Where did you learn how to install car audio?

[bumpin buick 5,000+ posts]

When I was 15 and bought a "complete system" off of ebay. It consisted of two audiobahn 15"s on a 980w kole amp. It took me like 6 hours in my garage but I got it up and running and man did it bang lol

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

learned by myself. was interested growing up , but really got into it months before i joined this forum. besides all the sarcasm and bullshit that goes on here , there is alot of GOOD information.



if you dont mind me asking , how is the pay being certified? and what do you think about it as a living? im still thinking about taking the test and going that route as a career , but still uncertain. :crap:

pay is decent but not phenominal being certified....and if you work anywhere with the potential to make money be prepared for a slight fluctuation is what you make on occasion

really depends on where you work, what you can do... im all comission, and i work my *** of. and it pays big in the long run, cause the amount of car's and what i do all pays diffrently.

allso being certified will get you a job and the owner's / managers will find you more trust worthy..

allso i find being cirtified keeps it text book.

 

[sqhertz 5,000+ posts]

pay is decent but not phenominal being certified....and if you work anywhere with the potential to make money be prepared for a slight fluctuation is what you make on occasion

hmf. would one be expecting $20+k a year being certified for a year?

i know alot of shops go on commision , which i think is kinda unfair depending where youre located. i plan on moving to NC soon and id expect alot of people wanting more remote starts and gps/navigation than anything and alot of down time between. i may be wrong though..

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

hmf. would one be expecting $20+k a year being certified for a year? i know alot of shops go on commision , which i think is kinda unfair depending where youre located. i plan on moving to NC soon and id expect alot of people wanting more remote starts and gps/navigation than anything and alot of down time between. i may be wrong though..

i make about 35-40k a year..

ive done hourly.. and it dose not work .. you get under paid...

on commision, you have ur ups and downs..

i can make 200 on a drop down DVD install in one hour... or if there is nothing comeing in, sit here and make nothing...

you gotta loose some to win some..

 

[sqhertz 5,000+ posts]

i make about 35-40k a year..
ive done hourly.. and it dose not work .. you get under paid...

on commision, you have ur ups and downs..

i can make 200 on a drop down DVD install in one hour... or if there is nothing comeing in, sit here and make nothing...

you gotta loose some to win some..

i see.

what does hourly rates look like? like i said , the place im moving to doesnt seem to have much , if not any , audio shops like we do down here in miami. so hourly may be whats offered. probably a retail store like BB or CC. looking at some of the employees vehicles when i swing by there , they dont look to be doing bad at all , but who says they arnt working other jobs...

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

i see.what does hourly rates look like? like i said , the place im moving to doesnt seem to have much , if not any , audio shops like we do down here in miami. so hourly may be whats offered. probably a retail store like BB or CC. looking at some of the employees vehicles when i swing by there , they dont look to be doing bad at all , but who says they arnt working other jobs...

well i worked at CC, and i ****in hated it.. sucked.. the only way you can make good money is if you hit the bonus.. witch i tried, and tried.. and never got it. it was B.S....

right now on commision i make

15+ part's on Head unit installs + $10 if it has a i-pod cable, and can install a h/u in under 30 min. so in one hour that's up to $30-$80+ part's sold

Amp/sub install's i make 35.00 + parts sold. can do those in under hour 1/2

Drop Down DVD ( cealing mount ) $100 i can do those in under 45min

then some thing's i have to charge hourly rate when i do that. it's 55.00 an hour

speaker installs 20.00 per pair of speakers, car dependent..

Component install 35.00 per pair

on a busy day. i can make more money in one day then in one week of work.

 

[kovemaster559 5,000+ posts]

i learned when i was 13-14 i then studied alot of books. learned to use electronic tools . read alot of books. try to get book for the mecp certification they kinda help with everythihng

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

Self taught. Been doing it since I installed a HU and speakers in a Chrysler Newport I had during my HS days back in '92-94.

 

[lowriderram_95 10+ year member]

trial and error...just be sure to look up quality stuff the first time instead of going through bs companies like I did when I first started, I'm sure I'm not the only one that did that....

 

[davidfre21 5,000+ posts]

the streets

 

[Nova76 10+ year member]

I installed everything in my first system on my own. I started learning all the specifics, good equipment, and the science behind audio equipment when I found this forum.

x2 thats pretty much how i learned at first just doing it then once i came here this year im learning all the good and bad of car audio but nothing beats hands on IMO!

 

[RKPsk8er 10+ year member]

my dad is pretty cool and had lots of systems growing up. he helped me hook up my first and taught me everything I know about it.

 

[geowick07 10+ year member]

I learned from friends of mine who had audio setups, and also learned on my own. For me, there is no better learning tool than just DOING something. Hands-on, FTW!

Also, I learned a lot when I found this and a few other sites.

But I really think the best way to learn is by doing it yourself. Mistakes happen, and you learn from them. No better teaching tool than that, IMHO.

 

[tonyroc14 10+ year member]

Im still learning //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif this place has helped alot. My co-worked and nieghbor have helped too, and the fact that my local Audio shop is willing to help me. But mainly i've learned on my own. I ten to pick things up fast, and i havn't blown anything out yet *knocks on wood* Im still learning the basics tho, so i have a lonnnnggg way to go. I really want to learn to buil box's and set gains and stuff, installing is easy, its the technical stuff that gets tricky...

 

[memphisman 10+ year member]

What I know I learned from my brother and going to the local car audio shops and asking questions, also ca.com has tought me lots of things! When I get out of high school Im going to Installer's Institute and hopefully I will learn more there!!