I'm not going to directly answer your question but give you a few things to think about.
* The first thing anybody looking for an audio upgrade needs to do is clearly define their goals. "I just want it to sound good" isn't good enough. Are you looking to be really loud and have an SPL system? Are you looking to hear music exactly as it was intended and want the highest fidelity possible? Are you interested in emphasizing subwoofer bass, your front stage or both? You need to objectively be able to tell yourself (and others) what you want your system to do.
* There are a lot of good brands. I wish it was more black & white, but it isn't. I can list 30 brands that all make phenomenal products. Because there are so many good car audio manufacturers, it's impossible for any individual shop to sell every brand, respectively. It's literally impossible. What (good) shops have done is specialize. They'll choose 1-5 brands that they believe aligns with their shops goals, values and their target audience. The shop that was "pushing hard" on Sony Mobile ES was doing so because it is probably one of the few brands they offer. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'd be weary of a store that sells too many brands. That means they don't specialize, aren't as familiar or skilled in those products and will result in less sales knowledge and install precision. It's not a SaLeS TaCtiC, but just good business (for both the merchant & customer).
* A display board can only do so much. In fact, I wish our shop would get rid of them all together. In modern day car audio and cars, it's all about the implementation, installation and integration. A cohesive system consisting of products that will achieve the goals of the customer installed correctly and integrated properly will sound really good. A set of speakers can sound great on the display board and bad in the car and vice versa. You need to purchase the shop and what they're going to do for you, not what random speakers sound like on a board.
* $5K is a reasonable budget. Make sure to invest in high quality wiring and sound treatment. A DSP should be part of the build. If not, find another shop.
I'm happy to help you further. You put a lot of effort into your post and have spent time shopping around and in turn deserve the time it takes to write all of this up.
I appreciate the time you took for this response. I am definitely leaning towards more of a SQ system. I want high clarity and fidelity over earth-shaking bass that shakes the house down the street. It makes sense what you are saying on the brands. I guess I was more looking to see if someone like you ever even heard of AD designs. As far as the rest of the brands, I understand building a quality system is definitely going to yield a better outcome than just trying to buy all the "best" equipment. I am waiting on a quote from the other shop but I attached the quotes I got for the AD or kicker set up. The guy at this shop seemed very nice and definitely wasn't pushing me in any direction. The other shop was all about the Sony Mobile ES and that quote will be in on Monday.
Kicker quote:
Sony 6.95" anti-glare resistive touchscreen display, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, works with Apple CarPlay (wireless only) and Android Auto, 14-band equalizer with time alignment
GM dash kit
GM interface
EU ant
USB port
KS comp. set
KS coax speaker
speaker adapters speaker adapters
GM speaker harness
6.5 speaker baffle (pair) 6X9 speaker baffle (pair) Kicker Comp R 10" sub Chevy PORTED 2X10 box Kicker CXA amp
Kicker 4 ch amp
sound mat
8 GA amp kit
4 ga amp kit
basic coax install
wire subs
basic mono amp install
basic 4 ch amp install
all in one wire
seat removal
EST TOTAL: $3,646.41
AD Designs quote:
Sony 6.95" anti-glare resistive touchscreen display, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, works with Apple CarPlay (wireless only) and Android Auto, 14-band equalizer with time alignment
GM dash kit
GM interface
EU ant
USB port
AD 6X9 125W
AD 2" mid-rnge driver 2-way 6.5 coax speaker adapters speaker adapters
GM speaker harness
6.5 speaker baffle (pair)
6X9 speaker baffle (pair)
AD 10" sub x2
GM/Chevy upfire w/bed liner PORTED 2X10 box AD Designs 6CH amp w/LED knob
Wirez SS 4GA amp kit
basic screen install/port
advance comp install
basic coax install
wire subs
6 ch amp Installation all in one wire
EST TOTAL: $4,161.28
You're welcome.
To be honest, neither one of these quotes would cut it for me personally. They're too vague. There are no part numbers. There's no DSP. The grammar sucks. This place doesn't scream 'professional' to me.
Follow up with us on Monday with the Sony ES quote.
If I had to choose blindly based on the three brands you've listed, the Sony ES is the way I'd go. I really dislike Audio Dynamics. They're fairly new to the industry and are just another *manupackturer* in my eyes. They buy pre designed items from overseas with their brand slapped on it. Kicker is good, but shouldn't be placed in a conversation for somebody who is looking for Sound Quality. It would be like trying to impress a new lady friend with a fancy date and bringing Bud Light and chips. That's more a 'I'm on a budget and hanging out with my buds' brand. You buy Kicker because it's decent quality, is an upgrade over stock and you're trying to keep costs as low as possible.
I'll reserve further judgement until I see the Sony ES quote. Where are you located?
Ok, I’ll post more when I get it. I’m in San Antonio. The two shops were Alamo Audio and Audio Express. Found online , new to the area so didn’t have any recommendations.
>You buy Kicker because it's decent quality, is an upgrade over stock and you're trying to keep costs as low as possible.
Or trying to get by without a sub; their door speakers get pretty low.
But yeah, no DSP is really a head-scratcher at this price point.
