Recommendations for High-End Custom Mobile Audio Installation Sought in Chicago area

Gold Sound on Irving park (and roughly Elston).

They did all my car alarms and stereos. In other words, they've been Ferrari trained.

Another one would be Kustom Carz on Irving as well.

 

I believe that there is (was???) another place over on Rand Rd.. just West off of RT.53, in Palatine that has High End Audio. I've been meaning to drive out there and see. Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics and all of those other places don't seem to carry that.

And, (we've been through this here before), as much as I mostly just love to listen to the sound of my engine. Once in awhile, I do like to crank some tunes. My car had an Alpine unit with a 3 disk CD player when I bought it. It sounded O.K., but was quite a bit dated. Then the disk player quit. So, I bought a Blaupunkt unit. It was O.K, too....enough for as much as I played it. But eventually, the CD part of it quit, too. (Must have been from the 'Motorhead' CD.... ) So now, I want to get something really nice, that will sound great, and LAST!!!

I stopped over at the 'Bose Audio' store right here in the Oakbrook shopping center. But, they said that they don't sell Car Audio. "But!...." I told him that "I had a Bose Gold Audio System that came factory issue in 2 of my Corvettes. And it was absolutely the Best system that I ever heard!" (The Speakers also had additional Amps on them, from the factory.). But he said that they only did that for the GM cars, but not for the Public.

So, does anybody have any good recommendations? MacIntosh? Becker? Isn't that what they put into the new Ferrari's?

 

Mark Audio in Schaumburg on Roselle has done fantastic work with mine.

 

ABT on Milwaukee, I think Glenview is well known

 

What are some good reccomendations for specific car audio Brands?

Can someone tell me about theirs? (Please....No super giant sized Stereo systems from RicerRacers with 10 sub woofers. 20 DVD players. With 10,0000 watts. A Fish Tank.....) I'm just looking for a fantastic sounding, yet simple System. With good Bass and some balls. An Amp and some kick ass speakers, too. (Any Speaker suggestions????) With NO cutting in the car.

 

Assuming you're talking about your 308:
I got a nice state of the art Pioneer MP3/CD/radio/amplifier and some nice 3 way speakers that fit into the existing holes in the door. Only cutting I did was take out the leather grille over the speakers which really muffles the sound.

A good source for the components is Crutchfield.

 

Yes, for my 308. Hey, thanks for that. Yes, I also get tha Crutchfield catalog. But, didn't see anything I wanted. But, how do you like your Pioneer system? I have had Pioneer systems in some of my cars over the years and was really happy with them. Hmmmm....perhaps something to think about....Thanks again!

Yes, I also want to upgrade the system in my conversion van, too. Plenty of room in there, and any cutting would be fine.

You should have seen what I had in my old 1973 ChevyVan "back in the day" (late '70's-early '80's). Ofcourse, the interior was completed covered with a Light/Dark Golden Mixed Shag carpeting.() But because we used it to haul my Amplifiers and my brothers double bass Drum set in. I didn't have any "furniture" in it besides alot of Sofa Cushions and giant Pillows. My "Stereo" was a Pioneer 100watt x 2 Regular House Stereo Amp/Tuner. Plugged into a Power Inverter. And one of my other brothers, the "Punker", built 2 wooden cabinets for me that were about 4' high, by 2' wide, by 2' deep. And he put in some 16" speakers from an old Sunn Bass bottom cabinet that we had. Along with some smaller speakers. And on top were some Horns. He painted the cabinets Black. And covered the front with a Leopard skin print fabric. This thing was LOUD!!!! We could also very easily take it all out in bring it inside the house for a party or something. But, especially when the Van was empty....that thing was LOUD!!! We'd use the cabninets as benches when I had alot of people in there. And, if we went to the woods to party all day. I'd just back the Van in. Open up the rear doors, stand the speakers up, facing out,and blast the tunes! Fun! Ah yes....those were the days.....

 

I love it.

The speakers have enough bass that the whole door starts to follow the rythm. It's kinda funny to see your rear view mirrors bounce in the beat of the music.

The radio I actually never use. At some point I have the antenna removed, just added weight and looks odd (and pierces my wing). I totally love MP3, you should look into that. However if you want MP3, I strongly recommend you check that the MP3 player has a random shuffle mode. THEN you basically have the equivalent of XM radio. Without the annoying Stern.

 

O.K, I will definitely keep that in mind.....

No, I never really use the Radio, either. WAAAYYYY too many commercials....Waaaayyy more annoying than it is entertaining....and thats what it is Supposed to be in the first place! Entertainment! Commercial radio sucks! It is completely useless, as far as an Entertainment venue, IMO.

So, I stick with just CD's. But, I may also look into the Satellite Radio Systems....NO Commercials! Plus, a considerably larger array of choices in music. But, don't know which one to go with yet....XM or Sirius....

I do like Howard Stern, though. (cantcha tell?... ) I may not always agree with what he says.... But, usually I think he's funny....in a basic, sophomoric kind of way...and he gets some good guests on once in awhile, too....And, I suppose, for his $500 Million Dollar salary, alot of other people do too....

 

Satellite radio is expensive and you have to deal with that additional antenna.

Remember that you can put about a dozen of CDs onto one MP3 CD. I have one MP3 CD with the entire Beatles collection. Play those in random mode and you have your own Beatles marathon event for a long and boring drive eg. down to Indy. I bet all of Alice Cooper would fit onto one CD as well...

 

Yes, true. You do need that antenna and all. Kind of reminds me of those TV antennaes that Limo's had on the back...Those little boomerangs on a stick.... I'll check into it. I don't think it's too expensive, though. Just getting a good Stereo head unit that is satellite ready. Then, the XM or Sirius unit, which aren't too bad, and then only something like $8-10.00 a month. Worth it if there is a vast, huge selection available, and some obscure stuff. I know that there is a really great Heavy Metal station out of Texas that plays mostly obscure, European Metal that is all new stuff. I'd like to be able to access that.

 

If anyone still has there old Blaupunkt Tucson usually installed when new, I'd be interested in purchasing it (working or not)! Or, if anyone has the plug installed when no radio was purchased I'd be interested in that as well. Sorry for the hijack, back to the topic.

 

If you want to go all out you could of course include a subwoofer. Behind the passenger footwell is just about enough space to hide that. Amplifier could go on the engine wall. I was looking into this, but eventually decided against it as it is a much bigger job than just replacing the radio and the regular speakers.

 

Can you say Concours?

Try ebay. Even German ebay. I was able to find the Becker Mexico radio for a Daytona on Ebay, wasn't too bad since they put those into Mercs and Porsches as well.

 

Is that the Radio that was suposed to come with the 308 originally? Also, with all of the other Ferrari models from that time period?

I was under the assumption....mainly because that is what I've always been told....that the cars came to the U.S. without any Radios in them. And that it was just Dealer or Customer preference as to what was to be installed in the new car when it arrived at the dealership.....?

 

Yes. Apparently the recommended system.

This is also true. The installation was farmed out and the cost added to the bill of sale (or at least in the case of my car). That is the reason for the plug I'm also looking for.

 

I have to try!

I have tried the web and ebay. The problem with the Tuscon is that it is a current model. This muddies up the search. But we keep trying!

 

Place a free ad on FChat or put an ad into the FCA newsletter.

 

Ahhhhh.....O.K. I gotcha! Thanks!

 

Custom Alarm & Audio by the Oakton/Elmhurst intersection in Mt. Prospect.
They are well known for car audio installations and even do boats.