AVOID THIS SHOP! FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! I felt I needed to share my experience with Ultimate Sounds to try and save others from having to go through what I didI bought my wife a Nissan 350Z Convertible as a Christmas Present and as a audio enthusiast, I wanted to put a nice sound system in itWe were down in Wilmington for a vacation and I looked around for car stereo installation shopsI found Ultimate Sounds and it seemed like a good optionThat is a decision I have come to regret I went in and talked with them and decided on a Kenwood DVD/Bluetooth head unitMy wife liked to play music from her iPhone and this unit had the ability to link to her iPhone via bluetoothI also wanted to improve the bass so I bought a JBL amp and a Rockford Fosgate sub to replace the stock Bose sub behind the drivers seatThe total came to about $For some folks, that is a lot for a head unit and sub upgrade, but years ago I used to compete in car audio and knew what I wanted to get The install took a little longer than planned but I have gotten used to thatWhen they took me back, the first thing I noticed was that the dash was horribly scratched all around the head unitThey weren't going to mention anything to me and I looked at them in disbeliefSo you have some background, this car was pristineMy wife kept it immaculate and the dash was like newWhat was left after the install was incomprehensibleAnd them not bringing it up immediately was truly mind boggling, as if I would miss something like thisI only wish I could post a picture of it, you wouldn't believe itIn any event, I told them they were going to have to fix itHonestly, I could have done a better job myself buying the stuff from Crutchfield and installing it myselfIt literally looked like this was the first time they had done this and used a screwdriver to pry the dash off I walked into the shop and had them write up a promissory note to me saying they would fix it which I still haveI have worked with enough install shops to know that once you leave the shop it is overThe new dash kit is $which I certainly don't want to pay for but it can't stay like this, it looks awful To make matters worse, about week after the install, the subwoofer failedWhen I took it to a reputable audio place in Raleigh, they indicated that the install was just atrociousThe sub was not sealed in the box and had blown because of the install and that it wouldn't be covered under the manufacturers warranty because of the installAt this point, all I wanted was my dash backI wasn't about to buy another sub from Ultimate Sounds so I went ahead and bought one in Raleigh and had them install itAnother $out of pocket, but at least it was done right So to make a long story shorter, I have spent the last year (yep, a year) trying to get them to replace the dash including two separate trips to Wilmington when they said they would have it in, only to mysteriously say it wasn't there when I arrivedI even offered to have them just ship it to Raleigh, which is about a hours drive away so I could have it installed locallyNo dice there either At first, I had a real good feeling that they would take care of itThe owner had talked to me and seemed like a stand up guy and said they would make sure I got it taken care ofUnfortunately, over time, he stopped responding to my emails and I knew it wasn't going to end well So to say I had a bad experience with Ultimate Sounds is an understatementI hope this review helps you choose somewhere...anywhere else to get your car audio doneI think of myself as reasonable but this situation was beyond beliefSave yourself the headache and the cost and avoid Ultimate Sounds
I felt I needed to share my experience with Ultimate Sounds to try and save others from having to go through what I did. I bought my wife a Nissan 350Z Convertible as a Christmas Present and as a audio enthusiast, I wanted to put a nice sound system in it. We were down in Wilmington for a vacation and I looked around for car stereo installation shops. I found Ultimate Sounds and it seemed like a good option. That is a decision I have come to regret.
I went in and talked with them and decided on a Kenwood DVD/Bluetooth head unit. My wife liked to play music from her iPhone and this unit had the ability to link to her iPhone via bluetooth. I also wanted to improve the bass so I bought a JBL amp and a Rockford Fosgate sub to replace the stock Bose sub behind the drivers seat. The total came to about $1000. For some folks, that is a lot for a head unit and sub upgrade, but years ago I used to compete in car audio and knew what I wanted to get.
The install took a little longer than planned but I have gotten used to that. When they took me back, the first thing I noticed was that the dash was horribly scratched all around the head unit. They weren't going to mention anything to me and I looked at them in disbelief. So you have some background, this car was pristine. My wife kept it immaculate and the dash was like new. What was left after the install was incomprehensible. And them not bringing it up immediately was truly mind boggling, as if I would miss something like this. I only wish I could post a picture of it, you wouldn't believe it. In any event, I told them they were going to have to fix it. Honestly, I could have done a better job myself buying the stuff from Crutchfield and installing it myself. It literally looked like this was the first time they had done this and used a screwdriver to pry the dash off.
I walked into the shop and had them write up a promissory note to me saying they would fix it which I still have. I have worked with enough install shops to know that once you leave the shop it is over. The new dash kit is $300 which I certainly don't want to pay for but it can't stay like this, it looks awful.
To make matters worse, about 1 week after the install, the subwoofer failed. When I took it to a reputable audio place in Raleigh, they indicated that the install was just atrocious. The sub was not sealed in the box and had blown because of the install and that it wouldn't be covered under the manufacturers warranty because of the install. At this point, all I wanted was my dash back. I wasn't about to buy another sub from Ultimate Sounds so I went ahead and bought one in Raleigh and had them install it. Another $400 out of pocket, but at least it was done right.
So to make a long story shorter, I have spent the last year (yep, a year) trying to get them to replace the dash including two separate trips to Wilmington when they said they would have it in, only to mysteriously say it wasn't there when I arrived. I even offered to have them just ship it to Raleigh, which is about a 3 hours drive away so I could have it installed locally. No dice there either.
At first, I had a real good feeling that they would take care of it. The owner had talked to me and seemed like a stand up guy and said they would make sure I got it taken care of. Unfortunately, over time, he stopped responding to my emails and I knew it wasn't going to end well.
