Both have. Polk used to be good, same with Boston Acoustics, MB Quart etc. Alpine were only really good when you got to their top of the line. Their head units used to be the best in the business. I'm still running my CDA-9835 in my Escape, and I've had it since new in 2004. I have a spare in case it ever craps out on me lol

 

Polks used to be some of the best. Same with a number of different brands that are now garbage.

 

Only if you give me a ride in your vehicle.

 

Where you located? I used to work at Sound Innovations - heard of them?

 

I'm in Georgia. Haven't heard of Sound Innovations but, then again, I just learned of the car audio shop in the town I live! My recommendation in the Bay Area is always going to be Simplicity in Sound (if you can get in!). I've been to their shop, and Bing is the man.

 

I've met Bing. He is good peeps. I would whole heartedly agree with you. The only thing with him, like you said, is his availability and his installs tend to be a little on the plain side. But, plain is good sometimes and they are very functional. He also has very good prices.

Look up Sound Innovations. I found them in Car Audio mag when I was in high school - who knew I'd work with them and continue to be friends with all those guys years later! They do everything from basic to all out show cars.

 

You guys are taking me back. I managed a local a/v shop that I helped start out of a garage doing 100% car audio and built into a little business doing about 2 million a year in sales after year two. Started in 93 and still in business today. We were in the top 5 nationwide for Eclipse and Soundstream sales. Also sold a ton of Clarion and Zapco but the eclipse head units and Soundstream reference amps were the schiznit baby! I left in 99 and now am blown away that some of my favorite brands are either gone or were sold out and are now complete POS's lol.

I still have an eclipse head, lanzar noise gates, and original Soundstream reference 700 amps I may use in my 15 for an old school throwback system.

 

Haha awesome!! I just picked up one of the new Soundstream Reference 5ch to replace my Audison in the Escape. It's only rated at like 60x4 and 200x1, but they consistently bench higher and still sound pretty good. I'm taking all my high end stuff out of that car and putting some of it in the Mustang. I have a collection of stuff that I was keeping for project cars, but I'm never going to use it all

4 Soundsplinter RLi-8s, 2 DIYMA R12s, Hertz HX 8" mids (super rare), ID 8" prototype mids that I had planned on pairing with horns some day (one of only 5 sets and never sold to the public), various Vifa and Peerless mids/tweeters, various Alpine 9835 and 9855 head units, an extra Audison LRx5.1k that needs to be rebuilt, a blown US Amps 5ch that needs a new power supply, some super rare 6x9 subs (forgot the brand) that we used to put in Bentley convertibles since their front door used a 6x9 midbass, oh and one of the last full active JVC head units. I'm sure I missed some stuff. Tons of various deadener, foam, wiring accessories. Ugh I had a disease!!

 

There are times that I wish I kept all of the ADS amps and speakers that I had installed in my cars during the late 1990's and early 2000's. 10 channels in clean power allowing the speakers to be biamped. It is a shame that Directed bought and killed off the ADS brand. I still have ADS speakers and my home theater and it will beat anything put out today.

 

ADS was awesome! Did any of you ever hear of the Audiophile brand of speakers? I used them for our high end builds and my personal cars. I still have a 5.25 components set in the doors of my 92 GT but I can't find anything about them anymore, any where. Loved loved loved them they were right there with the PSD series from MB Quart and the top shelf Boston Acoustics stuff from the late 80s early 90s.

On a different but related note I have a few 1st and 2nd generation Orion HCCA amps in my current eBay watch list lol....

 

Laser: I have the same Disease LOL I have a garage full of really high end audio gear. I have a cabinet full of Linear power hand made USA amps. Waiting to make a sub cabinet for my 2014 GT to install some of the linear power JBL Pro in it...

Man you guys are really making me want to play again LOL

 

Where in Georgia are you located?