What type of car audio person are you?

Car audio specialty shop/Crutchfield.

I really wanted an Excelon deck, but to get the dual zone audio I would have to get a deck that was ugly and wouldn't work well in my car (face always flipped up, and as it is the deck is very high in my dash), so I got a Kenwood 6025. It also does two aux in, which is another requirement. It replaced an Eclipse deck that didn't have aux in. Its main function was that it played MP3s, but it didn't have direct access to tracks, which was a downfall.

I like lots of features, have specific needs, and it needs to sound okay at reasonable volume. Doesn't need to wake up the neighborhood, don't need to hear it outside the car with the windows rolled up. Need to be able to listen to different source in front and in back without external amps, need remote, WMA and MP3 playback, direct track access, and most of all, CHEAP.

As for the R&D with the car companies, the mainstreem auto companies have to research much more, such as crash safety, fuel economy, research on who is buying what, how to mass produce the cars (this is a HUGE part of R&D, which I realized after going to a tool and die shop for a few weeks. Some designs that the engineers come up with cannot be stamped out of the metal), how to save money on the cars (such as by saving a little scrap of sheet metal on each differential cover stamped, after x diff covers, they will have saved y dollars), and the list just goes on. Plus, they have to worry about being sued, and advertising, and all that fun stuff. Ferarri has it easy though, they just have to build one hell of a fast car, and sell 1 less than what the market wants so that their is always a demand for them.

This does relate VERY well in my opinion to how the audio market works. Companies like Adire and JL play their own game, much like Ferarri. They know that the people serious about audio will come to them, so they dont need much advertising, and they dont need to try to make their product look better than it is. However, companies like Audiobahn spend their money in things like advertising, making the product look good, and stuff like that (which is why IMO all "mainstreem" speakers look ugly, because they try to look massive, when in reality, they have weak magnets, and inferior stats). Just like car companies, the mainstreem ones will get you by, but the people serious in the industry take it a step farther, and pay just for the R&D of the product rather than all the other nonsense that is required for mainstreem stuff.

I really shouldnt keep adding on to this, heh, I think we all got our points across a few pages ago

However, the one thing I have learned is that nobody is any more right or wrong if they buy Pyle, Kenwood, Kicker, or JL, just as long as they are satisfied with what they purchased, because in all reality, if a car audio system is only worth 10 dollars to someone, then thats all they should get, otherwise they will be spending money better spent on something else to them. I still remember being in a minivan with my girlfriend and her friends, and her friends had the stock radio turned all the way up, way past distortion. I personally could not stand it (I mean, being in a minivan is bad enough, and poor music makes it even worse!), but it was what they wanted, so thats fine.

Matt

Can't compare overpriced Ferrari's to overpriced audio equipment - Ferrari are a racing team and sell road cars to help fund/promote awareness of their racing - always have, and always will.
You could probably compare it to a BMW though.....

there are car audio companies that sell massive amount of product to help support the competition habbits.....

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Originally Posted by Spaghetti

Can't compare overpriced Ferrari's to overpriced audio equipment - Ferrari are a racing team and sell road cars to help fund/promote awareness of their racing - always have, and always will.
You could probably compare it to a BMW though.....

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I think you are looking into this too much. The basic idea is the same. Ferarri is about raceing, so thats where all their R&D goes to. That is the same thing as Adire, JL, RE, and such putting all their R&D into SQ and SPL.

Even with your analogy with Ferarri just selling their cars to be able to promote their raceing cars, you could say that it is the same as why all the above listed companies have introductory level stuff, which would just be to make money off of predeveloped technology just to be able to afford to R&D on their top of the line stuff.

Cant compare it to BMW as easily, they are too mass produced, and the prices are too close to the mainstream car companies. Ferarri is the perfect comparison IMO, along with Rolls Royce, Bently, Maybach, Lahmborghini, and friends. Their only goal is to do one thing (either speed, or luxury). True, you may pay "too much" for their cars, but it all goes back to what is worth it for some people, and what isnt for others.

Of course all businesses are in it to make money, so that is not a factor. Just how they go about doing it that relates the most expensive auto companies to the most expensive audio companies, and likewise with the cheaper companies.

Matt

Edit: I will admit that my analogy does not hold true for the cheapest car companies and the cheapest audio companies. After all, you never see any advertising for Pyle, Audiopipe, Funky Pup, and all of their friends, but you do see advertising for Kia and Scion. I guess the cheapest audio companies would relate to taking public transportation, but still, I am sure you get what I was going for.

erm...nah

Specialty but looks for the best deal:

Eclipse HU
Infinity Components and rear
2 MTX Audio Amps
1 Infinity Sub

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Originally Posted by -zip-

Specialty but looks for the best deal

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Yeah, to be honest, that pretty much describes me the best as well. The only internet brands I will have are the Adire Koda components, and KnuKonceptz wireing, but yet most if not all of my purchasing will be online.

Matt

I suppose I'm in the specialty shop / internet brands category, but used to be in the BB/CC category, back when they actually sold quality equipment. (7 years or so ago)... it's crazy how many car audio companies have changed from quality to mass produced crap supported by brand identity... It really just sad that RMS ratings of most car audio brands are not based on the point where THD goes above a specific threshold, but when the equipment actually fails...

I generally won't buy anything from CarToys/Soundtrack/The smallish specialty shops unless it is some sort of crazy deal... can get very nice equipment online from authorized dealers for incredible prices anymore... especially previous year model clearance. (Picked up a PG TI500.4 for $250 and JBL BP600.1 for $199 last summer from CarDomain).

I'd go crazy with my car stereo in buying the ultra-highend, but there's that magical point at which you have to do an electrical system upgrade and add dampening to be able to audibly notice the price difference... My system is clean, clear, and loud... and I did not have to sell a kidney to get it...

It does bother me though when people go to CC or BB and lets the salesperson talk them into buying $2000 worth of poor quality crap that distorts at medium volume. If people are going to spend that much, they may as well buy something that sounds good...

while I will agree on the spenmding $2000 and get something that sounds good....some of those folks love nothing but bass and highs....and trunks that rattle.....and spinnaz....to each their own!

without places like bb/cc teh car stereomarket wouldn't be as big as it is! after all, chances are, those of us who are into the really high quality stuff started out at place slike bb/cc getting our first speakers and amps...I know I did....JENSEN BABY!