Sound in Motion is the best! I have nothing but great things to say about them. I recently had a state-of-the-art BlackVue dash cam installed in my car by Sound in Motion. While I normally spend a lot of time researching purchases and services before making a decision, I had heard so many positive things about Sound in Motion that I simply asked Jim Cavanaugh, the store manager, for his recommendation. I trusted Jim's expertise completely, and that decision proved to be 100% correct. Jim, Sound in Motion owner Derek Kenney, and one of their highly skilled technicians worked on my vehicle, and the results were spectacular. The BlackVue Elite 10 dash cam they installed is outstanding, and the installation itself was flawless, professional, and pristine. When it comes to car audio and video in New England, I can't think of anyone better than Sound in Motion. What surprised me even more was learning that Sound in Motion is also a high-end detailing shop. While I was there, I watched their expert detailer work her magic on a large 2019 SUV. After performing paint correction and applying a ceramic coating, the vehicle looked better than new. I was genuinely amazed by her skill, work ethic, and attention to detail. During a brief conversation, it was clear that she is passionate about her craft, and that dedication is reflected throughout the entire organization. I truly can't say enough good things about Sound in Motion. As someone who remembers the former Watertown, Massachusetts audiophile institution, Rich's Car Tunes, I wouldn't have thought it possible for another shop to fill that role. Yet, Sound in Motion has done exactly that. First-class service, first-class workmanship, and first-class people. Sound in Motion has earned my highest recommendation. read more

Amazing shop to work with. Really the entire crew is friendly and passionate about what they do. I've brought multiple vehicles here. The work is flawless. They fixed the audio in my vehicle and I am hearing notes in the music that I haven't heard in forever. Also one of the best details/wraps my car has ever gotten. Couldn't recommend them more. read more

I bought a car camera with installation from them - which was excellent quality and functionality. They completed the fast and neatly and were generous with their time in showing me how to use it after the installation. I appreciate their professionalism. read more

When I was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago and lost mobility and speech, music became even more central to my life. One of the few pleasures that I could fully experience. We got a ramp van that could accept my power wheelchair, but it had just the basic factory system, and because the interior was stripped, there was a lot of road noise. I worked with Jim, and he created a system to truly make the van rock. It includes sound deadening, a full sound system upgrade, and new nav and phone system. The result is spectacular. It was an investment, but worth every penny. I can't speak highly enough of Jim and the whole SIM team. The quality of the work and their attention to detail is absolutely top notch. Nick Noyes 2012 Toyota Sienna RampVan conversion Sound deadening, full sound system, navigation read more

I had Apple CarPlay installed in my 2017 Lexus RX 350. The team at Sound in Motion are great to work with, and I would highly recommend updating the infotainment system if you have an older car. read more

Had a new display panel installed that is compatible for CarPlay. It's awesome! Top notch customer service both before and after install. Jim was great. Very nice and took the time to answer my questions and help me decide on what system would be best for what I was looking for. Even after it was installed he helped show me how to use it and even followed up with a phone call to make sure everything was working to my satisfaction. I also had my EZ Pass transponder painted black which I didn't even consider as something worth doing until I had them do it. It looks really cool and is no longer an eye sore on my windshield - basically invisible! These guys are true professionals and I would recommend them to anyone. read more

Derek and Jim were more than happy to help install a custom Bluetooth set up for my 2001 e39 M5 that replaces my CD changer. Also in the past I had a remote starter installed by Derek on my 2011 X5 35d without loosing any of my factory keys . Did an amazing clean job. Thank you! Charlie read more

Sound in Motion - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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After making several inquiries with other detailers, met with the team at Car Done Boston. They spent ample time explaining the process for ceramic coating (feynlab) and the application of the PPF (xpel). Listened to my needs and tailor made a package that was perfect for my new car. Jim was in touch on regular basis with updates and readily available for all of my questions. Nicole hit the ball out of the park with her expertise in paint correction prep and application of the ceramic coating. I had them apply PPF as well as window tinting while they had the car. The car looks fantastic!!! I don't have a picture to add but if you go to their IG account @car_done_boston just look for the Volvo XC60!!! read more

