I wondered about how you guys would feel about internet purchases (unauthorized)... I'm wary of that unless it's Crutchfield. I am 100% confident in them. I agree with supporting the local guys who are there to support me. It's just hard to stomach paying $600 for something I can conceivably get for $270. Oh well... you get what you pay for.
Yesterday, I had my front doors sound-damped (both outer wall and inner). The road noise reduction is amazing. I can also turn the music up a bit louder without getting front distortion - a result of a more solid support for the speakers, I suppose. I am extremely eager to get the rest of the car done now. I had originally thought that I would do all four doors, the rear pillars, the "trunk" and the hatch. I didn't want to have the whole interior yanked to do the floor because of the airbags in the sides of the front seats. Now, I think I will turn my car over to the guys and let them do my entire interior, front to back (maybe even the headliner). This will allow them to do a much better job of laying wire than I did, which could possibly make an even bigger impact on noise reduction. With as much difference as the front doors made, I am drooling at what difference so much more damping will do. Do you folks agree, or is this overkill?
What are some suggestions for high sound-quality amps? I have considered Memphis (only because my local shop carries the line), Alpine (again, only because it's easily obtained), ARC Audio (though I don't like it when manufacturers "sell out" - Foose? come on...), Zapco (considering that a large percentage of show winners use this brand, so I've heard), Genesis (because it's an English company ), and xtant (though they're damn-near impossible to find). Any other suggestions (anyone mentioning Rockford Fosgate, MTX, Kicker or Sony will be summarily executed..)? Regardless of expense, I want top-notch sound quality.
In the midst of all these lines of discussion in this post, I've not mentioned (nor have I heard) anything about redoing the wiring in my car. Is The Big Three a feasible project to improve performance and sound quality in my car? Would installing a "better quality" alternator make a difference? Just another in the looooooong list of my questions... lol.