Silicon Valley: Who do you trust with stereo work? - LotusTalk

dead_ed · 10-11-2009, 01:11 PM

Okay, I've decided to fix the sad audio in my car (and cover up that gearbox noise) but don't know where to go for a new head unit and speaker work for my Elise. I'm guessing obviously not Best Buy. ;-)

I'm open to suggestions here - who would you trust to work on the Elise? (No, I don't need suggestions on Stage II's or whatnot -- that'll come later.)

dbisbee · 10-11-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dead_ed

Okay, I've decided to fix the sad audio in my car (and cover up that gearbox noise) but don't know where to go for a new head unit and speaker work for my Elise. I'm guessing obviously not Best Buy. ;-)

I'm open to suggestions here - who would you trust to work on the Elise? (No, I don't need suggestions on Stage II's or whatnot -- that'll come later.)

Nobody just do it yourself! Even if you spend $3k they can still suck! Unless you have a friend in the business it is not worth it. If you haggle and get a deal what kind of work would they do? It is like a no win.

If you must get lots of recommendations from people you trust. Then watch the whole time. This is not your fathers Oldsmobile!

Good luck!

dead_ed · 10-11-2009, 04:07 PM

I'm afraid if I did it, I'd end up with one non-working stereo and then have to pay someone to fix my shame.

AgentTripleX · 10-11-2009, 08:09 PM

If you're willing to come to SF I go to Audio Symphony on Van Ness. Hatch is a great guy. He did the work on my Elise as well as several of my clients' and friends' cars.

txdude · 10-11-2009, 08:25 PM

The Best Buy audio guy told me our Blasuck decks use the same removal keys as the VW decks. Took him all of 10 seconds to unlatch & slide out the deck (not on the company dime). I tipped him $10 & went on my way. I forget which harness you're supposed to get when you swap decks, but surely someone on here can tell you that...

It's not difficult. If you can plug your tv into the wall, you can do this

dead_ed · 10-11-2009, 10:42 PM

Hmm, I may try to brave it. *what's the worst that could happen...?* /drumroll

My 2007 came with the Alpine head unit with firewire-based iPod dock connector (which is useless for "modern" iPods and iPhones (well, you can play but not charge or anything good)). This is very tempting.

Thanks for the tip, AgentTripleX. I'm going to do more investigation.

kwancho · 10-12-2009, 09:32 AM

I'm also in the same boat with the crap firewire cord. Let me know how it goes.

10-11-2009, 01:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
dead_ed Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 35	Silicon Valley: Who do you trust with stereo work? Okay, I've decided to fix the sad audio in my car (and cover up that gearbox noise) but don't know where to go for a new head unit and speaker work for my Elise. I'm guessing obviously not Best Buy. ;-) I'm open to suggestions here - who would you trust to work on the Elise? (No, I don't need suggestions on Stage II's or whatnot -- that'll come later.)

10-11-2009, 08:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
AgentTripleX #101 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 3,101	If you're willing to come to SF I go to Audio Symphony on Van Ness. Hatch is a great guy. He did the work on my Elise as well as several of my clients' and friends' cars. __________________ http://www.facebook.com/SPRVXN www.twitter.com/autoVXNS http://sprvxn.tumblr.com/ "We always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love - first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage." Albert Camus "The refusal to choose is a form of choice; disbelief is a form of belief." Frank Barron

10-12-2009, 09:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
kwancho Stormtrooper Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Altos Hills, CA Posts: 95	I'm also in the same boat with the crap firewire cord. Let me know how it goes. __________________ 2007 Aspen White Exige S Track, Touring, LSD Golden Gate Lotus Club #979 Larini SC Sport, R888, black badges, red folding tow hook

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10-11-2009, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
dead_ed Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 35	I'm afraid if I did it, I'd end up with one non-working stereo and then have to pay someone to fix my shame.

10-11-2009, 08:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
txdude Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ellsworth SD Posts: 137	The Best Buy audio guy told me our Blasuck decks use the same removal keys as the VW decks. Took him all of 10 seconds to unlatch & slide out the deck (not on the company dime). I tipped him $10 & went on my way. I forget which harness you're supposed to get when you swap decks, but surely someone on here can tell you that... It's not difficult. If you can plug your tv into the wall, you can do this

10-11-2009, 10:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
dead_ed Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 35	Hmm, I may try to brave it. what's the worst that could happen...? /drumroll My 2007 came with the Alpine head unit with firewire-based iPod dock connector (which is useless for "modern" iPods and iPhones (well, you can play but not charge or anything good)). This is very tempting. Thanks for the tip, AgentTripleX. I'm going to do more investigation.

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