I've been to a lot of custom car audio shops over the years and Sound In Motion is the one I'll go back to. I regret wasting time and money elsewhere, because this shop is the only place that did things right. The speakers, amp and install work they put in my car sound absolutely incredible and I haven't run into any problems. Jim worked with me for a long time providing advice and options for my car and never steered me wrong. If you're in the area, this is the place to go. read more

I contacted Sound In Motion in January before I bought my car. I previously owned a 2006 Honda Accord coupe which I did after market audio system upgrade on. I have always been an audiophile and always knew that any car I buy MUST have the sound system upgraded. So I found a good deal on a 2018 Honda CR-V Touring AWD and I requested quotes from about 20 car audio shops. Some didn't respond to me. Some responded late. Some responded and I could tell they didn't know what they were talking about. I also read reviews of all these companies to find out what the negative reviews said cos I was not going to hand my brand new car to anyone that would mess it up. Long story short, I finalized my search and decided to give the project to Sound In Motion. Mind you I was handing them a 2018 Honda CR-V and I was comfortable cos every time I visited their shop, they were always working on cars that were much more expensive than mine so I figured they must know what they are doing to be trusted with such expensive cars. We had sound deadening applied to all doors. We had an amplifier and DSP installed and also changed all the speakers in all doors. The manager, Jim, made suggestions along the way which I layer found out saved me money plus was more bang for my buck. I went with their suggestion on almost everything even tho I had my own background in audio upgrades. Their suggestions turned out to be better than my own. We also finalized it by adding a double sealed subwoofer. I've had the car about two weeks now and I really wanted to wait before leaving a review. I am very happy with my decision. They also sent me photos periodically of the progress they were making When you're handing keys to your new investment to any company to work on, you have to give it to people you trust. Their store has a bunch of trophies showing the numerous awards they have won. Although they may not be the cheapest company but they agreed to work with my budget and remember you get what you pay for. I am truly satisfied with my investment and i highly recommend these guys. You can watch a short video review of my car here https://youtu.be/2puvKEOaF_A read more

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After looking through Yelp for a reputable shop to install my new digital media receiver, I finally decided on Sound in Motion with what turned out to be great service and results. Jim scheduled me for an appointment and everything went smoothly without a hitch while I waited at a nearby coffee shop. The labor rate isn't the cheapest, but you do indeed get your money's worth as the installation was very clean! Years ago when I didn't know any better, I picked up a Pioneer receiver from Best Buy and had their guys install it since it was included with the purchase. Simply put, Jim and the team at Sound In Motion blew them out of the water. Having to route the Bluetooth microphone around the windshield was a concern as well and a job that I'd be wary of trusting to electronics retail employees. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these guys to anyone for car audio work and would be happy to return if I decide to have more done on my car. read more

Being in the car audio business myself, I can vouch for the quality of this shop's work. They are prompt and professional!

This will be my second system installed by Sound in Motion. They are so much better than advertised. It's one of those places that as you drive away your first thought is that this was worth it at even twice the price. They are the consummate professionals! read more

I had a custom stereo and apple carplay installed. Received a detailed estimate, and work was done on time and with professionalism. Very pleasant guys to deal with, too. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again or recommend them to a friend. High end audio, with prices to match. But in this case you really do get what you pay for. Excellent! read more

Fantastic overall experience. I needed a part for my remote starter. I called a bunch of similar companies and none would not sell me just the part. Instead, the others would only sell me the part if they did the installation. Sound in Motion sold me the part and triple checked to make the part was compatible. Based on the knowledgable staff and eagerness to help me, I strongly recommend Sound in Motion. read more

I have had three head units with navigation and backup cameras installed by SIM. Top notch work!

