Old school vs New school-Why the change?

[yelladawg351]

The reason for my title is for a matter of opinion and good judgement. First off this is a good forum for car audio discussion. But I have been reading through some of the old threads that are stating certain companies are not good like they were back then, ie: Kenwood, Orion, Fosgate, Kicker, etc. Or they got purchased by some other company so the brand is not as good. Back then in the eighties when the car audio scene started most your amps cost $1 per watt and your average decent low end level subwoofer(12") cost over $100+. In my opinion the companies that had to sell and other top companies still in business had to come to a decision to stay afloat and keep up with the demanding consumer. These top and former companies just can not make the same product as they did back then and at the same time be competively priced now. Something has to give(quality, logevity, etc.). JL Audio, MMatts, and others of the like are excellent but you are going to pay for it because they are not going to compromise their craftmanship and name so you are getting what you are paying for. Maybe I am preaching to the choir or just an old 35 year old man remembering how it was when it started. I know this thread is going to get some feedback but keep in mind this is how I see it.

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[saleen408]

I Think You Answerd Your Own Question All You Have To Do Is Ask Why The Jl 1000/1 Is $1000 Dollars And A Rockford 900 Watt Is $169 Well Truth Be Told The Rockford Is 300 Watts Max With Keep In Mind A Dollar A Watt Not Bad But Junk Yes Trickery To The 30 To 40 Year Old Generation Of Audio Files Who Go To Best Buy And By The Amp Wow What A Deal Then They Hook It Up And Are Pissed Off Just Remember Guys You Get What You Pay For And That Internet Deal May Look Good But Wait Till Something Go's Wrong Or God Forbid Doesn't Work When You Get It Be Carefull Buy At Your Local Store They Will Work With You And You Will Reap The Rewards Of Customer Service

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

well I am 36 and have experianced the same thing getting back into it after a decade of being out. but you don't have to pay a buck a watt for qualty, Sundown for example, $500-600 for a sax 1500 giving you good old school style quality for $.30-.40 per watt. I remember when mtx who hasn't changed owners (as far as I know) had lines in the late 80's to early 90's that ranged from the budget line of the road thunder series to the compitition line Terminator series to the Black gold SQ line. Now the sell, crap, and a little better crap.

 

[hoxie08 5,000+ posts]

oh my ****ing god.

separate your thoughts!!!

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

oh my ****ing god.
separate your thoughts!!!

who are you taking to?

 

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

I Think You Answerd Your Own Question All You Have To Do Is Ask Why The Jl 1000/1 Is $1000 Dollars And A Rockford 900 Watt Is $169 Well Truth Be Told The Rockford Is 300 Watts Max With Keep In Mind A Dollar A Watt Not Bad But Junk Yes Trickery To The 30 To 40 Year Old Generation Of Audio Files Who Go To Best Buy And By The Amp Wow What A Deal Then They Hook It Up And Are Pissed Off Just Remember Guys You Get What You Pay For And That Internet Deal May Look Good But Wait Till Something Go's Wrong Or God Forbid Doesn't Work When You Get It Be Carefull Buy At Your Local Store They Will Work With You And You Will Reap The Rewards Of Customer Service

The Amount Of Brain Power That Went Into Me Capitalizing Each Word Like This Guy Did Is Entirely Too Immense For Typing In A Forum.

 

[yelladawg351]

I Think You Answerd Your Own Question All You Have To Do Is Ask Why The Jl 1000/1 Is $1000 Dollars And A Rockford 900 Watt Is $169 Well Truth Be Told The Rockford Is 300 Watts Max With Keep In Mind A Dollar A Watt Not Bad But Junk Yes Trickery To The 30 To 40 Year Old Generation Of Audio Files Who Go To Best Buy And By The Amp Wow What A Deal Then They Hook It Up And Are Pissed Off Just Remember Guys You Get What You Pay For And That Internet Deal May Look Good But Wait Till Something Go's Wrong Or God Forbid Doesn't Work When You Get It Be Carefull Buy At Your Local Store They Will Work With You And You Will Reap The Rewards Of Customer Service

