Do you regret all the money you have spent on car audio?

Jstas

A co-worker asked me for a copy of a Christmas Bass CD I have.

I asked him what he was planning to play it on because 75% of the musical information on the tracks of a bass CD occurs below 40 Hz. Most stock stereos, computer speakers and iPods can't play that. People then usually jack up thier tone control and volume settings to get the performance to hear less than half of that info. Even then, it's just a harmonic of the actual note that thier stereo is physically incapable of producing.

Well, we took it out to his Volkswagen which has a decent stock stereo and it sounded OK. The stereo performed better than I thought it would be he was really pushing it just to get the bass track audible. So I told him to grab the CD and head over to my truck so I could show him how much he was actually missing.

So we get in the truck, I started the engine so the amp would have enough power and not clip on the battery power alone. I immediatly clicked over to the heaviest track on the CD and let it play. The very first bass hit vibrated his shirt and started blowing his hair around. He was stunned to say the least, said it was too loud and got out. Stood in the parking lot right next to the truck and still said it was too loud.

So I shut it all down. We got out and I told him I'd make him a copy of the CD tonight if he still wanted me to. So he said yes and then he asked the question..."Why do you have that?" That started a discussion about my history with cars, electronics, stereos and so on and so forth. We got back into the office and a bunch of people were hanging around and we started discussing cost of the stereo and what I've spent over the years. My current stereo pales in cost comparison to the competition systems we set up before but they were still surprised at the price tag being over $4500. I think in total, over the past 14-15 years I've been **** around and the 3-4 years I competed, my expenditure has been about $25-40K. The total cost of all the projects and cars I worked on approaches 6 figures easily with all the setups for friends and such.

Of course, since they don't "get it", that is exhorbitant, wasteful and just plain stupid because that's enough money to buy a house. Then again, most of the cost came when I was in high school and college and a house was the farthest thing from my mind. Sure, it'd be nice to have that money now but I have no debt from those days, just spare equipment that I haven't desired to get rid of yet.

Do I regret it? No, not at all. I had a freaking blast doing it, learned valuable skills and picked up a small education in circuits, automotive electrical systems and loudspeaker design. I gained a keen interest in sound reproduction and the science behind it and met a ton of cool people and saw thousands of kick-**** rides.


So do you regret all the money you've dumped into your stereo?

Greg Peters

Though I haven't spent that much on my current system in the big picture (and it can only make your hair move a little bit), I don't regret a single penny.

Co-workers, family, friends don't get the attraction to aftermarket audio either.

I've actually spent a fair bit of time thinking about value per dollar spent on car audio, and for me every purchase/upgrade has yielded noticeably more enjoyment from the system- even in some places I didn't think would yield as big a payoff.

Let's face it- some people have a tin ear. My wife cannot distinguish any difference in sound quality in our current car setup over the factory tape deck and four speakers. Other than the overall volume level the system is capable of, she doesn't see any difference at all (or so she says, because she doesn't see car audio as a worthwhile investment). The tin ear types would see little benefit upgrading their audio over what comes stock.

For my purposes, I can honestly say that before I buy my next car, I'll have made sure that it's a suitable home for all of the audio upgrades I have planned for it, and that all of my desired equipment is guaranteed to fit.

ntculenuff

sometimes i think if i never heard that first after-market system 19 years ago i would have all that money i have spent on car audio electronics and sound improvements to misc. vehicles and then i go for a ride in my jeep and tell my self "YEAH IT WAS WORTH IT" and "i would do it all over again"

Co-workers, family, friends don't get the attraction to aftermarket audio either
Greg Peters

seems to be the normal some peeps just don't get

i always have a quiet chuckle to myself when i'm driving around bumpin like crazy and i see some one look, they think i'm just some punk with a bunch of bass but if they only knew that i have spent way too much money and time to get here

MacLeod

I dont regret a dime of it.

I got a lot for my money. Over the last 16 years Ive got not only a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction from designing and installing the systems but countless hours of enjoyment from listening to them.

Now that Im seriously competing, Im spending even more money. Tons more than I ever have before and I shudder to think about the amount Im going to spend this upcoming season. And ya know what? I dont regret a single dime of that either!

PolkThug

Don't regret a single penny.

joeaudio26

I haven't spent near as much as you guys have in car audio but i dont regret it either it's only money not like you can take it with you ya know!

my family thinks im crazy for this interest and think I wierd when thinking of purchasing more stuff lol... even my father calls me a nutt..at least im on the right BOLT !

spwuinmk67

I've spent my fair share in the realatively short time I've been in this hobby, and wouldn't trade it at all. Had a lot of fun, met a lot of cool people, and learned a lot too.

1996blackmax

I do not regret spending the money on this hobby.

Dennis Gardner

Not as much regret as the amount of $$$ I spent on my first two wives............

beardog03

not at all...I love music !

and I spend hours each day in bumper to bumper traffic.
It makes my day start off with great music and end the same way..

It also keeps the general public safer, as I have a harder time developing road rage when I`m smiling so much from the killer tunes that surround me..!

exalted512

i shudder to think what my current system costs...well, if everything was actually in my truck and not in the progress. Ive probably paid around $6000 for everything for my current system. Not including the new head unit I want to get which is going to be another grand. The sad thing is, all my amps and wiring were bought for 75% off MSRP, the radio was half off MSRP...everything else ive bought was at least 25% off MSRP...

and none of that even includes what ive spent on past systems...
-Cody

Home Theatre

No listening to music with mb quarts with two amps and a 2 12, made it all worth it.

PoweredByDodge

I would regret not having spent it.

To live life with a stock radio is -- hell I don't even have the words to describe it.

I'm a miserable human being; anyone who knows me can testify to that.

But when I sit in my truck, and I just let all that sweet sound wash over me, only then am I almost happy and content.

You can't put a price on that.

ND13

Not as much as all that cash I spent on my 14" penile implant;)

Kinda gets in the way and makes cloths fit funny.:D

Jstas

TMI dude, TMI.

ND13

Jstas wrote:

TMI dude, TMI.

Sorry, forgot that's not much shorter than you are.;)

J/K John!!!!:)

Jstas

Keep it up! Just don't cry about it when I decided to get mean!

AustinKP

I don't regret spending what I did either. I learned a ton about wiring, sound deadening, amping, fiberglassing, etc. Every time I get in my car, I just love how great my system sounds. Riding in anyone else's car with a stock system just makes me want to drive more.

exalted512

who are you?

black magic

You've all prolly experienced this, especially if you're still part of the younger crowd like I am... but I hate it when people hear a system and right away assume you're some dumb-**** punk trying to look cool and get attention. Theres nothing at all wrong with enjoying high quaility sound. its not just about seeing who can crack the pavement, its also about the pleasure and satisfaction you get from putting it all together.