This is a bit over due. This is easily the best car audio dealer in the region, if not simply one of the best in the country. I visited a half dozen shops in New England. Most were installers with no clue about sound. A few, who posited they knew sound quality and how to deliver it came up wanting. But the moment I sat in Derek's Porsche and heard what the crew at Sound in Motion could do and I knew this place is something special. I've been into high end home audio for 25 years. Tube amps, exotic DACs, dynamic, horn and electrostatic speakers. And the moment I heard what these guys could do with Sinfoni amps and speakers and I knew this was the place. The ultimate sound they delivered is transcendental. I've heard $100k+ home audio high end rigs that don't sound as good. Dynamic, pure, clean, sweet, transparent, Revealing without being overbearing. A musical sound with seemingly limitless dynamics. But with an effortless sense of tone, timbre and color. And the journey getting to that was delivered by guys who are enthusiastically obsessed with delivering it. Friendly, responsive and genuinely passionate about what they do. If this reads like they paid me to say it, the opposite is true. It wasn't cheap, but it was more competetive than what other people wanted to charge for their labor alone. Great gear, great people and great results for a price that was more than reasonable given the results they delivered.. read more

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Shipped my new Tesla from Florida to Watertown and had them do paint correction, ceramic coating, a spoiler and and several other aftermarket accessories which they installed. The car was immaculate when I received it back and I could not be happier, especially with the professional way setting up and appointment and have the car done on time. Great shop Great people. read more

Derek from Sound In Motion is the real deal in problem solving. He was instrumental in resolving a problem Mercedes had no idea they had. After purchasing an S Cab Mercedes with the upgraded Burmester HD audio system and complaining to the dealer about lack of clarity and definition from the audio system the dealer did not know what to do and elevated the issue to MBUSA. They [ MBUSA ] ran comparisons to identical models and the audio systems in similar models with the HD Burmester were all equally poor in definition. Although there was not a blatant audio failure, the sound was underwhelming and not what a premium audio system should sound like. It is difficult to understand how the poor audio quality problem went unnoticed by so many for so long . MBUSA wanted to assist however they were clueless as they kept comparing it to the poor audio reproduction of similar vehicles which became their new standard audio experience. After great frustration , I contacted Burmester and Daimler in Germany and they wanted to know the settings , software version and firmware. They reported the Burmester system is known for sound clarity and definition which was their hallmark - far from what I had. After discussion with Derek , Germany sent a new amp with updated firmware and software to the dealer directly. Burmester wanted an experienced person who could take RTA [ Real Time Analyzation ] of a pink noise source before and after the amplifier swap and Derek was the person. I had worked with Derek from Sound in Motion at the dealers for close to a full day. This situation was unique insofar as we had to juggle the dealer , requests for specific data from Germany , pretests , post tests and final observations. The dealer [ Flagship Motorcars ] was great and after the updated software , firmware and amplifier change there is now a lot more clarity and definition in the sound stage as well as more defined instrument placement. It is unknown if it is a software , firmware or hardware problem however it is now fixed thanks to Derek at Sound in Motion , Daimler and Burmester. Its unfortunate several other vehicles continue to have such poor audio clarity when they really shouldn't. Anyone can change parts , Derek took the time to research and become a detective to ascertain the cause and solution. This was a unique situation that MBUSA could not solve or even acknowledge, Derek was part of the fix. Thanks Derek, read more

My experience with Sound in Motion has been magnificent. I had a custom sound system installed into my Tacoma back in March 2020. When I got the truck back, I looked inside and it was as if nothing happened. Extremely clean install. I had Dynamat Extreme sound deadening installed in all 4 doors and the back wall of the Tacoma, as well as inside the subwoofer box. Everyone comments that the truck cabin is very quiet and is comparable to riding in a luxury vehicle. This is what really brings out the high quality speakers the SIM team put together. There was a minor tweak we had to make, which is typical of high end sound systems, due to a faulty tweeter. The process of narrowing down the problem was time consuming, but the SIM team was stellar! I ended up jumping at the chance to go ahead and upgrade the front speakers. All I can say is wow, I'm so happy I did! Jim, whom I dealt with, is a very professional, honest and fair individual. I would highly recommend Sound in Motion for all of your vehicle upgrade needs. They just moved to Watertown into an awesome space. I'll definitely be back for other work I'll need in the future! I'm honored & pleased to have a sound system designed and installed by the Sound in Motion team! read more

