Audio upgrade
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 45
Likes: 6
From: NJ, FL, MI
Audio upgrade
Looking to upgrade audio in my 08 base to include front/rear cameras plus audio including blue tooth and Sirius.
The speakers are fine and will remain.
just got a quote for nearly $1500; I was thinking Less than a grand - am I way off? The recommended unit is top of the line Kenwood.
frankly, I don’t need top of the line - the car is a DD & is 12 years old and I’m second owner. Quote was by Best Buy
only updating head bc I want the cameras- I can’t see s—t.
Any suggestions, recommendations welcome.
The speakers are fine and will remain.
just got a quote for nearly $1500; I was thinking Less than a grand - am I way off? The recommended unit is top of the line Kenwood.
frankly, I don’t need top of the line - the car is a DD & is 12 years old and I’m second owner. Quote was by Best Buy
only updating head bc I want the cameras- I can’t see s—t.
Any suggestions, recommendations welcome.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,767
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
You should call Crutchfield. Best Buy is a rip off and is always way overpriced. You don't need top of the line Kenwood for what you want. A mid-line Kenwood would serve you perfectly.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 269
From: Cape Canaveral Florida
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '26
NCM Lifetime Member
Agreed. Look at Crutchfield. You can pick up a mid-line Kenwood for half that price (and a lower line one for a third). Install it yourself ... Crutchfield will provide all the required adapters and wiring. I just installed the top-of-the-line 2019 unit plus XM for under a grand. (Although I bought a $15 backup cam from Amazon instead of paying for the $100 Kenwood unit and it works fine).
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
Likes: 6,527
From: Melbourne, FL
Difference in opinion here.
First off, no that's not that out of line for a double din, the integration harness you'll need, 2 cameras of non generic China quality, and install of all of that. You've got 100 bucks in harness alone, plus 4ish hours of install time, probably more.
Second, prices for the big stuff are pretty much set across the market. Best Buy, Crutchfield, etc are all selling stuff at the same price. You might get a dash kit for free from Crutchfield, but those are 20 bucks and Crutchfield can't install your stuff for you, let alone have trained professionals to do it.
Third, you need to assess your skill level before people start telling you to diy it and save money. It will cost you even more to have it done if you're started to bugger around with it, and the installer has to fix what you did and install stuff.
I say this as a guy who was a highly trained and certified installer for best buy in college. My store had the "honor" of specializing in fixing other shops mistakes who would offer to do it cheaper at first and stayed busy with that kind of business.
First off, no that's not that out of line for a double din, the integration harness you'll need, 2 cameras of non generic China quality, and install of all of that. You've got 100 bucks in harness alone, plus 4ish hours of install time, probably more.
Second, prices for the big stuff are pretty much set across the market. Best Buy, Crutchfield, etc are all selling stuff at the same price. You might get a dash kit for free from Crutchfield, but those are 20 bucks and Crutchfield can't install your stuff for you, let alone have trained professionals to do it.
Third, you need to assess your skill level before people start telling you to diy it and save money. It will cost you even more to have it done if you're started to bugger around with it, and the installer has to fix what you did and install stuff.
I say this as a guy who was a highly trained and certified installer for best buy in college. My store had the "honor" of specializing in fixing other shops mistakes who would offer to do it cheaper at first and stayed busy with that kind of business.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 45
Likes: 6
From: NJ, FL, MI
Thank you guys for the feedback.
I am not a DIYer; I am not gonna begin fooling around and then have a bigger issue than I started with
We just bought a house and furnished most appliances through BB and I gotta tell ya that they did a very thorough job on all set ups. Of course, nothing is free but at the end of the day, they did a super job.
They advertise a “free install” On the radio but after harnesses and other ancillary equipment, nothing is free.
I was asking just to see if the price was ballpark.
I'm grateful for the prompt feedback and info. I’ll let ya know how it worked out.
I am not a DIYer; I am not gonna begin fooling around and then have a bigger issue than I started with
We just bought a house and furnished most appliances through BB and I gotta tell ya that they did a very thorough job on all set ups. Of course, nothing is free but at the end of the day, they did a super job.
