Revisiting Car Audio after a 20 year break

[MeatKnocker]

Wow a lot has happened to the industry since I have been gone. I see a lot of new brands and a lot of new technology. I think my favorite part is that everything seems to be a lot less expensive. I hope the price reduction is not due to poor quality.

I have also noticed a huge focus on SPL installs and not much in sound quality. I am trying to find car audio companies that focus on true sound quality. If anyone can recommend a company it would be greatly appreciated.

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[timhof13 10+ year member]

PHD, CDT, Image Dynamics, Focal, Tantric? all good choices

 

[-BenBen- 10+ year member]

Hertz?

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

A lot of what has driven prices down is Internet sales and the shady ways in which business get away with setting prices however they want to. There's a bit of counterfeit product out there as well, but a lot of factories in China are selling their product directly to anyone who wants to pay to have their brand put on it. The quality has dropped in ways, but there was garbage sold 20 years ago too. Some really good products have come to market in the last 10-15 years.

Overall there hasn't really been that much new in the way of product developments. It's more of evolution. Connectivity is probably the biggest development, and I mean connecting to cell phones and other portable and wireless devices. Safety devices have really taken off as well. Backup cameras, parking sensors, cameras on the dash and sides of vehicles, aftermarket lighting is still big, etc.

 

[naughtyca 10+ year member]

welcome