WHY? This 1996 Porsche 911 (993) was such a joy to work on, the vehicle is in mint condition with only 35k original miles. As impressive as Porsche’s are, they leave a lot to be desired in the audio department. Some may say, the sounds of the Porsche are all you need to hear while driving this vehicle; however, we beg to differ. Now, not only can our client enjoy driving he beautiful Porsche, he can enjoy crisp, high-fidelity music while doing so, if he so chooses. This project was one that looked as great as it sounded, the rear seat addition to add the sub woofer, amps, and DSP, really turned out incredible, and best of all, it looks true to the vehicle. That was the theme of this project, keep everything looking as OEM as possible. Luckily, we were able to perform this entire upgrade without making any…
read moreLinks to all Products Used: 1. JL Audio VX700/5i 2. BLAM Under seat subwoofer (non-amplified) 3. 4-Gauge Amplifier Wiring Kit (Pure Copper) 4. DRC-205 DSP/Bass Control Knob 5. Front speakers (Factory) 6. Rear Speakers (Factory) 7. Sound Deadening- 2 Rolls SoundShield WHY? This customer came to us with his 2019 Subaru Crosstrek wanting to improve the audio in his vehicle, without sacrificing ANY space. His Subaru came with the standard factory audio system, which leaves a lot to be desired. During the free ono-on-one consultation, we were able to recommend different options, including options that take up space. Sometimes a customer’s idea of a subwoofer is a giant box in the cargo area; however, we have ways of adding clean low-end bass without sacrificing much space at all. Ultimately, we want to deliver the best sound possible, but within the client’s parameters, and that’s exactly what we did on this…
read moreWHY? This customer contacted us wanting to improve the bass in her truck, even though her Tacoma came with the Premium JBL factory audio system. When the truck pulled up to the shop and we saw that the license plate read “DUBST3P,” it was clear that we needed to deliver with the bass on this build! If you have the factory Toyota JBL audio system and you were thinking that it sounded sub-par, you are definitely not alone! During the free consultation, our System Designer, Don, was able to suggest the products that would serve our customer and meet all their needs. WHAT? Added a mono amplifier with a bass knob – We used the JL Audio XD600/1v2 to power the subwoofers in this setup. This is one of our go-to amplifiers for a few different reasons. The XD amps are ultra-compact, we can hide these amp anywhere. We were…
read moreWHY? This customer brought us her brand-new Tesla Model S and said she needed radar and laser protection. After having a stealth-installed radar detection system in her previous vehicle, she was feeling nervous about getting a ticket in the Tesla. If you’ve ever driven or been in a quiet and quick car, it’s easy to speed without even realizing it. During the free consultation we were able to recommend some fantastic options that provide next-level protection against radar and laser, while looking as stealth and discrete as possible. WHAT? Installed stealth radar detector and laser diffusers – We used the Stinger Radar system with three sets of front laser sensors. Stinger Radar offers the sleekest and newest technology in radar detection and laser defense. The Stinger HD+ radar antenna offers more surface area for detection than any other competitor, thus giving you the most advanced warning against radar. Perhaps the…
read moreWHY? This customer is a Saab enthusiast, and this is the second Saab he has brought into the shop for upgrades. This time he brought in a 2006 Saab 9-3 that he was restoring back to showroom quality. Not that the vehicle was in rough, because it wasn’t, but he now has this vehicle looking immaculate. The vehicle is a convertible, so we knew we needed to provide plenty of power to the front stage in order to have plenty of safe volume with the top down. He also wanted something that imaged really well and would not lose its quality at louder volumes. Lastly, he wanted to use the factory head unit and keep everything else looking completely stock when we were done. During the one-on-one consultation process, Aaron and Don were able to come up solutions that blew away the client’s expectations while keeping the interior appearing as…
read moreWHY? This customer contacted us from New Mexico because he could not find a shop near his area that could deliver what he was looking for. The vehicle was a 2019 Tacoma, which luckily we are very familiar with, but building an audio system via phone calls can be a bit challenging. Luckily, we were able to discuss his past experience with audio in vehicles, but also his interest level in music and audio in general. I find that a lot of our customers are huge music lovers, but have never heard a properly designed and tuned audio system in a vehicle. This client absolutely loved music and car audio, and unlike most, he had heard a system in the past that was tuned using a DSP (Digitally Signal Processed). WHAT? Replaced front door speakers – We replaced the front 2-way component speakers with the 6.5” Morel Virtus speakers. …
read moreWHY? This customer contacted us because he wanted to improve the audio system in his Volkswagen Passat, but it had been ages since he last shopped for an aftermarket audio system. Needless to say, he had no idea where to start or what to expect in terms of options and pricing. This customer said that some of their favorite things to listen to were Dave Matthew’s Band and Norah Jones, so that told us we were aiming for a more refined and accurate sound. During the free consultation, our System Designer and Master Technician, Don and Aaron, were able to suggest solutions that would put high fidelity sound in this Volkswagen. WHAT? Replaced the OEM head unit – We upgraded the OEM head unit to a Kenwood DNX996XR with integrated wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto. We used the Maestro MRR module to retain factory features, such as…
read moreWhy the Tesla Model 3 deserves a laser defense system. Since the introduction of the Tesla Model S, we have all stood witness to Elon’s mass production creation. Who would have thought that a large luxury four-door sedan would ever have the ability to accelerate faster than a Porsche directly from the factory floor. Owners of these cars love to show off to their friends, family, and that jerk who keeps revving his engine at the red light. Watching videos of drag races between supercars and Tesla Model S, 3, and X is very entertaining. We are addicted to it! For some reason, watching these silent speed demons makes us happy. So happy, in fact, that when we go out and test drive a Model S 3 or X, the salesperson insists that we put our foot down to the floor. Don’t think you’re the only one they used that…
read morePhotos of the installation are at the bottom. This is an explanation of why we performed the upgrade and not a how-to. Last week Elevated Audio had the pleasure of upgrading a 2017 Tesla Model X with a new audio system that rivaled its factory upgraded sound package in every way. Before we go down the road on WHAT we did, let’s start off by saying WHY we did it. Our customer came to us looking for an improved listening experience over what Tesla could deliver. Being a fully electric vehicle, this Model X is one of the only vehicles on the road that is not overcome with excess noise from a combustion engine, keeping the interior nice and quiet for an above-average listening experience. This allowed us to really dive in and create something special. Like most shops, Elevated Audio understands the benefits of power and clarity and its…
read moreA recent poll asked members of a popular car enthusiast group the following question – ” What ONE piece of stereo equipment could you add or upgrade in your vehicle to achieve the most noticeable difference in your quest of better audio?” The results showed me that, as a leading shop in our industry, we have our work cut out for us in educating most customers that schedule an audio design consultation with us. There were four options to choose from: speakers, stereo, DSP, and amplifiers. The results: 42% of vote to Speakers 33% of vote to Stereo 17% of vote to DSP 8% of vote to Amplifiers Now, while all of the choices above would play a role in effecting the audio quality, there is one that I believe makes the most noticeable difference hands down. Here is my list in order of least importance to highest. STEREO Ah…
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