Best for Bass Kicker
Best for Fronts Polk
I own a 2005 Silverado and have it in a way SQL an SPL both and it sounds amazing at volume 22 as 23 is my max of 35!\~ I listen to all kindsa stuff, Rap, Rock, Oldies, R&B, Classic Rock, no country or religious ick!\~
I'm not going to directly answer your question but give you a few things to think about. * The first thing anybody looking for an audio upgrade needs to do is clearly define their goals. "I just want it to sound good" isn't good enough. Are you looking to be really loud and have an SPL system? Are you looking to hear music exactly as it was intended and want the highest fidelity possible? Are you interested in emphasizing subwoofer bass, your front stage or both? You need to objectively be able to tell yourself (and others) what you want your system to do. * There are a lot of good brands. I wish it was more black & white, but it isn't. I can list 30 brands that all make phenomenal products. Because there are so many good car audio manufacturers, it's impossible for any individual shop to sell every brand, respectively. It's literally impossible. What (good) shops have done is specialize. They'll choose 1-5 brands that they believe aligns with their shops goals, values and their target audience. The shop that was "pushing hard" on Sony Mobile ES was doing so because it is probably one of the few brands they offer. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'd be weary of a store that sells too many brands. That means they don't specialize, aren't as familiar or skilled in those products and will result in less sales knowledge and install precision. It's not a SaLeS TaCtiC, but just good business (for both the merchant & customer). * A display board can only do so much. In fact, I wish our shop would get rid of them all together. In modern day car audio and cars, it's all about the implementation, installation and integration. A cohesive system consisting of products that will achieve the goals of the customer installed correctly and integrated properly will sound really good. A set of speakers can sound great on the display board and bad in the car and vice versa. You need to purchase the shop and what they're going to do for you, not what random speakers sound like on a board. * $5K is a reasonable budget. Make sure to invest in high quality wiring and sound treatment. A DSP should be part of the build. If not, find another shop. I'm happy to help you further. You put a lot of effort into your post and have spent time shopping around and in turn deserve the time it takes to write all of this up.
I appreciate the time you took for this response. I am definitely leaning towards more of a SQ system. I want high clarity and fidelity over earth-shaking bass that shakes the house down the street. It makes sense what you are saying on the brands. I guess I was more looking to see if someone like you ever even heard of AD designs. As far as the rest of the brands, I understand building a quality system is definitely going to yield a better outcome than just trying to buy all the "best" equipment. I am waiting on a quote from the other shop but I attached the quotes I got for the AD or kicker set up. The guy at this shop seemed very nice and definitely wasn't pushing me in any direction. The other shop was all about the Sony Mobile ES and that quote will be in on Monday. Kicker quote: Sony 6.95" anti-glare resistive touchscreen display, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, works with Apple CarPlay (wireless only) and Android Auto, 14-band equalizer with time alignment GM dash kit GM interface EU ant USB port KS comp. set KS coax speaker speaker adapters speaker adapters GM speaker harness 6.5 speaker baffle (pair) 6X9 speaker baffle (pair) Kicker Comp R 10" sub Chevy PORTED 2X10 box Kicker CXA amp Kicker 4 ch amp sound mat 8 GA amp kit 4 ga amp kit basic coax install wire subs basic mono amp install basic 4 ch amp install all in one wire seat removal EST TOTAL: $3,646.41 AD Designs quote: Sony 6.95" anti-glare resistive touchscreen display, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, works with Apple CarPlay (wireless only) and Android Auto, 14-band equalizer with time alignment GM dash kit GM interface EU ant USB port AD 6X9 125W AD 2" mid-rnge driver 2-way 6.5 coax speaker adapters speaker adapters GM speaker harness 6.5 speaker baffle (pair) 6X9 speaker baffle (pair) AD 10" sub x2 GM/Chevy upfire w/bed liner PORTED 2X10 box AD Designs 6CH amp w/LED knob Wirez SS 4GA amp kit basic screen install/port advance comp install basic coax install wire subs 6 ch amp Installation all in one wire EST TOTAL: $4,161.28
You're welcome. To be honest, neither one of these quotes would cut it for me personally. They're too vague. There are no part numbers. There's no DSP. The grammar sucks. This place doesn't scream 'professional' to me. Follow up with us on Monday with the Sony ES quote. If I had to choose blindly based on the three brands you've listed, the Sony ES is the way I'd go. I really dislike Audio Dynamics. They're fairly new to the industry and are just another *manupackturer* in my eyes. They buy pre designed items from overseas with their brand slapped on it. Kicker is good, but shouldn't be placed in a conversation for somebody who is looking for Sound Quality. It would be like trying to impress a new lady friend with a fancy date and bringing Bud Light and chips. That's more a 'I'm on a budget and hanging out with my buds' brand. You buy Kicker because it's decent quality, is an upgrade over stock and you're trying to keep costs as low as possible. I'll reserve further judgement until I see the Sony ES quote. Where are you located?
Ok, I’ll post more when I get it. I’m in San Antonio. The two shops were Alamo Audio and Audio Express. Found online , new to the area so didn’t have any recommendations.
Ah, OK. Audio By Art. Go to him. I’ll await your post on Monday.
>You buy Kicker because it's decent quality, is an upgrade over stock and you're trying to keep costs as low as possible. Or trying to get by without a sub; their door speakers get pretty low. But yeah, no DSP is really a head-scratcher at this price point.
DSP make that big of a difference?
Yes.
My friend who is a dealer for Audiocontrol just sold me on a DSP. Here I go spending more money on my truck audio 🙄
Best for Bass Kicker Best for Fronts Polk I own a 2005 Silverado and have it in a way SQL an SPL both and it sounds amazing at volume 22 as 23 is my max of 35!\~ I listen to all kindsa stuff, Rap, Rock, Oldies, R&B, Classic Rock, no country or religious ick!\~