They advertise a “free install” On the radio but after harnesses and other ancillary equipment, nothing is free.
I was asking just to see if the price was ballpark.
I'm grateful for the prompt feedback and info. I’ll let ya know how it worked out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5,767
Likes: 2,968
From: Rural NW Georgia. GO DAWGS!
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
That is ballpark. I had a Sony installed with a rear camera on my 09 and the whole setup installed was just under $1200. I always use BB for my home theater needs but I have a local installer who is 10 minutes from my house so I contributed to a local merchant. I had a couple of issues post installation and they jumped right on them with no hassle.
Advanced
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 62
Likes: 32
I would consider going to a local small audio shop and see what they charge you. There's always room in the margins for someone to give you a deal, and local shops usually have accounts with distributors so they'll have access to different brands at a broader price range. You gotta figure ballpark cost of equipment:
Radio - 400
Faceplate - 40.00
Harness - 120.00
Cameras - 50 x 2
That's about 700 bucks. Add four hours for radio install, and 1-2 hours for the cameras at 75.00 an hour labor you are at roughly 1100.00. 1500 isn't too far off, but definitely on the high end.
Radio - 400
Faceplate - 40.00
Harness - 120.00
Cameras - 50 x 2
That's about 700 bucks. Add four hours for radio install, and 1-2 hours for the cameras at 75.00 an hour labor you are at roughly 1100.00. 1500 isn't too far off, but definitely on the high end.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 165
From: Lombard, IL (Chicago suburbs)
A quick shopping list on Crutchfield:
Kenwood DNR476S (cheapest kenwood in stock at Crutchfield): $599
Install Kit (with crutchfield discount): $80
two cameras: $50 per: $100
a day of labor to install it all @$65/hr. (quick google search shows Bestbuy charges $64.99 per labor unit, i assume thats an hour) = $520
$780 + $520 = 1300 add taxes, misc. shop supplies, etc. $1500 is an in the ballpark price. That being said, it's not hard to install a radio in these cars, plenty of documentation on how to disassemble the interior and once you get the harness built the radio itself is plug and play. The rear camera install is pretty straight forward, you will have to drill a hole in the tunnel of the trunk to fish the wire, I have never done a front mount camera to know what is involved with that.
Kenwood DNR476S (cheapest kenwood in stock at Crutchfield): $599
Install Kit (with crutchfield discount): $80
two cameras: $50 per: $100
a day of labor to install it all @$65/hr. (quick google search shows Bestbuy charges $64.99 per labor unit, i assume thats an hour) = $520
$780 + $520 = 1300 add taxes, misc. shop supplies, etc. $1500 is an in the ballpark price. That being said, it's not hard to install a radio in these cars, plenty of documentation on how to disassemble the interior and once you get the harness built the radio itself is plug and play. The rear camera install is pretty straight forward, you will have to drill a hole in the tunnel of the trunk to fish the wire, I have never done a front mount camera to know what is involved with that.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
Likes: 6,527
From: Melbourne, FL
I can tell you we charged 80 an hour back in 2010 or so. 65 is definitely not per hour. It might be 45 minutes, possibly a half hour.
FWIW, I fixed a number of c6s that got jacked up by other stores and local installers. You wouldn't believe how many people break the center console. Or give people the wrong harness.
FWIW, I fixed a number of c6s that got jacked up by other stores and local installers. You wouldn't believe how many people break the center console. Or give people the wrong harness.
Last edited by FAUEE; Aug 10, 2020 at 10:46 AM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 477
Likes: 130
From: El Dorado AR
A quick shopping list on Crutchfield:
Kenwood DNR476S (cheapest kenwood in stock at Crutchfield): $599
Install Kit (with crutchfield discount): $80
two cameras: $50 per: $100
a day of labor to install it all @$65/hr. (quick google search shows Bestbuy charges $64.99 per labor unit, i assume thats an hour) = $520
$780 + $520 = 1300 add taxes, misc. shop supplies, etc. $1500 is an in the ballpark price. That being said, it's not hard to install a radio in these cars, plenty of documentation on how to disassemble the interior and once you get the harness built the radio itself is plug and play. The rear camera install is pretty straight forward, you will have to drill a hole in the tunnel of the trunk to fish the wire, I have never done a front mount camera to know what is involved with that.
