Top tips
For Aftermarket Car Audio Shoppers
When I was at school CD players were just starting to become popular, and most aftermarket car radios had pull-out designs. Additionally, there was no internet.
As we move through the 2020’s, the world of car audio has undergone a transformation with the advent of rapidly evolving technology. Nowadays, drivers can enjoy the latest state-of-the-art features such as apps and voice-activated control, which have become commonplace in many other household devices.
Our customers looking for ‘just a car stereo’ suddenly have to get their head around these changes. And it’s not just drivers, installers have had to up their game in order to stay up-to-date with all the technology.
At OEM Audio, we place a high priority on customer service. We take the time to understand our customers’ stereo needs and explain the available options, whether it means booking them in for an installation or shipping the unit to their preferred car audio installer. We use simple and easy-to-understand language to explain the technology, which helps our customers make informed decisions.
Messy Installs
Our installers will organise or remove any bad wiring found
Before purchasing an aftermarket, car audio unit there are a few things we can share with you when considering your upgrade.
OEM Audio stocks a large range of car audio units to suit most budgets. However, if upgrading the car stereo of a car you want to buy is a possibility, please contact us first. Many makes of car do not have a quality aftermarket audio option or would take a day to install.
We can explain the basic costs and because we know what we are doing you shouldn’t have any surprises. That being said, there are a few vehicles that have not been wired as standard, have already been rewired incorrectly, or are just plain weird behind the dash. In most cases we can explain the pitfalls before we begin the install. Some cars just have a reputation for being difficult and you won’t find this info on Google without hours of research.
A professional install isn’t dirt cheap, but cheaper than having your mistakes fixed
Our installation team are proficient in integrating car audio in popular makes and models of car. Trained in wiring up, what is essentially a mini computer, Stu and his team work daily with:
- Android operating systems
- Wiring of Can-modules
- Configuring reverse triggers
- Enabling steering wheel control
- Diagnostic of electronic circuits
To have someone who is properly trained work on your vehicle is going to cost money. In the long run, having someone do the job right the first time can save you a lot of money compared with the potential damage and frustration associated with having to repair a butchered project.
We can also recommend someone in your area we think would offer a hassle-free service.
Reliable products are simply not ‘cheap as chips’
When shopping around for car audio you just can’t see ‘what’s under the bonnet’. You can’t easily judge the quality of the components, the circuit board, the operating system etc. We have done this for you. Our car audio units are put through a period of testing to ensure every aspect of the product works reliably. It is unrealistic to expect that a car stereo priced ‘too good to be true’ will perform reliably for a reasonable length of time.
The quality of sound may not just be the audio unit
Some of our customers have been driving around listening to music with the same sound quality as a clock radio alarm. Adding extra speakers can be exciting but this is not always the solution. When the head unit is replaced, the output becomes 45W per channel, and you get DSP. A DSP can help you get more bass out of your system. A DSP can make your system louder without distortion. We suggest trying the new head unit with your existing speakers and seeing if that is what you need. The Lumina Audio BTN series come with a subwoofer outlet as well but talk to us about your options for this additional device in your car, where it could go and what wiring and installation labour costs could be.
We don’t compete with online retailers
If you are shopping around for a car audio upgrade beware of shopping on Amazon, Ali Express etc. What these sites don’t tell you is the nitty-gritty. For example, ‘is it really super clear which years of which car make and model will take that unit?’ The year of registration in Japan can be slightly different to the date the car arrived in New Zealand. There may be a year where the car changed its spec ‘mid-year’ and was imported with a different dash version or wiring.
Our guys know this stuff…
…you’d be amazed at the knowledge in this building!
In case of a product issue, additional expenses may incur such as removal costs, returns, replacements and installation. Make sure the back-up customer service is there, as with ALL electronic products sometimes things can go wrong.
We are in business to help our customers find the best car stereo for their car. You get our experience and expertise with the products. Our objective is to provide you with a great unit and hopefully you will decide that the quote is value for money and not spend 5 minutes trying to haggle the price down. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll know that we have been doing this for years, supply and fit for many car dealers in New Zealand and have an enviable reputation – just check out our Google Reviews. It’s a bit like searching a dentist, you’ll want the most experienced and skilled person to do your dental work and car audio is comparable. A single mistake could damage your car, control modules or head unit.
Lastly, we’d like to ask you to have your car clean and ready
It would be awesome if your car was clean. Remove cargo, food wrappers and coffee cups, used tissues, and mud please. Not having to work in that environment would be awesome.
Let us know if you can’t make your appointment, especially if you have booked a loan car. We can always make another time which suits you and it free’s up the Nissan Leaf for another customer.
Back in the day you could simply pull out the head unit and any person with a small understanding of electronics could manage car audio installation. These days, however, there is a little bit more to it.
Wiring, testing and module programming is often beyond the skills of most do-it-yourselfers. Shopping around, asking for referrals is a great start so when you are ready give us a call.
We are experts, trusted by many leading dealerships in New Zealand, and are here to help