| hondafan4evr |
Any insight is appreciated!!!
Ok, here's a quote from a local Cartoys for a speaker/amp upgrade on my Honda Pilot 2006 EXL w/NAV. My questions are:
1. What are wholesale prices on product?
2. What's an acceptable price where both Cartoys and I get a fair deal?
3. What should labor look like?
The prices below are at list except for labor. (The rep told me I was saving $400 off product list. What a crock.)
Total quote is $2200 plus tax. All stock locations and yes, the subwoofer fits.
Pioneer Subwoofer - TS-SW1041D 179.99
Infinity Kappa Component 299.99
Infinity Kappa 149.99
JL Audio 300/4 499.99
JL Audio 250/1 299.99
Product subtotal 1429.95
Labor, misc cable, shop materials 770.05
Subtotal 2200
tax @ 9.1 200.2
Total 2400.2
Thanks in advance for your advice... |
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| RSD |
thats some expensive stuff and lots of cost on labour
if u got some time, patience, and rock hard fingers, i say do the install urself |
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| hondafan4evr |
quote:
Originally posted by RSD
thats some expensive stuff and lots of cost on labour
if u got some time, patience, and rock hard fingers, i say do the install urself
I did an internet search and came up with 1104.00, a savings of $424. I'm not comfortable installing it so I am going to check in with Circuit City and Best Buy. Circuit City promotes its' Roadhouse installation services for customers who supply theor own equipment.
I'll buy online and go the install route... |
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| ictvuser |
quote:
Originally posted by hondafan4evr
Pioneer Subwoofer - TS-SW1041D 179.99
Infinity Kappa Component 299.99
Infinity Kappa 149.99
JL Audio 300/4 499.99
JL Audio 250/1 299.99
Product subtotal 1429.95
Labor, misc cable, shop materials 770.05
Subtotal 2200
tax @ 9.1 200.2
Total 2400.2
Thanks in advance for your advice...
Try comparison sites like bizrate to get a good starting point on pricing information. Most of the low prices are from companies who are not authorized resellers. Just make sure the price is for factory new equipment and not seconds or re-conditioned.
For example, the Infinity Kappa 60.7cs 6.5 component (I assume that is the one that Cartoys is quoting you) is 200 at Online Car Stereo and 170 at Sonic Electronix.
The Pioneer Subwoofer is 120 at Online Car Stereo and 90 at Etronics.
The JL Audio 300/4 is 400 at Online Car Stereo and 370 at Sonic Electronix.
9.1 sales tax :eek:. I thought 8.25 (CA) was high and CA does not have sales tax on labor.
Good Luck! |
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| ED27 |
quote:
Originally posted by hondafan4evr
I did an internet search and came up with 1104.00, a savings of $424. I'm not comfortable installing it so I am going to check in with Circuit City and Best Buy. Circuit City promotes its' Roadhouse installation services for customers who supply theor own equipment.
I'll buy online and go the install route...
Keep in mind that most discount Internet retailers are not authorized dealers for the product they sell. This typically can become a problem when you need warranty service as you have to send the product back and wait for a repair or replacement. Sometimes a replacement may not be a brand-new item but a refurbished one. Buying online at a discount makes more sense for a DIYer since he/she can troubleshoot the problem. Just think about this scenario.....if you have a problem with an amp (i.e. no sound from the right-front channel), you'll have to take it back to CC for a diagnosis; if the amp is found to be the problem they'll have to remove it; you'll now have to ship it back to the online retailer; wait for it to be repaired or replaced (could take a few weeks);go back to CC to have it re-installed. This whole process could mean no sound for a few weeks and possible labor charges from CC (verify with the installation manager) for removing and re-installing an amp you didn't buy from them.
You can probably shave at least 10% to 15% on the product cost if you shop local dealers. The labor sounds high unless they are making a custom fiberglass enclosure for the sub. IMO, you can save a little on the amps by going with a 5-channel instead of 2 separate ones. The Arc Audio 5150 lists for $600 (dconder is selling one for a lot less in the classifieds section so you may want to jump on it if it's still available). At list price, that's a $200 savings. You also didn't mention if you are using the factory headunit or not. |
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| PTO |
| If you are going to buy on-line, then I would highly suggest looking at some different equipment. The JL amps are very good but but for the sub and components, you can get much better speakers for the money they quoted you. I had Infinity components in my Pilot and while much better then stock, they can't compare to most good component sets. |
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| hondafan4evr |
quote:
Originally posted by PTO
If you are going to buy on-line, then I would highly suggest looking at some different equipment. The JL amps are very good but but for the sub and components, you can get much better speakers for the money they quoted you. I had Infinity components in my Pilot and while much better then stock, they can't compare to most good component sets.
