Stereo Place in the Valley (818)

[Ponch]

Hey guys...any of you have any recommendations on a good, honest stereo shop in the area?

I've had bad / not good experiences with a couple of stores in the area, so I'm trying to find a place that won't rip me off, hold my car hostage while they try to push other stuff on me, or do a hack job.

Places I'm avoiding:

Pacific Stereo (Woodland Hills)- My girlfriend went there (by herself, against my advise) to get a new head unit installed in her car, came back with a $2000 stereo/alarm/door lock system. I chalked that up to her being easily sold on that sort of thing.

When I first bought my previous car (2000 Monte Carlo), I went there for a set of speakers...they ended up trying to sell me a new head unit (Sony Xplode, about $100 at WalMart) for $300 because 'my speakers wouldnt work with the one it had'. I told them to leave it alone, and took my car to a guy I know (long since moved away). Not only that, but a few months later when I had to remove the door panels, I noticed that they had drilled a hole at the bottom of the panels and put a screw in there to make it stay in place.

Car Tunes (Reseda) - I bought an amp and pair of subs there. The stuff wasn't bad at all, though a little overpriced. They also used cheap wood screws on the upholstery to install the amp.

[Mighty Noid]

Traffic Jamz on Ventura and just west of the 405 in Encino... Awesome shop and installers... ask for Frank...

[Ponch]

Traffic Jamz on Ventura and just west of the 405 in Encino... Awesome shop and installers... ask for Frank...

hmmm....funny you should mention them. I work across the street from them. I just figured they'd be pricey given the location. I'll walk over during a lunch break next week and check em out.

[cripwalk10]

ultimate audio off of the 14 freeway... exit sierra hwy and it right next to the behind the arbys parking lot... got all my mods done there 661-252-0050

[Mighty Noid]

hmmm....funny you should mention them. I work across the street from them. I just figured they'd be pricey given the location. I'll walk over during a lunch break next week and check em out.

So how was the walk over to them? Did you talk to Frank???

[srtdan]

im thinkin of getting some work from audio fanatics in n.hollywood on sherman way n witset

[Ponch]

So how was the walk over to them? Did you talk to Frank???

haven't gone yet. I was gonna do it yesterday when I went to lunch, but they were closed, probably due to the holiday (Yom Kippur). If I can get some of this work done, Ill try to escape for a few minutes today and go over there.

[Mighty Noid]

Hell even I drove by there today... I had to go to Beverly Hills and the 101 was killing me so I took Ventura for a little while... So you work at McD's or IHOP?? LOL KIDDING!

[Ponch]

. So you work at McD's or IHOP?? LOL KIDDING!

LOL...I knew that was gonna come up sooner or later. Actually I work in the Wells Fargo building - but I don't work for Wells Fargo.

I do hit up the McD's for a Snack Wrap every now and then. Which is bad...

[Ponch]

Holy Crap! I finally got around to going over to Traffic Jamz. I was very impressed with the place...looks like they have their ish together but...they quoted me $900 just for installing my subs, sub amp, 2 rear speakers and 4 channel amp (all of which I already have). This did not include the wires, the head unit 'interface' (whatever that is), or the two front speakers that I need. $900, basically just for labor. WTF?

I've been to a couple of other places and I've been quoted anywhere between $400-600 with everything included. Looks like I might need to go to one of those...but for now I'll keep looking.

[srtdan]

i guess thats why they are on ventura blvd.to make the BIG $$$ lolol.id look elsewhere too

[Ponch]

i guess thats why they are on ventura blvd.to make the BIG $$$ lolol.id look elsewhere too

Indeed. My earlier suspicions were correct:

I just figured they'd be pricey given the location.

[Mighty Noid]

I will just say this about them... they do awesome work and you get what you pay for... I never said that they were cheap...

That is why they have been at that location for many years. If they didn't do great work... the doors would have been shut a long time ago...

Well I hope that you find another place to get the work done and it all goes well.

[Ponch]

I will just say this about them... they do awesome work and you get what you pay for... I never said that they were cheap...

That is why they have been at that location for many years. If they didn't do great work... the doors would have been shut a long time ago...

Well I hope that you find another place to get the work done and it all goes well.

Yeah, the guy really seemed to know what he was talking about. Believe me, if money was no object, I'd have it done there on the spot just based on that one visit. Alas...I'm poor.

[Ponch]

Ha! Found another place (big store, not a shady looking joint) and they'll do it for $200, including 2 6x9 Alpine front speakers. $80 for the speakers + $20 installation, and another $100 to install all of my other stuff - wiring and everything included, tho I might as well pay a little more for a wire upgrade.

Coincidentally, I was talking to my brother after I went and turns out that's the same place where he got his system installed a couple of months ago and hasn't had any problems.