Professional Stereo Upgrade

[neema2k]

I see a lot of talk on the forum about DIY stereo upgrades but this thread I want to talk about professional audio upgrades.

Whether audio shops are even able to do this. What are the costs and estimates? What have they done or recommended for the sub upgrade in the premium or actually adding a sub and amp in the 1958 and where they are doing amp placement etc.

The pro estimates vary widely. Maybe this will help determine fair pricing...

I didn't wanna throw the DIY threads off track

 

[LCOceans]

I am curious about this too. Very interested to see what professional installers and audio experts are doing.

 

[Thx_1158]

I had one quote me 12k. 6K if I didn’t upgrade speakers. Needless to say I told them to buzz off

 

[Omohundro]

I had one quote me 12k. 6K if I didn’t upgrade speakers. Needless to say I told them to buzz off

That does sound a bit excessive!

 

[Thx_1158]

That does sound a bit excessive!

They claimed to have done one LC and they were “thrilled”. It was plug and play with a sound processor controlling amps with a Focal speaker array.

 

[LCOceans]

They claimed to have done one LC and they were “thrilled”. It was plug and play with a sound processor controlling amps with a Focal speaker array.

For 12K it better sound superb and you have to really value your sound. I could see spending maybe $2-$4k max, but would like a more full and "larger" sound.

 

[D-mac]

I had one quote me 12k. 6K if I didn’t upgrade speakers. Needless to say I told them to buzz off

Did that include installing sound damping material throughout the entire cabin?

 

[wholes18]

Bought this as it fits under the passenger seat of my 1958 perfectly. Adds nice filler base. Shop charged me $150 to install and the equipment was $300.

I replaced all speakers in the 1958 doors with entry level Focal at $169/each. Sounds much better.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-uYoQDm7pwm8/p_109BASPRON/JBL-BassPro-Nano.html?gQT=1

 

[Thx_1158]

Did that include installing sound damping material throughout the entire cabin?

Nope just the doors.

 

[Bappy]

I used to have a stereo business when I was a kid. 12k better get you into a stereo competition and you better win. I would not mess with he head unit at least not right now. If you want better sound replacing with better speakers is your best option right now but I am not sure how much better it will sound without a whole lot of stopping apart the vehicle and Dynamat most of the vehicle. An amp and speakers should not be that much! But the install is really the most important thing!

 

[robsurfskate]

2024 1958 system sounds just fine the way it is.

 

[neema2k]

Man some people here refuse to run a home theatre receiver with a dedicated phono pre amp or hire an electrician to run a dedicated circuit to the stereo wall plug or split power supply from the home amp. So if I leave the house without that sound I want something close to it. Each his own. I wish I was like you and maybe I should be.

 

[Thx_1158]

I used to have a stereo business when I was a kid. 12k better get you into a stereo competition and you better win. I would not mess with he head unit at least not right now. If you want better sound replacing with better speakers is your best option right now but I am not sure how much better it will sound without a whole lot of stopping apart the vehicle and Dynamat most of the vehicle. An amp and speakers should not be that much! But the install is really the most important thing!

These guys were wayyyy overpriced I thought. Thy wouldn't provide a parts list or detail the work beyond general speaker brands and telling me its plug and play into the head unit. There are a few things hitting the market now, but all I wanted is a bit more bass, a larger sound stage, and more musical depth.