Dallas Area Stereo Install??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Some DFW C5 owners have used Car Toys (there are several locations around the DFW area) with mixed results and satisfaction.
In my personal experience, Earmark's Parker Road stereo shop in Plano does good work. Earmark has one or more other DFW area locations, but I can't speak for the quality of the work at any location other than the Parker Road shop.
Based on my research, you should be prepared for an installer to charge upwards of $2K in labor alone (i.e. excluding all parts and stereo components) depending, of course, on what all you are going to change out.
I thought about having someone install my system, but ended up doing it myself. It was much less technically challenging than I feared, and I learned a LOT about the insides of my car.
I did the full Monty: gutted the interior and installed sound deadening, vibration dampening, and temperature insulation stuff; replaced all of the stock speakers with aftermarket ones, including subwoofers I located behind the seats, and relocated the door-mounted tweeters into the A pillars; installed a 900 watt 5 channel amp behind the passenger seat; installed a (Double DIN) Kenwood navigation head unit; and did all of the wiring for the entire system (except for running the power cord from the battery into the main cabin - a task that Earmark did for me a year earlier when I had them install my subwoofers). Except for the subwoofers and power cord, I bought all of my electronic components from Dennis at Double D Mods. Dennis was VERY helpful in talking me through some parts of the install.
There are many DIY, picture-heavy write-ups contributed by other forum members, and I shamelessly stole from them during my install. PM me if you want links to those write-ups and I will send them to you.
I had never opened up my interior prior to doing this project, and I have to say it was much easier than I had envisioned.
I would be happy to help you through this should you want to try it yourself. Just PM me and we can talk about it.
The Lizzard
In my personal experience, Earmark's Parker Road stereo shop in Plano does good work. Earmark has one or more other DFW area locations, but I can't speak for the quality of the work at any location other than the Parker Road shop.
Based on my research, you should be prepared for an installer to charge upwards of $2K in labor alone (i.e. excluding all parts and stereo components) depending, of course, on what all you are going to change out.
I thought about having someone install my system, but ended up doing it myself. It was much less technically challenging than I feared, and I learned a LOT about the insides of my car.
I did the full Monty: gutted the interior and installed sound deadening, vibration dampening, and temperature insulation stuff; replaced all of the stock speakers with aftermarket ones, including subwoofers I located behind the seats, and relocated the door-mounted tweeters into the A pillars; installed a 900 watt 5 channel amp behind the passenger seat; installed a (Double DIN) Kenwood navigation head unit; and did all of the wiring for the entire system (except for running the power cord from the battery into the main cabin - a task that Earmark did for me a year earlier when I had them install my subwoofers). Except for the subwoofers and power cord, I bought all of my electronic components from Dennis at Double D Mods. Dennis was VERY helpful in talking me through some parts of the install.
There are many DIY, picture-heavy write-ups contributed by other forum members, and I shamelessly stole from them during my install. PM me if you want links to those write-ups and I will send them to you.
I had never opened up my interior prior to doing this project, and I have to say it was much easier than I had envisioned.
I would be happy to help you through this should you want to try it yourself. Just PM me and we can talk about it.
The Lizzard
Last edited by LoneStarLizzard; Apr 28, 2014 at 09:01 PM.
