SUMMARY:
I couldn't recommend this shop any more strongly. I brought my vehicle to them for a complex job which over 50 shops had told me was impossible (1 shop said they could do it, but that I would lose a lot of the features I wanted to keep and it would cost $3,000+), and even though we hit a few speed bumps in the process the finished product is AMAZING.
Other notes:
* Able to do what 50+ other shops told me was impossible!
* Maybe the most knowledgeable personnel I've ever encountered
* EXTREMELY friendly and awesome staff
* Large shop with tons of inventory, though limited on powered-on displays
* If you need a complex job, make sure you give them time to do it. The end result is extremely high quality - but quality and detail takes time, too!
DETAIL:
I bought a 2015 Honda Crosstour EX-L in March of this year. The car has a weird but very cool dual-screen setup, with cameras displaying on top and the stereo in the middle of the dash. I was worried that my preferred stereo equipment would not work in the car because of the dual screens (not to mention it uses a CAM BUS and integrates a lot of crucial features into the stereo), but when I called 4 car audio shops near where I lived at the time, three told me they could "definitely" do the work.
So I bought the car ... annnnnnnnnnd of course, all 3 shops then told me it could not be done!!!
After pouting for a couple of weeks, I got to work calling every car audio shop in SoCal, trying to find someone who could do it. After about 50 phone calls, I spoke with JT at Advanced Car Stereo. JT not only told me it could be done - he said that they had done it several times, and provided me with enough detail that I believed him.
It was an expensive job which entailed about a day and a half of work - but at this point I was excited to find someone who could do it, and had no qualms with the $1500ish price tag (which included a small 5 channel amp and an 8" kicker sub to replace the weak factory one).
From the beginning, JT stressed that he needed time with the car, but I pushed him to get it done faster since I lived far away and was going to have to rent a car. The job was completed on schedule at the end of the fourth day, but there was a laundry list of problems having to do with lost functionality, appearance of the fiberglassed kit and so forth.
I scheduled an appointment to come back in a week later, but asked for same-day service and then I got stuck in traffic and arrived late. Still, they were able to fix a few of the simpler problems - but didn't have enough time to handle the complex ones. So we set a third appointment for a future date when their lead installer had returned from surgery, and when I had time to leave the vehicle for a few extra days.
Now you might think I was unhappy at this point, but I really wasn't. It's true that the job was far from perfect - but the system DID work, which everybody else said was impossible, and the staff were extremely friendly and trying very hard to correct the issue. In all honesty, I think they were more concerned with the issues than I was. I kind of went into this expecting it not to be perfect, all things considered - but they are perfectionists, and didn't like the idea that it wasn't.
Anyway, I returned for my third appointment this week. As had been the case before, they stressed that they wanted some extra time with the car. We agreed on four full days (with a fifth half day if necessary).
As the car was nearing completion, the installer (James) texted me photos and kept me updated on when it would be completed. And when I got to the shop to pick up the car, my jaw pretty much dropped.
It was a night and day difference. Even though, as mentioned above, I was willing to accept the install as it was (I just wanted the bugs worked out) they did a complete tear-down and reinstall, and this was absolutely amazing. The install literally looks completely factory, with every feature now working perfectly, and the stereo tuning had been improved, giving the car a richer and more vibrant sound.
Even though it took a while to get it done, the finished result far, FAR exceeded my expectations. It's hands-down the nicest, cleanest install job I've had in any vehicle I've owned (and I've owned a lot) - and that for a job which everyone else said was impossible.
(BTW. in case you're wondering, the only additional expense incurred after the initial installation was just a few tips - and honestly I wish I'd had enough cash to tip James more than I did at the final pickup, because he did such an amazing job!)
Anyway, bottom line: these guys are truly the best, with two different installers who were both able to pull off an 'impossible' job, and they have an absolute commitment to perfection which commands respect - and our business! read more