Is it a Ripoff?

[lhinojos]

I went to my local car stereo place to see how much it would cost to get a system in my z. We ended up with 700 for the "best selling head unit", amp, 10 inch sub, installed and everything behind the seats. But he didn't tell me make or models as far as the sub and amp. The head unit is from Pioneer. Is it too much? He originally said 350 but that was without a head unit and I'm probably gonna buy a head unit online anyway. So basically question is am I being over Priced? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[memorylasts]

If you have to ask, probably....

And i would especially say if you dont know what is going in your car why trust them? ESP if they are not telling you what you will be getting...If they are shifting prices on you i would walk the other way.

Good Luck!

[imwazn]

If he won't give you the names of the speakers and amps then it probably is a ripoff.

[RyanWest]

dude just call him and ask what speakers and amp! you have the right to know. if her plays it off go some were else.

[ShinyBlueZ]

$350 for an amp and 10 inch sub professionally installed?

That actually sounds 'too' cheap. I'd be suspicious what kinda crap (or hack installation job) they might be giving you.

[lhinojos]

I'm contemplating on buying all the parts myself and just paying them to build me the box and I'll install it myself. But I honestly don't know much about car audio so I wouldn't know what is compatible with what. So I'd just need help with choosing the product. Any amp suggestions? I might buy the Polk 12" sub that someone posted about today.

[memorylasts]

Originally Posted by lhinojos

I'm contemplating on buying all the parts myself and just paying them to build me the box and I'll install it myself. But I honestly don't know much about car audio so I wouldn't know what is compatible with what. So I'd just need help with choosing the product. Any amp suggestions? I might buy the Polk 12" sub that someone posted about today.

Im not to good with audio stuff, but i can say your probably better off looking for another shop to build your box as things boil down in this thread.

another thing you might want to check out are the zenclosures( < - click) boxes. It might save you some hassle.

Also bigaudiofant(sp)(username) is the forum expert on audio equipment. Send him a pm.

give that a whirl!

[BigNate]

sounds extremely cheap for professional work....on the other side did the sales person just not give you the models or did you ask and he decline to give them to you?

if he just did not give them you should know that many shops (mine included) dont volunteer model numbers to customers that dont put down deposits. This is to prevent people from wasting our time and gaining the knowledge we have and taking that time we have given and knowledge we offered to shop online. In most cases however if customers ask we will provide the information though.

[TreeSemdyZee]

I paid $1300 for my head unit, so I think that sounds awfully cheap. Sounds like some pretty crappy components honestly.

[MacLean]

Originally Posted by TreeSemdyZee

I paid $1300 for my head unit, so I think that sounds awfully cheap. Sounds like some pretty crappy components honestly.

+1....... Oh you guys are also forgetting the speaker box that the 10'' is going in. I personally believe if one wants a kicka** system you will pay a couple to several grand for a system.

[lhinojos]

So went I went back and it seems he forgot about me. This time I had my own sub and box and now he told me that he would give me a 1000watt pioneer amp, pretty nice head unit also by pioneer(not exactly sure what model it is), installed with steering wheel controls and a bass controller for 700. And he said if I paid cash no tax. So is he making a deal or trying to steal?

[ShinyBlueZ]

Well it depends.. are you going for something really great or just decent sound? Or maybe you're just going after a lot more bass? If you're mainly going for heavy bass then a mediocre amp with a 10 in the back should satisfy you.. and $700 will be possible.

But if you want clear all-around sound then like the other guys have said.. a good amp alone costs more than $700. Plus professional installation isn't cheap. If he offers dirt cheap/free installation.. personally I would be really weary of who's messing with the wiring in your expensive car/steering wheel. I've had a few friends who were silly and got their cars done by Best Buy's 'audio experts'. I looked in the back and it was a bunch of high school kids just splicing together wires trying to figure it out as they went along In the end a couple of my buddies had issues like his alarm started going off randomly.. and his remote start stopped working. And those were Civics and Integras with way less complicated electrical system and tech in the dash compared to our Zs.

Also.. seriously.. why don't you ever get model numbers when you go there? Not all pioneer amps and head units are the same.. low and high end are a big difference. You should get what models and price he's quoting you written on paper 1) in case he 'forgets' what he told you again next time you go there and 2) so you can actually look up reviews and prices of the equipment he's selling you when you get home. Most of those salesmen.. if they see you haven't done your homework.. then they 'will' try to rip you off.

Personally my biggest concern wouldn't even be with the pricing or what he's giving you.. if you got ripped off then it'd just be lesson learned, or if the gear he gives you sounds like crap.. you could just take it out. My major issue would be with them messing with your car. If the installation screws the pooch.. it could be an expensive disaster. Is this place you're going to big/reputable? With any experience installing stuff in Z's? I would do some research into the place before anything. I would personally settle for lower end gear but a super clean installation (no wires showing, little/no drilling, actually bothering to group/tie your wires back together after connected, etc.). That or save up a couple grand and go for both

[lhinojos]

I am going for just more bass. But also I don't want sound distortion when I'm blasting music while I'm going 70 with the windows down on the freeway. The head unit is the avh-p3400bh.

[bigaudiofanat]

Get the model #'s and report back