What 6-1/2" speakers do you recommend? I'm staying with stock locations so with regard to the subwoofer I have to work with 5"D. This limits me to two: Polk and the Pioneer. Are ther other options at 5"D? |
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| PTO |
| Are you having them build a fiberglass enclosure for the sub? |
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| hondafan4evr |
quote:
Originally posted by PTO
Are you having them build an fiberglass enclosure for the sub?
No. I'm using the existing locations, etc.. |
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| 23PILOT |
quote:
Originally posted by hondafan4evr
No. I'm using the existing locations, etc..
I am curious to see how they intend to seal the existing location for your new sub. I am asking because I tried to use the existing location, but didn't have a good enough seal. I might go the fiberglass route for my install.. |
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| PTO |
The Pioneer sub is a slim mount. IMO, you pay more for that fact then the actual quality of the speaker. So if you can find a standard sub that will fit, you will save $$ and most likely get better sound. I use one of these for my stock location and it sounds pretty good.
http://www.cardomain.com/item/MTXT451004
Someone just installed a 5500 which is 6.2" deep. Here is a very good sub that is 5.5" deep. I would think it SHOULD fit since someone got the 5500 to fit. Sound Domain says it is free air compatible.
http://www.speedsound.com/product.a...cific=jmnoomkoo
For components, you might check out the sounddomain.com and elitecaraudio.com boards. If you give your price range and what you like in terms of sound, you should get some good recommendations.
I use Diamond Audio S600a speakers in our Pilot. You won't be able to get great midbass out of them with the JL amp and 75 watts but they are light years better then the Infinity's. They are $330 on the the Internet ($650 retail).
As mentioned above, you could save some money by going with a 5 channel amp. This will require less wiring. For example, I use a Kicker 700.5 which has about the same power rating for the components as the JL you listed. For the sub channel, it has more flexibility because it can be wired for 2 ohms producing 400 watts or 4 ohm with approx 220. Now I don't think Kicker makes as nice of amps as JL but you will be hard pressed to hear the difference running off the stock HU and it can be had for $450. |
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| PTO |
quote:
Originally posted by 23PILOT
I am curious to see how they intend to seal the existing location for your new sub. I am asking because I tried to use the existing location, but didn't have a good enough seal. I might go the fiberglass route for my install..
Duct tape!:D
Honestly, they probably won't try to seal it up. If they use a free air recommended sub, they should be fine. When I installed my MTX sub back there, I did a little work to seal it up but no where near air tight. When I do back to back comparisons with my stock location and sealed box (with much better sub), sure there is a difference but the stock location doesn't sound bad. |
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| aaronmp2315 |
| on mine i installed JL Audio components on front and infinity kappas rear and i have Infinity Basslink II for the subwoofer. It sounds great and it probably cost me lees than $1000 dollars for everything installed. and i liked it it sounds great. |
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| kinetik |
After a bad experience with Fry's installing door speakers (Infinity 6012i's), I went to CarToys for an amp and sub installation. We discussed a few options I decided on a JL Audio 450w/5ch ($399) with a JL Audio 10" sub ($149?) in a box (free). The first quote was close to $1000, which was beyond my budget... so the manager "juggled" some numbers and came down to $750.
My point is, with a little haggling they should be able to meet you halfway on hardware and installation pricing. Tell them what your budget is and see if they can work with you. Probably wouldn't hurt to get another bid from a competing store, too. Good luck! |
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| hondafan4evr |
Here is what I decided to do.
1. JL Audio 500/5 5 channel amp
2. Pioneer subwoofer TS-SW124D, 4"Deep. It sounds amazing given its depth and use of new technologies...
3. Focal component speakers in front/coax in rear doors
4. JL Audio CleanSweep® CL441-dsp: JL Audio's revolutionary DSP-based OEM interface with automatic response correction. It also allows me to attach my iPod. This is really a great product...I preserve the original look and utility of the stock head unit.
It installs this coming Thursday. Can't happen soon enough. |
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| Robs06Pilot |
Hondafan4ever,
I am sure you have had the install by now. How do you like it? I was looking into getting Kappa's on the four doors as well as a Kappa 10' sub. The Cleansweep looked cool too but I didn't know anyne who had used one.
Can you give me any info on the sound now, how you like tha Kappa's, did they cut some metal for the install and how do you like the Cleansweep?
Thanks |
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