

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

Good point, unemployment rate is increasing rapidly.... Makes people paranoid, as it should. I tell everyone that I see the economy having problems "as it is" as a good thing because in my opinion too many people have jobs where they don't do anything, they don't produce anything for the company, don't make the company that pays them well enough to cover their costs. Forces the companies to operate more efficiently and I can't think of a single reason why that is a bad thing, people with skills who "produce" should be getting paid good, people who don't have any skills, just a "body on the floor" or behind a desk just pushing paper need to get some skills and make some real money and will be looking for a new job when the companies are forced by the economy to become more efficient. The companies that survive will be stronger and more efficient than ever when the "slump" is over and that is a good thing. The people forced out of "easy non-producing" jobs will have skills because they were forced too and the US will have more "skilled" workers and more efficient companies when the economy rebounds I think that is excellent and I cannot see any bad thing about it period. I think rather that "it's about time" it happened....

I now feel bad for getting paid to post //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Agreed though, efficiency isn't a bad thing

 

[natisfynest 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/clap.gif.178cba2c538c68e720c727fcb024b19c.gif
Darwinism at its best (if I spelled that incorrectly, you get the point). Too bad we can't just shoot those people

can we get a amen

 

[natisfynest 10+ year member]

i mean it sucks that alot of good skilled people are losing jobs due to lack of structure from upper management and accounting deparments not doing a good job

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/clap.gif.178cba2c538c68e720c727fcb024b19c.gif
Darwinism at its best (if I spelled that incorrectly, you get the point). Too bad we can't just shoot those people

Probably a good reflection of why GM & Ford are in the poor house.

Historically, this downturn will end. But its at what rate we are unsure of. I believe that durable goods purchases will increase by Q3, but its hard to consider audio equipment as "durable goods" at the way some of us treat them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[dB-r 10+ year member]

I think it's almost a "must" really. So many companies are in trouble in the US that something has to change and my point was the change will lead to a better US in the end. I kinda like it here, would just like to see it in a little better shape.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

As an owner of a car audio related website, I've noticed a decline in the usual DIY type questions we were use to. Is this because there are less DIY type people and they are just getting it done professionally or is it the car audio Fad is fading?
What is your take on this?

It's a hobby than a fad. Not a lot of DIY action going on here.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Probably a good reflection of why GM & Ford are in the poor house.
Historically, this downturn will end. But its at what rate we are unsure of. I believe that durable goods purchases will increase by Q3, but its hard to consider audio equipment as "durable goods" at the way some of us treat them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

To some people, caraudio is a consumable //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

We are projecting Q2 for the downturn to stop and production to increase so you would be dead on with a Q3 projection. It takes some time to get the fabs running to capacity again and getting the electronics rolling out.

 

[dB-r 10+ year member]

I now feel bad for getting paid to post //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif
Agreed though, efficiency isn't a bad thing

Speaking of which I need to get back to work.... LOL