Starting car audio store, Need some help

[myjaja 10+ year member]

I wouldn't even open a car audio shop with the recession going on, and the limited experience that you have. I guarantee its going to be a 95% fail within the first year.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

So you guys think my idea to open a car audio store and money shredding machine sales superstore is a bad idea in this economy?

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

So you guys think my idea to open a car audio and money shredding machine sales superstore is a bad idea in this economy?

 

[Saint211 10+ year member]

Hi, I am going to start a Car Audio store by the end of this month. Ive done plenty of installs and going to get my MECP next week after I finish the book.
But I actually need some more help, like I've been doing some looking around and it looks like some cars cannot have aftermarket head units, like benz?

When doing a amplifier install on a stock head unit, do you plug up the HI/Low converter to the rear of the deck from the original speakers and use rca cables to the Amplifier, then run new wires to the speakers? Or is it okay to use the wires from the stock harness and run those wires to the amplifier?

Also I was doing a bazooka tube install on my BMW 328i 2008, I tapped into the factory amp with the Hi/Low converter but I got no sound... it powered up but no sound. I heard JL sells a Hi/Low converter like a special one for those type of cars.

Sorry just joined this forum and saw you guys help out alot. Please dont flame me either, just trying to start a legit store. Thanks in Advance

Horrible stuff. Horrible... horrible stuff. Sorry im not trying to flame you.

Please. I dont want to be a jerk... but this isn't the hottest idea.

Saying you are going to open a shop and then asking questions on hooking up a LOC is never a good thing.

#1) A deck can be put in almost anything, its just a question of how much of a ***** its going to be. I have to say... those early 2000's bonnevilles and shit where you have to relocate the original radio to the trunk, but keep it in the system.. .those are a pretty big headache.. but any "premium" or "luxury" system can quickly become a pain in the balls.

#2) I couldnt really make too much sense out of this part. So I will run you through installing a LOC really briefly. A LOC will convert a high level signal(speaker leads) to a low level signal(RCA's). Take a standard 2 channel LOC. You need to tap a left speaker and a right speaker. Lets assume a standard non premium system with a stock deck and four speakers. You could tap the front speakers, you could tap the rears.. you could tap the line wherever.. behind the deck.... at the speaker connection., just make sure the LOC is getting the high level signal FROM the deck. You then run the RCAs from the LOC to the amp. Most good LOCs have adjustable gains for each channel. If you are using the signal for say a 2 or 4 channel amp to in turn, power the speakers. You actually can disconnect the speaker harnesses at the speaker.... provided the LOC has high level from the deck still and use the new low level signal in the amp to power the speaker(run lines from amp to speaker)

#3) Bazooka tube? dude.

NO. NO. NO. you left so many things unanswered here.

Where did you "Tap" into. Did you just randomly tap wires or did you actually sit there and test the wires with a DMM and a speaker popper. Or did you use some sort of resource and trust its finding (directtechs/the internet) and tap in? An amp does not need RCAs to power up... it merely needs ground 12v and remote turn on. It is **** near impossible to tell you why it didnt work. You may have tapped totally wrong wires.. which is the most likely.... the leads you tapped may have some sort of crossover or filter (very common in expensive cars because they have 2 way and 3 way components) which means your not gettinf as full signal. Heres a bit of info for you. IF you want to open a car audio shop... then this is the type shit youl be dealing with. I do install.. and honestly.... 90% of the vehicles we get are the SHIT vehicles. Its so easy now for people to do it themselves with the internet.. readily available parts.... the economy. Trust me, you will be getting a lot of shit cars. Early 2000 GMS where you must disassemble the ENTIRE front of the car.. Any hassle premium sound vehicle... Cars that were already butchered by backyard installers..... poking through other peoples remote starters... damage claims... caddillacs with each speaker having its own amp mounted under the magnet.

Im sick of beating this dead horse.... if you want any more info on working on premium sound systems shoot me a pm.

 

[captaincheesey 10+ year member]

I wouldn't even open a car audio shop with the recession going on, and the limited experience that you have. I guarantee its going to be a fail within the six months.

Fixed //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[fatboyracing 10+ year member]

please post the name and location of the shop so I know where to stay away from

 

[pawn man 10+ year member]

i would be very hesitant to open any business in this economy especially a car audio shop. right now ppl are spending money on necesitys(food, shelter, clothes etc) not luxuries. car audio is a luxury. around here ppl are losing jobs big time. i would say very risky.

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

Its risky with the recession to open any business, but if you feel confident go for it. But do it responsible. Half the reason why we're in this downturn because of idiotic people, but if you feel you can do it, just do it.

 

[faiz23 10+ year member]

please realize that a business take 2-3 years to break even and longer during recession and 5 yrs till you start making a profit

 

[Xprime4 10+ year member]

i wouldn't want to be a customer of your shop. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

get ready to deal with some unsatisfied customer....

 

[Innovative:Cory 10+ year member]

Ok...from a shop owner.....(I have a shop that is going into year #3 of business)....

Do you know how to do alarms? Remote Starts? A basic keyless entry? How about adding doorlock actuators? What if the door locks are cable driven? Do you know how to do release solenoids? Do you know how to trouble shoot? Do you know how to properly look for the best spot to run a power wire? How about properly grounding an amplifier/headunit/alarm or anything? Do you know how to take apart a vehicle WITHOUT instructions telling you how to do so? Do you know how to acutally solder? How about installing monitors in new locations (headrest, drop downs, custom fabrication)?

If you can't get a LOC in a BMW to work right....you shouldn't even consider opening a shop...I'm not trying to be a jerk...but you don't have the necessary abilities to do so.

As for "hiring" someone to work for you and do installs....ok...lets look at this....he/she is going to want to be paid...every week... now you might be ok here if you pay based on the amount of output...but just starting out he is going to starve..and basically unless you have about $50K so will you....

As for the recession comments...the economy isn't in the $hitter everywhere...in fact I had a stronger March 09 then I did December 08.....and I had a good holiday rush //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif If you dont have any experience...EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE.........dont open a shop... go to work for a shop and cut your teeth, then when you feel comfortable handling anything that comes in door, then if you have the money situtation right, and only then...pursue it... not until then...

 

[Tonyguy 10+ year member]

tried to put one... didnt work out. BMWs I heard need a special hi/low converter.

Sorry buddy, they don't. You just gotta know where to grab your signal.

 

[sound_around]

the economy is on its way back up guys and no matter what people enjoy good clean sounding music to help with their personal life trials.other then new car sales the automotive market is actually doing great.

as for the rest of it he can make it or fail without the opinions of kids that havent even moved out of Mommys house yet!

 

[stuckinok 5,000+ posts]

BazooooooooKAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!1111!

 

[csu87 10+ year member]

So you guys think my idea to open a car audio store and money shredding machine sales superstore is a bad idea in this economy?

Great Idea the way the government is being run. They would be your biggest customer