Well i had emailed them to get a quote on Dashcam installation and hardwiring it to the car. I told them that i have the camera and the hardwire kit. They quoted me a price of 360$ to $480 saying its about 3-4 hours of labor plus $20 in parts. I had emailed and called 8-10 other car stereo and audio solutions shops within 25 miles and got every shop said it would be 1 hour of labor at the max with no parts since i had the hardwire kit. The labor quote from all shops was between $75 to $100. I emailed them back regarding this and they say " inorder to perform to our standards it would take atleast 3-4 hours" Sure if that includes doing installation in the car within the hour, taking a nap for an hour, going for lunch and being proud of how you ripped the customer off. I chose another shop and got it done for $80. Perfect Professional installation. Even videos on youtube show it does not take more than 35-55 minutes to do it depending on your expertise and skill level. Total RIPOFF. STAY Away..... SCAMMERS for exaggerating the installation time. read more

These guys at sound In motion are the best in the business. I grew up in the 80's in Allston/Brighton and at that time they installed a top of the line rockford fosgate punch series audio system in my car and attracted large crowds at my high school and set off numerous car alarms along the way. I also remember these guys winning competions in South Florida literally "bouncing quarters" off their cars from all the bass. They are legends!!! read more

Ok, it's a little bit like having "Bill & Ted" work on your car....but, not only did they know their stuff (and, this is speaking from someone who knows the same stuff, so I know they weren't BS'ing me), but they had all the stuff in house ready to go. Check this out... I go to Tweeter to get a head deck for one of my cars that supports Sirius and an iPod dock with a reasonable display. They have the Alpine model I wanted...I talk to the guy, he says...we can schedule you in 2 weeks to look at your car to see if we can do the job. I tell them the car make/model and they say...no, we don't have the wiring harness for that. ...I drive down to SiM to see if they have the harness (I was going to buy it and take it back to Tweeter to schedule the appointment for the appointment for the actual install), walk in...its the first sorta snowy weekend in December...I see the same Alpline head deck in their tiny little showroom. I point at it and say -- do you have an Alpine harness for -- I point again -- that car? They did. And they had the head deck. And they had no appointments that day...so, they just did it. Like that. In 2 hours. Hell...they buried the cables, didn't drill where they weren't supposed to, hid the Sirius antenna...and cleaned up their mess. Awesome. Absolutely awesome. 5 points for just existing, +5000 points for excellent service is this piss-poor service world we find ourselves in. read more

Incredible RIP OFF of a shop. WOOOWW.... Over CHARGING BY TWICE IF NOT THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT compared to " MOBILE TINT SHOP " and "PARKWAY SOUND & security. I called for a quick quote on basic simple speaker replacement for the rear deck of my car, and the conversation lasted less than what it took me to dial because of their labor charges. I emailed and told him that I thought they had BRUTAL prices compared to the shops mentioned above. The guy said it would be around 200$ I wouldn't pay 200$ or more for something I've been quoted for at other shops at 75$ or 100$ flat rate for the entire job. The employee looked up my number on the caller ID when I had called for the quote 10 minutes earlier and CALLED ME JUST TO ARGUE. What a horrible place I dare not call a shop. If you absolutely love to, and have money to waste and money to throw out for free this is the place I recommend. I don't work for any other shops, I'm not advertising any other shops. I personally don't make money out of writing this review. Just truly disgusted enough with the fact that they would call me to argue and not reason with me. Made me want to take my sweet time and downloading yelp. Making an account and writing this review just to warn others like myself, who look for reviews on horrible shops like this one. I was not asking for rocket science, I was only asking to have two speakers replaced. But hey thanks. Not only do they have horrible pricing, they also have horrible employees and horrible customer service skills as well. read more

