ahwang

Everybody in this forum must know that the stock audio system sounds extremely poor. I had consulted with one of the car audio stores in my area, and they told me that there is a small amp located somewhere in the trunk area. Inside my car, the set of plastic shielded speakers (non BOSE) had been replaced with a set of Panasonic high-ended ones. Even the sound quality has been improved a lot, there is still have a difference between what I heard in the audio store and that in my car right now. I suspect that the head unit and the amp (as what the audio store told me) could downgrade the overall quality. I don't want to replace the head unit cuz the steering wheel button and the CD changer will no longer work. Then I just want our fellow members to help me to find out the location of the amp and get it replaced. One location I have searched for is in the passenger side of the trunk (the area where the BOSE amp and subwoofer locate). Nothing was found.

Please help!

session

when you replace your amp (and also for your speaker replacement), can you post pics? i'll be doing the same thing soon hopefully.

sdcaclint

i just went down to one of those high end shops, to check on install price. all i wanted them to do was install my 6.5" and tweeters in the stock locations, and wire up my subs and amps. i hope you are sitting down for this one, the guy wanted $350.00 For the parts to interface with the stock head unit, and an additional $1400 for labor. then he wanted another $250 for a crossover. so i politely said no thankyou. is this guy nuts? he wants $2000 to install my stereo equipment that i already own. incase you are thinking of going to La Jolla Audio, think twice. the labor rate it an astonishing $85.00/hr, and he quoted me 17 hours to do the job. i thought the story was incredible over the phone, but after writing this it is nearly unbelievable.

WyattEarp

That is somewhat low. Premium shops have labor rates in the 120 / hour range.

Mike T.

I haven't even spent 2 grand (US $!!) on a HOME sound system, never mind one in a rolling box like a car!

WyattEarp

Quality home speakers alone are worth 1500 to 2000 for the pair.

Mike T.

HIGH quality or LOW quality?

WyattEarp

The least amount I've found you can spend and still get something comparable to High End Audio.

sdcaclint

$120 an hour????are you nuts, this is a c-class car. don't get me wrong, this is the finest car i have ever owned, but those labor rates are outragous. i can understand paying a higher price for quality components, but a quailty install is a quality install. go ahead and spend the money, if you have it, but i think that beyone the money per hour, the 17 hours is out of line.

Duffer

You guys on the right and left coasts really get reemed on labor -- ahrd to believe that you must pay the rate of an accountant ($85) or lower end attorney ($120/hr) for a stereo install.

If it was me, I'd minimize the stereo and put that money into the car's performance - ring pulley, body kit, rear Lorinser dam from yesterday was nice.

But everyone is different. That's what makes the world go 'round.

Jim Banville

I may upgrade the non-Bose speakers in my '02 C240. How do you get the speaker grille's off? Anyone know the sizes of the speakers, including the single upside down subwoofer in the rear deck?

thanks
Jim

sdcaclint

i believe and don't hold me to this, to access the speakers in the door, you must remove the dooor panel. that is what my installer (a reasonable cost one) told me. i located someone that seems competent to do my install for a much more reasonable price. i have a question for you guys. how tacky would it be to just use my aftermarket pioneer reciever? i know it won't look as good or be able to use the steering wheel controls, but the deck is soooo much better, and it does have a good remote control and subwoofer controler built in. it has dsp, rds, and an excellent tuner. not to mention it would be so much easier of an install. what do you think?