Apicella Auto Sound — Local services in Town of Stony Point

I recently picked up my car from Apicella Auto Sound and I would like to share my experience.

I contacted Nick about doing my Jeep Wrangler after another shop and I became incompatible. Ultimately, I changed my mind and decided to have my car done (2013 Mercedes Benz C250) instead.What I noticed initially about Nick was that he was very matter-of-fact about system design, installation integrity, completion of work, and CUSTOMER SERVICE. I'm hard to please, I know this, but I can be pleased.

I already had AudioControl amps and decided to do the build with them. Nick recently had some tuning experience and begged me not to use the D-6.1200 due to the glitchy interface and limited tuning capabilities. I relented and we settled on the Zapco amps. He suggested Helix amps, but I'm not familiar with that brand and trusted Zapco more. We did, however, go with the Helix DSP.3. Through this process, Nick wasn't hard-selling me, he was trying to design the best system I could afford. I have 3 amplifiers sitting at my house that I'm not using because of Nick's recommendations and I'm okay with that. I bought them in the first place - it wasn't Nick's fault.

I was going to go with (2) Digital Designs 3510 subwoofers in a ported enclosure firing through the rear deck into the glass. Nick never balked at this and never recommended anything different and Kevin was more than confident that he could make it look and sound great. I ultimately decided to switch to the Audiofrog GB12D4s in order to have more usable trunk space. I'm glad I did this for two reasons. First, the trunk is totally usable, even for golf clubs. Second, the DD Audio subs would have been wasted in this application. They should be installed in something where they will be used with malice of forethought. I was also worried that they would tear my sunroof assembly apart.

Through all of this, Nick was flexible yet insistent on maintaining the design intent of the system, which is sound quality first. He also helped me decide on the type of source unit that we selected (Kenwood DDX 996XR) and I am very happy with it. We considered double-DIN, a single-DIN with a digital audio player, and even an iPad Mini. I had no previous experience with Android Auto and I must say, it is really good for automotive use.

This build wasn't cheap and the budget doubled by the time is was all over with. This was the result of direction changes in the build and and does not reflect on Nick's ability to stick to a quote. As many of you know , these builds are living creatures. Things change. That's all part of it.

Fabrication quality and fit/finish are excellent. You guys already know Nick's abilities, but Kevin is a BAD DUDE! Seriously, I was in really good hands with them.

Sound deadening really qiuetened the car while driving. I guess this is a plug for Resonix because I noticed a distinct reduction in road noise and I wasn't really paying attention.

Nick can tune. Need i say more?

The systrem sounds great. The stereo separation is great and the midbass-to-bass transition is flawless. I'm shocked by what the GB60s are capable of. Everything is so balanced and the stage width is awesome. The image is really locked in and and doesn't wander. He even created a two-seat tune at my request for demoing for passengers. Will I go to Nick and...

I first came across Nick on social media and forums where he seemed to have straightforward answers for those with car audio questions and an extensive log of stunning car audio installs. Eventually this lead me to contacting him about my next vehicle’s car audio install.  Having been a car audio enthusiast for 30 years I thought I knew what I wanted but soon found out I had a steep learning curve to overcome.  Nick is known in the industry for his fine installation craftsmanship, vast amounts of car audio knowledge and an acute ear for tuning.  During the planning process, I quickly found out that what I wanted and what I needed were on the opposite ends of the spectrum.  Nick helped patiently guide me in the proper direction with picking out components for the correct installation based on my budget.  However, I was stubborn on one aspect of the install thinking it would be fine even though he assured me it would not be.  Reluctantly, he agreed to move forward with the project.  I ended up shipping my car to New York from Wisconsin and a few weeks later, flew out to pick it up. I was not disappointed. The car sounded great, easily better than my previous systems and there were some pleasant surprises to boot. The level of attention to detail was something I was not accustom to.  I thoroughly enjoyed the system for the next year and a half until it slowly became evident that something was missing.  Sure enough, I was wrong with wanting that one thing that I insisted on having.  Back to Resonix she went to fix my error.  A few weeks pass and I fly out again to pick up the car.  The system now had that missing link, a solid foundation to pull everything together and it was much more accurate.  Listening to the revised system left me grinning and nodding.  I should mention that both visits resulted in some grand gestures on Nick’s part that I could not be grateful enough for.  For some people, it’s the little (or big) things that you don’t expect that leave an unforgettable impression of the overall experience.  The 18-hour drive back to Wisconsin was like listening to a completely different system. The time flew by, song after song, listening for things I hadn’t previously heard.  I should also point out that Nick never stops working with you after the pickup.  He continually strives for excellent customer service and will answer questions and provide general help in a timely manner.  1 piece of advice you can takeaway from my experience is that you should listen to, and take Nick’s advice.  If he tells you something isn’t going to work, it likely isn’t going to work. Trust him and be patient, you won’t be...

Perfection at it's best! I've watched Nick's build logs for many years and knew that when the time came, he would absolutely be the one I'd choose to build a top notch SQ system. I had reached out to Nick about a year ago to begin planning for this project. I chose my Genesis G70 as the template for this build. When I first reached out to Nick, we were on the phone the same day going over what I wanted and what I was looking for. Within an hour of our first conversation, I had received quotes at different tier levels depending on how crazy I was willing to get. It was at this point where I decided that if we're gonna do this, let's do it right. Equipment chosen for this build included Accuton Ceramic 3-way components, AE IB15 subs, Illusion Audio 10" sub in passenger footwell, Helix processor and amps, as well as OEM integration. The exterior of the car was to receive paint correction, ceramic coating and Xpel paint protection. I had chosen to ship my car to him as I felt it was the easiest route. And it was indeed, it was there in 3 days. Nick's communciation was fantastic throughout the entire build. Coming down to the design and creation of this masterpiece, I am a firm believer in letting the professionals do what they do best. I gave him only one request, to use two AE IB15's mounted on a trunk baffle. Everything else was left entirely in he and his team's hands. They were free to let the creativity flow. A lot of work went into this build, and they exceeded my expectations in every way. From it's elegant looks to it's phenomal sound quality, it ticks every box that one would come to expect from this crew. Even after receiving my car back from him, he was still not done. Nick is a true professional. After having the car for a couple of months for a complete break in, he flew down to my home state for some fine tuning. Climate, environment and even my exact seating position are all taken into account for the final tuning. And one more important note to add, Nick is a master at tuning. I think he spent about 16hrs in the car over the day and half he was here, going over every nuance and detail. The end result....astonishing! Everything about this build is top notch. The attention to detail, the professionalism and creativity all speak volumes. This was the system that I literally dreamed about having for a long time, and Nick and his crew made it happen. Congrats gents, much appreciated for all of your hard work in making this a reality. And thank you Nick, you are a...