I've had Sound in Motion do work and installations on my car for several years. I was referred to them by my boss, who has also had them do a number of installations on several of his cars.The owner Jim continually takes care of everything time and time again professionally, courteously and with great technical proficiency. I've had several pieces of equipment installed. The work was done quickly and cleanly both times. The price was pretty goddamn good too. I've only had two problems with the equipment, one with each respective one (just needing to reset the system), and both times Jim had me come in and did it quickly and at no cost. I actually just signed up for Yelp for the single purpose of writing a good review for Sound in Motion. If every company functioned the way Sound in Motion did and every owner was as attentive and gave as good of service as Jim, Yelp simply would not need to exist. In other words, they're the shit. Next time you need lighting, sound, video, Bluetooth, radio or anything else done to your car, give them a call!!!! read more

I recently went to Sound In Motion and had a Kenwood after-market navigation system installed into my 2014 Subaru Outback. The manager, Jim, is a friendly guy and very helpful. He provided me with a lot of information and even went so far as to call up the company that makes the installation kit to ensure we had the correct model that would fit properly. Pros: -great customer service; they answered my calls or called me back very quickly -honest; I didn't feel like I was getting cheated or taken advantage of -prime location in Packards corner, easily accessible to bus (57) and green B line -knowledgeable; I call 3-4 other shops and these guys clearly seemed to be the most knowledgeable about car audio/nav installations Cons: -I thought the prices were on the high-side (which is why I took off 1 star). Note: if you purchase the equipment/hardware from SiM they will discount $10 off your hourly labor rate. This would've saved me about $40, so give them a call before you purchase anything from Best Buy, Amazon, etc. -Its a very small shop, just a single-bay garage, so you need to be flexible in when you can drop-off and pick-up your car Overall: Definitely would recommend. read more

Sound in Motion is incredible. Owner and store manager Jim is professional, experienced, knows audio inside and out, and full of integrity. I've had at least a half-dozen car audio shops do audio work on my car, and Sound in Motion is the first that I've encountered who really understand acoustics and how to make a car sound amazing. These guys have won an International sound quality competition, and the quality of their work shows it. I went to them to "improve" the lackluster job from my prior installation. I was looking for a small improvement, and they took the sound quality in my Audi s4 to a whole 'nother dimension! They built amazing kick panels in MDF for my morel midrange and Supremo tweeter, put some 8" Dynaudio midbass drivers in the door, dynamatted everything just right, and made my sub-box rock solid and integrated with the car's chassis. The install work is so clean that it looks like it came this way from the factory! I have very high standards when it comes to audio, and Jim, Darren and crew have thoroughly exceeded my expectations. They are now my car audio shop for life. Highly, highly recommended for any car audio project. read more

Sound in Motion installed remote start in my 2017 BMW X5 and I couldn't be happier! The system that they installed not only works amazing, but they also detailed and organized my car. Definitely will be using them again. read more

These guys are great. Memorial Day was looming. We were driving down to see friends in Brooklyn, and I realized that we'd finally need to replace the car stereo (the last one kicked in the worst possible way--it stopped recognizing the signal from the i-pod). I called, I got a cheap quote, I asked them if we could get in on that Friday and although they were a little backed up he said they could if I brought it by first thing, I did, I got breakfast at the Allston Diner (see separate review), I came back, we chatted about other types of sound improvements we could make to the car--which he was not at all pushy about... basically it was all good. I'm probably a little biased because thanks to these guys we didn't have to listen to A Prairie Home Companion on various channels with various amounts of static the whole way down to New York. Think about it. read more

Sound in Motion installed a unit in my 2016 M-B GLC that lets me use Apple CarPlay, which is a wonderful upgrade from the awful Mercedes system for playing music and podcasts from an iPhone. And Waze works as well, overall, as the built-in navigation. Jim made sure my particular car was compatible with the add-on unit and did a first class job of installing it. It took about 6 hours and it's not inexpensive, but this shop does excellent work. It has a top reputation for good reason. read more

If you want great,efficient,affordable service....then look no further!!! I had always driven past their store but never really had a need for them until recently. I bought a new stereo for a used car i bought. I made an appointment that same week and brought the car in. the staff was friendly and helpful. When i went down to pick up my car they informed me that 2 of my speakers were blown and they made time for me and installed a new set for me within the same morning. Great place to get your car needs met. I now understand why the yelp reviews are so awesome. You'd be foolish to go anywhere else. Thanks guys cheers read more

Just awesome. Fixed the backup camera while we waited, can't ask for the better service.

