Exotic Car Audio — Local services in Mary Esther

2003 Suburban 2500

I went to exotic a few weeks back to have a subwoofer (JL 10w3v3-4) and amp (JX500/1D) in my truck. I already had the sub and amp picked out on amazon, I wanted to check to see if they had them in stock first which they didn't. Not a big deal. However when I did order the parts, I tried to contact another shop to install it because I did not get a good vibe from exotic.

Fast forward to 15 April 2016. My appointment was set and I dropped my truck off. I made a point to let them know that I wanted everything to look factory, including under the hood and the backup camera. I was told that "they have 10 years of experience" in a slightly condescending tone as if they took offense to my request. No big deal to me as long as the job is done correctly, so I shrugged it off. I remember specifically saying that I did not want a clear inline fuse holder because I did not want anyone to be able to tell I have a system when I open my hood and that is exactly what I got. *Also, they used 8AWG with a 60 amp fuse to wire up my amp when the minimum for my amp (listed in the directions) is 4AWG with a 50 amp fuse. To top it off, the power cable for my amp is run through my firewall with no grommet of any kind. I reached back and felt jagged metal touching the power wire. *

The backup camera they sold me and installed is decent. The quality is not good and it does not show up well at night unless the brake lights or reverse lights are on. Also, it will intermittently switch to the rear camera view when I'm driving and listening to my music.

I lifted my sub enclosure to look at the install and the positive and negative broke off from the QD. 18AWG was used for this wire. Not only that, but it was ran where passengers would have there feet which would have knocked it loose. I have already ordered 12AWG to replace this wire. As I understand 16AWG is the minimum.

I have a pioneer 5100nex and it started rattling while driving down the road. I take the dash apart and find out that it was not seated all the way in. In other words, it was loose. Also found a bunch of cut wires with no terminations behind the head unit. Just bare wire dangling.

Once the install was complete I started to ask a couple questions and it seemed like I was a bother, so I left and looked over their work later.

PROS: At first glance the install looked professional. The EQ settings they set me up with makes the system sound better even without the sub. Sub sounds great! Bass knob installed where I requested and looks professional.

CONS: With 10 years experience installing car audio I had high expectations only to be let down. JL Audio recommends 4AWG with a 50 amp fuse for my amp but I was given 8AWG with a 60 amp fuse. Jagged metal around power wire going to amp with no grommet. 18AWG used from amp to sub which broke at the sub. Wiring going to sub not professional. Customer service a bit lacking. Head unit started rattling due to not being reinstalled properly. Backup camera does not have a good view at night unless the brake lights or reverse lights are on.

CONCLUSION: At first glance at everything I was happy and prepared to give a 4 star rating. However it did not take me long to notice things that were wrong with the install. Overall I am more than disappointed. It seems as though it is getting harder to find quality work which is the reason why I tend to ask many questions before handing my keys over to someone. The comment about having 10 years experience, and the tone it was said in should have been my indicator to take my business to someone else. Now I have to pay even more money to have someone go through my truck and do it right. I do not recommend...

I bought a subwoofer and wiring kit online and needed it installed. I made an appointment for it to be installed on a Monday. I left work early to get this job done. I get to the shop and it is closed. I call multiple times, no answer. Finally a day later I get ahold of someone. They proceed to tell me they had to go " make sure their boats were ok after the hurricane winds from Irma hit" Ok, I know there was a little wind that came through, but close your shop and don't call the people who had appointments to say " Hey, we need to reschedule or something" Really? No call, nothing. So unprofessional. I will never go back there or recommend them to anyone. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY WITH THESE UNPROFESSIONAL PEOPLE. They do not deserve to have a business if you treat paying customers this way.

• After seeing the response from the owner* I only have left bad reviews when I have felt completely screwed over as I did with your business. You harp on community, which I live in. So you're wiling to help some and screw over others. I was wondering about the discount because I left work. Are you going to pay me for the vacation time I used to come make my appointment? No.So I used almost 2 hours of my paid vacation time to get nothing done, with no heads up. Thats why I am pissed. I do not waste my time, effort and money with someone who doesn't extend the...

I called in and asked what kind of deals they had on double dins and I was told they were all on sale, so I went down and checked it out. I walked in and nobody was at the entrance so I stood around for a couple of minutes and eventually a very friendly woman came out and asked what she could do for me and I let her know that I called earlier about getting a double din and maybe a sub. So she calls a man over to assist me and this guy comes over and introduces himself and asks me what I was looking to get and I told him a double din and maybe a sub, and than he showed me the double dins he had. He only had 2 and they were ridiculously over priced. Both of them were starting at about 450.(without installation) He had some sticker on it with a price of 550 and he makes it seem like he's cutting you a deal selling it to you at 450. I asked him if he could do any better with the price and if maybe he can give me a military discount and he said no, than i asked about subs and he had nothing in my price range, and its not like I didnt have money I just didn't have enough for what this guy was asking. He than proceeded to tell me that he didn't really have anything I would like, he called it "high school kid stuff". I purchased a double din at best buy that has much better features than the double dins he had for 350...