Kenwood DNR476S (cheapest kenwood in stock at Crutchfield): $599
Install Kit (with crutchfield discount): $80
two cameras: $50 per: $100
a day of labor to install it all @$65/hr. (quick google search shows Bestbuy charges $64.99 per labor unit, i assume thats an hour) = $520
$780 + $520 = 1300 add taxes, misc. shop supplies, etc. $1500 is an in the ballpark price. That being said, it's not hard to install a radio in these cars, plenty of documentation on how to disassemble the interior and once you get the harness built the radio itself is plug and play. The rear camera install is pretty straight forward, you will have to drill a hole in the tunnel of the trunk to fish the wire, I have never done a front mount camera to know what is involved with that.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 5
From: Seabrook Island South Carolina
FWIW, Kenwood DDX374BT $250 (with discount); back up camera $70 (with discount); installation of both including harnesses $375; total cost $695 (plus tax, which in South Carolina is outrageous) Done by Best Buy in the summer of 2017.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 630
Likes: 355
From: "Sweet Home" Alabama
The audio installers at BB are minimally trained at best and turnover is extremely high so chances are you are getting a greener who probably has never done a vette. I would NEVER let them touch any car I own nor would I purchase anything they sell these days.
Overpriced and simply too many horror stories of poor customer service these days.
Overpriced and simply too many horror stories of poor customer service these days.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
I can tell you we charged 80 an hour back in 2010 or so. 65 is definitely not per hour. It might be 45 minutes, possibly a half hour.
FWIW, I fixed a number of c6s that got jacked up by other stores and local installers. You wouldn't believe how many people break the center console. Or give people the wrong harness.
FWIW, I fixed a number of c6s that got jacked up by other stores and local installers. You wouldn't believe how many people break the center console. Or give people the wrong harness.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 1,962
From: Morris County New Jersey
I'm not knocking Best Buy's audio installers. Truth is the C6 is one of the easier cars to do a head unit and add cameras to. If you go to an audio shop, chances are they will charge you more and you will still get some kid working on your car. Stop in and talk to the installers. The guys at my local BB seemed more competent and helpful than an owner of a local audio shop I spoke to. I the end, I ended up doing a full audio upgrade myself. If you want to lower the price, choose a different Kenwood instead of the top of the line model. Kenwood has a lot of good mid level units that you would probably be happy with also and would drop the price a bit.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
I'm not knocking Best Buy's audio installers. Truth is the C6 is one of the easier cars to do a head unit and add cameras to. If you go to an audio shop, chances are they will charge you more and you will still get some kid working on your car. Stop in and talk to the installers. The guys at my local BB seemed more competent and helpful than an owner of a local audio shop I spoke to. I the end, I ended up doing a full audio upgrade myself. If you want to lower the price, choose a different Kenwood instead of the top of the line model. Kenwood has a lot of good mid level units that you would probably be happy with also and would drop the price a bit.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
Likes: 6,527
From: Melbourne, FL
That was best buy's shop rate. We were some of the busiest stores in Florida too. There was a period of time there we were busy enough to all day staff 3 installers and a desk attendant who handled our paperwork. Obviously those days are long gone.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
Likes: 6,527
From: Melbourne, FL
The audio installers at BB are minimally trained at best and turnover is extremely high so chances are you are getting a greener who probably has never done a vette. I would NEVER let them touch any car I own nor would I purchase anything they sell these days.
Overpriced and simply too many horror stories of poor customer service these days.
Overpriced and simply too many horror stories of poor customer service these days.
So yeah, your information is a generalization that's wrong.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 2,106
From: Left Coast, San Diego
My son’s dealership charges $125 an hour and gets it!