After my father, "Mister Fix-it" made a sad attempt to put in a new head unit for my car, I pulled up to SIM with a nice new Pioneer unit I bought at Best Buy and a pathetic look of desperation. They looked over my father's horrible wiring job (that did not really work) and giggled a little. Told me to come back in a few hours and BOOM. done. perfect. Even rearranged where the head unit was positioned in relation to a built-in CD holder without breaking the little door (which ALWAYS breaks in these things). Did an AWESOME respectable job for a reasonable price. Has anyone ever gone to them for custom wheel packages? I'm looking for a good place. read more

The guys here are great. Did a full sound system on my classic car. Built out custom made panels and made sure that I put the right system in my car. When the remote sensor was removed by my mechanic and he couldn't get it hooked up and working correctly, I brought my car back. They repaired the minor damage and wouldn't take any payment. These guys are the best and deserve all the great reviews!! read more

Sound in Motion installed the best possible stereo upgrade in my 2020 Jeep Wrangler! Sounds absolutely incredible, looks 100 % perfect OEM. Very high end components and amp. SIM team could not have been more professional and responsive from my first inquiry (several very specific options to choose from), right though pick-up (personal demonstration and explanation of system and install). Thank you SIM and I plan to bring all my cars to SIM for upgrades.... I could not recommend SIM more highly! read more

Awesome auto cosmetic surgery place. If you love your car, this is the place to bring for any installations or upgrades. Good service!.

I don't know much about car stereos, I just know that my 1999 Toyota had a verrrrry old one, including am/fm, CD and tape deck. After deciding I couldn't afford to buy a new car, I decided to see how expensive it would be to give my old piece of junk a little face-lift. It turns out that for $250 in parts (including the new stereo, special wires and a heavy duty iPod connector) and $200 in labor I could get a stereo that has: 1) bluetooth and a noise cancelling microphone - I can make hands-free calls and hear them on my speakers now! 2) with the bluetooth, I can also stream pandora, youtube and other stuff from my iPhone without having to connect anything 3) a built-in USB I can use to play my iPod and to charge my iPhone or iPod 4) CD and AM/FM radio Now I could have paid a heck of a lot more for something with backup cameras, DVD, and navigation, but for the last one I can just use google maps on my iPhone and use the bluetooth to have the lady tell me where to go on my speakers. Now on to the service. Jim was great, sent me four quotes the same day I spoke with him. We scheduled the service for the following day at 3pm, and it was done by 4:15pm. The folks there, including Derek, and another person that actually installed my stereo were knowledgeable and professional. The person that installed the stereo walked me through the functionality and helped me connect my phone via the bluetooth. I highly recommend. read more

These guys were great. I called in to get a quote for a remote start (Jim quoted approx $400-$50). I made an appointment for my wife's car (a Honda CRV) - brought the car in at 8:30 on a monday morning and they did a perfect install and I picked it up at 4:30 that same day. They had to take out an old non working remote (which took a little bit) With all taxes etc - the final bill was approx $475. great quick professional service. The place was also easy to find and local. read more

I hated the sound of my BMW 4 series base system, so I shopped around a few different places looking to upgrade it. Jim at SIM was very friendly and knowledgeable. He also had previous experience with BMWs and was able to quickly outline several different options I could go for. I scheduled an appointment with them to get the work done, and in the meantime, did some research of my own on the components that Jim suggested. He was incredibly responsive over e-mail, answered all my questions, and we quickly agreed on what they were going to do. I dropped my car off on Monday morning, and got it back the next evening. When we first sat inside the car turned on the sound, I was literally blown away. For the last couple of days I've been driving around grinning ear to ear. The whole system just sounds phenomenal. I am highly recommending these guys -- very nice, responsive, and they do an awesome job! read more

Good prices, professional service, and fast. Got a new radio installed in our old Honda after our toddler filled the CD player with pennies. Jim was able to add a new radio with CD player, USB, and AUX input to the storage compartment without pulling out the old radio, saving on labor cost. read more