DAMN IT!!! I am absolutely SICK and TIRED of SH***Y install work. I spent $500 for a so-called reputable shop in Toronto to install my two amps and two woofers in a box already built in my car...a little expensive for the work involved I thought but I paid it, so whatever.

Last week my subs go out...I figure its the amp...blown. Somebody suggests that it might be the sub wiring having come disconnected. I think, "unlikely", as I assumed the connections were soldered...why? because I have a Rockford 1500bd driving 2 12-inch Image Dynamics IDQs...tons of power...lots of pressure inside the box. So I hook up an extra speaker to the amp today...it work!!! So it must NOT be the amp...MUST be the sub wiring!!!

So I pull out the sub...not only were the two subs wired using speed clips, the speed clips were all LOOSE. Even worse, this shop used 12 guage speaker wire from the amp to the first sub and then used 20 GUAGE from the first sub to the second sub and to wire each sub together. WTF!!!!!!!!!!

I specifically asked the owner of the shop about what kind of wire they used on my subs and he said "good 12-guage stuff"...ya, for half the job!!!!

Keep in mind that all this is after they swore after installing my subs that I had a leak in my box and that I would need a new box. I later found out that the leak was because they DIDN'T seal the hole where the speaker wire goes into the box!!!!!

Needless to say, I am absolutely beside myself right now. Tomorrow the owner of the shop gets a call from me. I either get what I want or I begin a one-man crusade to destroy hurt this guy's business.

FB

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Alpine 9811/S620 w/ Optical Out<br />Alpine PXA-H700<br />Rockford Fosgate 750x<br />Rockford Fosgate bd1500<br />Image Dynamics CD2 HCLDs<br />Image Dynamics CX6 6.5s<br />Image Dynamics IDQ12 2-ohm DVC v.2 12s

Jeez, that sucks FB

You're pissed off right now and I can understand that. But before you talk to this guy do whatever it is you gotta do to get over that part of it. Clear your head, and then make a list of the defaults you've found, go back to him and calmly go over the list and that you expect more for a $500 install, and would be happy to let them finish the job at their earliest convenience.

You'll be respected for keeping your cool, but firm with your concerns.

Good luck man [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

Gene

I agree.

There is nothing more frustrating then handing over money but in return getting less than expected results. Just keep your calm when talking to them, and if they don't want you telling everyone how much they suck they'll help you out! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

That is exactly the reason I started installing all my stuff myself! what put me over the edge was when this shop didn't know how to wire DVC subs. I went out and bought 2 new subs so they tossed them in my box. Im like ok cool customer service. driving home smoke starts pouring out of my box.. my one sub blew. It was cause the dumbasses there hooked the + and - from the amp to the same v/c, then hooked up the other v/c to the second sub. so basically i was powering 1/2 a 500 rms sub with a j/l 500/1.. needless to say i went got my sb replaced and never went back there!

I wish I could do more myself...but I don't have all the equipment and just don't seem to have the time.

The funny thing is, when I went to pick up my car, the owner invited my back to take a look. I was watching the installer finish up...asked a few questions, including, did you seal up the hole where the speaker wire goes into the box. The installer says, "of course." Then the owner asks me to go back out to the waiting area so that I am not "looking over the installer's shoulder."

Well, no wonder I was looking over his shoulder!!!I'm not sure if it was incompetence, lack of care or just trying to swindle me. Anyway, I will report back when I talk to the owner today.

FB

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Alpine 9811/S620 w/ Optical Out<br />Alpine PXA-H700<br />Rockford Fosgate 750x<br />Rockford Fosgate bd1500<br />Image Dynamics CD2 HCLDs<br />Image Dynamics CX6 6.5s<br />Image Dynamics IDQ12 2-ohm DVC v.2 12s

Spoke to the owner of the shop today...his reponses were:

1. They used speed clips to connect the speaker wire to the subs because soldering the wires to sub leads would a) void the warranty on the subs and b) potentially could damage the voice coil because of the heat of the soldering process.

Now, this makes sense to me intuitively, but I have been in car audio for 20 years and have NEVER EVER heard someone say that they don't solder sub leads becasue of potential damage. To me, that is like saying that you shouldn't screw a sub to the baffle because you might put the screw driver through the cone.

Has anybody ever heard this before?

And even if this is the case, there must be a better means by which to connect speaker wire to the sub leads than loose-fitting speed clips. I mean, these things fell off the speaker leads.

2. The reason that they used 20-guage wire from one sub to the other and to wire the voice coils of each sub together was because, the owner claims, you just don't need heavy guage wire for you subs.

I won't get into an argument about the merits of large/small guage wire, but suffice it to say, why would you use large guage wire coming out of the amp only to use small guage wire from one speaker to another???

Anyway, he said he would "take care of me" and agreed to solder the sub wires for me.

Frustrated...

FB

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Alpine 9811/S620 w/ Optical Out<br />Alpine PXA-H700<br />Rockford Fosgate 750x<br />Rockford Fosgate bd1500<br />Image Dynamics CD2 HCLDs<br />Image Dynamics CX6 6.5s<br />Image Dynamics IDQ12 2-ohm DVC v.2 12s

That is truly lame: when a shop agrees to fix a mistake they think they never made [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]

I'm suprised the ID sub had simple, lowly speed clip terminals (you are talking spade lugs right?). Most subs of decent quality will have some kind of push terminal like binding posts or banana plugs so there is a spring-forced friction fit. Any installer that isn't a complete hack would have at the very least taken his pliers and squeezed the spade onto the lug so it was tight after putting it on.

And the whole wire thing is unreal. You just don't do things like that.

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My Sounddomain Page: http://www.cardomain.com/id/sux2bu99
97 Avenger ES, 90 Daytona, 02 Neon R/T, 85 Chevy Silverado, 88 Mustang GT, various projects and gear, 05 Magnum R/T, 66 Cadillac hearse

The IDQ V.2s only have leads for spade connectors. No "terminals"...still a great sub though.

I agree, AT LEAST clamp the spades down...what if a pos and neg lead had fallen off and touched each other while driving the amp at full power...I would imagine the amp could have (would have?) blown.

FB

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Alpine 9811/S620 w/ Optical Out<br />Alpine PXA-H700<br />Rockford Fosgate 750x<br />Rockford Fosgate bd1500<br />Image Dynamics CD2 HCLDs<br />Image Dynamics CX6 6.5s<br />Image Dynamics IDQ12 2-ohm DVC v.2 12s

i
would tell them that i want my money back
and that they were not getting into my again.
they tried to scam you and they got caught.
so they either give up the money or you call the
news paper.

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ALPINE 9815 IN DASH AND CHANGER<br />ZCS 6.5 COMPONENTS<br />PPI A600.2<br />PPI A1200.2<br />2 JL 12W4<br /> =149.7 Db

Cerwin Vega used to have a disclaimer in the box that if a woofer was returned with any evidence of solder on the lugs then they would not warranty it. Minor point and I'm not so sure they still have the policy.

Spades should be crimp tightened so they stay on well. Past there I have hot glued the spade on after seating it just for security. Tie strapping the cable to the frame of the woofer relieves the strain on the spades too so they are less likely to vibrate off.

A BD1500 deserves better than 18ga wire