I agree with you on this. Exspecially Best Buy when they mainly sell you mediocre stuff. Now the local stores are great for customer service but sometimes stick it to you with their out rageous prices and their stuck up attitudes when you frown at the prices so some people go online to get that better deal. If they are smart they will do a search on here to get a good reputable online dealer so there will be no headaches. Squeeze that dollar.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif

 

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

It's all capitalism now; back then the market was just getting started, and now with the likes of Fast and the Furious and other Social Heirarchies, the torch has shift from true enthusiasts to making a buck from the consumer on false pretenses.... because they can. The higher end companies will continue to price their products appropriately because the enthusiasts that still remain will pay for the quality they offer over the other guys.

 

[outspoken 10+ year member]

I agree with you on this. Exspecially Best Buy when they mainly sell you mediocre stuff. Now the local stores are great for customer service but sometimes stick it to you with their out rageous prices and their stuck up attitudes when you frown at the prices so some people go online to get that better deal. If they are smart they will do a search on here to get a good reputable online dealer so there will be no headaches. Squeeze that dollar.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif

agreed, and in my experience, when i do hit up the mom and pop stores they seem to not know very much... there is however one shop in my area that does sell good gear, but it is way overpriced, the owner told me i should try to get it online, but thats only because were friends. most of the other shops i go to for short lengths of wire or small parts usually recommend crap they sell, and have generally never heard of other quality gear like fi, sundown, brax, digital designs, etc... so since i have come to learn more i usually make my purchases online from trusted sources...

 

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

Keep in mind that some of the brands you just mentioned are also only sold online or through specific dealers. Few quality items can be had at brick and mortars, not counting the likes of Car Toys and Tweeter, and everything else unholy and overpriced. I'm in the same boat you are, I learned from places like this forum. Mainstream is where the capitalists get their bread and butter.

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

It seams that the big guys in the industry went through a paradigm shift, but the intresting twist is that the true car audio enthusist (sp?) has resisted the shift and demanded the same standards as the OS stuff hencd DD, Sundown ...

 

[outspoken 10+ year member]

Keep in mind that some of the brands you just mentioned are also only sold online or through specific dealers. Few quality items can be had at brick and mortars, not counting the likes of Car Toys and Tweeter, and everything else unholy and overpriced. I'm in the same boat you are, I learned from places like this forum. Mainstream is where the capitalists get their bread and butter.

very true, also i'm out west where some brands aren't available, so shop owners automatically assume it's crap. as far as the old school, new school thing, it seems that back in the late 80's early 90's they were getting super loud off less watts. but i may be wrong, i wasn't driving then. that is one thing i've wondered about. also some of that old school gear that was properly cared for is still running strong, i wonder if the newer gear will stand up to 15 to 20 years of use...

 

[yelladawg351]

I am just glad I can have a nice loud system by doing my searches and have enough bread to go to my other obsession. HOT RODDING

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

very true, also i'm out west where some brands aren't available, so shop owners automatically assume it's crap. as far as the old school, new school thing, it seems that back in the late 80's early 90's they were getting super loud off less watts. but i may be wrong, i wasn't driving then. that is one thing i've wondered about. also some of that old school gear that was properly cared for is still running strong, i wonder if the newer gear will stand up to 15 to 20 years of use...

I think the quality brands will be around in 15-20 but the ones that have sold out (rockford, ppi, orion...) will not have the same longevity that they once had, and truth be told, If it lasts that long the may put them selves out of business, the market for car audio is not nearly as large as it was in its hay day of the 80's and 90's

 

[outspoken 10+ year member]

I think the quality brands will be around in 15-20 but the ones that have sold out (rockford, ppi, orion...) will not have the same longevity that they once had, and truth be told, If it lasts that long the may put them selves out of business, the market for car audio is not nearly as large as it was in its hay day of the 80's and 90's

agreed, back then we had regular cruises where everyone had a loud system and the cops let you do it on friday and saturday. nowadays you can't cruise at all, at least around here, and not too many people have beat in their rides... what a great time it was though, but i was only 14 in 89.