So to say I had a bad experience with Ultimate Sounds is an understatement. I hope this review helps you choose somewhere...anywhere else to get your car audio done. I think of myself as reasonable but this situation was beyond belief. Save yourself the headache and the cost and avoid Ultimate Sounds.
AVOID THIS SHOP! FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! I felt I needed to share my experience with Ultimate Sounds to try and save others from having to go through what I didI bought my wife a Nissan 350Z Convertible as a Christmas Present and as a audio enthusiast, I wanted to put a nice sound system in itWe were down in Wilmington for a vacation and I looked around for car stereo installation shopsI found Ultimate Sounds and it seemed like a good optionThat is a decision I have come to regret I went in and talked with them and decided on a Kenwood DVD/Bluetooth head unitMy wife liked to play music from her iPhone and this unit had the ability to link to her iPhone via bluetoothI also wanted to improve the bass so I bought a JBL amp and a Rockford Fosgate sub to replace the stock Bose sub behind the drivers seatThe total came to about $For some folks, that is a lot for a head unit and sub upgrade, but years ago I used to compete in car audio and knew what I wanted to get The install took a little longer than planned but I have gotten used to thatWhen they took me back, the first thing I noticed was that the dash was horribly scratched all around the head unitThey weren't going to mention anything to me and I looked at them in disbeliefSo you have some background, this car was pristineMy wife kept it immaculate and the dash was like newWhat was left after the install was incomprehensibleAnd them not bringing it up immediately was truly mind boggling, as if I would miss something like thisI only wish I could post a picture of it, you wouldn't believe itIn any event, I told them they were going to have to fix itHonestly, I could have done a better job myself buying the stuff from Crutchfield and installing it myselfIt literally looked like this was the first time they had done this and used a screwdriver to pry the dash off I walked into the shop and had them write up a promissory note to me saying they would fix it which I still haveI have worked with enough install shops to know that once you leave the shop it is overThe new dash kit is $which I certainly don't want to pay for but it can't stay like this, it looks awful To make matters worse, about week after the install, the subwoofer failedWhen I took it to a reputable audio place in Raleigh, they indicated that the install was just atrociousThe sub was not sealed in the box and had blown because of the install and that it wouldn't be covered under the manufacturers warranty because of the installAt this point, all I wanted was my dash backI wasn't about to buy another sub from Ultimate Sounds so I went ahead and bought one in Raleigh and had them install itAnother $out of pocket, but at least it was done right So to make a long story shorter, I have spent the last year (yep, a year) trying to get them to replace the dash including two separate trips to Wilmington when they said they would have it in, only to mysteriously say it wasn't there when I arrivedI even offered to have them just ship it to Raleigh, which is about a hours drive away so I could have it installed locallyNo dice there either At first, I had a real good feeling that they would take care of itThe owner had talked to me and seemed like a stand up guy and said they would make sure I got it taken care ofUnfortunately, over time, he stopped responding to my emails and I knew it wasn't going to end well So to say I had a bad experience with Ultimate Sounds is an understatementI hope this review helps you choose somewhere...anywhere else to get your car audio doneI think of myself as reasonable but this situation was beyond beliefSave yourself the headache and the cost and avoid Ultimate Sounds
AVOID THIS SHOP! FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!
I felt I needed to share my experience with Ultimate Sounds to try and save others from having to go through what I did. I bought my wife a Nissan 350Z Convertible as a Christmas Present and as a audio enthusiast, I wanted to put a nice sound system in it. We were down in Wilmington for a vacation and I looked around for car stereo installation shops. I found Ultimate Sounds and it seemed like a good option. That is a decision I have come to regret.
I went in and talked with them and decided on a Kenwood DVD/Bluetooth head unit. My wife liked to play music from her iPhone and this unit had the ability to link to her iPhone via bluetooth. I also wanted to improve the bass so I bought a JBL amp and a Rockford Fosgate sub to replace the stock Bose sub behind the drivers seat. The total came to about $1000. For some folks, that is a lot for a head unit and sub upgrade, but years ago I used to compete in car audio and knew what I wanted to get.
The install took a little longer than planned but I have gotten used to that. When they took me back, the first thing I noticed was that the dash was horribly scratched all around the head unit. They weren't going to mention anything to me and I looked at them in disbelief. So you have some background, this car was pristine. My wife kept it immaculate and the dash was like new. What was left after the install was incomprehensible. And them not bringing it up immediately was truly mind boggling, as if I would miss something like this. I only wish I could post a picture of it, you wouldn't believe it. In any event, I told them they were going to have to fix it. Honestly, I could have done a better job myself buying the stuff from Crutchfield and installing it myself. It literally looked like this was the first time they had done this and used a screwdriver to pry the dash off.
I walked into the shop and had them write up a promissory note to me saying they would fix it which I still have. I have worked with enough install shops to know that once you leave the shop it is over. The new dash kit is $300 which I certainly don't want to pay for but it can't stay like this, it looks awful.
To make matters worse, about 1 week after the install, the subwoofer failed. When I took it to a reputable audio place in Raleigh, they indicated that the install was just atrocious. The sub was not sealed in the box and had blown because of the install and that it wouldn't be covered under the manufacturers warranty because of the install. At this point, all I wanted was my dash back. I wasn't about to buy another sub from Ultimate Sounds so I went ahead and bought one in Raleigh and had them install it. Another $400 out of pocket, but at least it was done right.
So to make a long story shorter, I have spent the last year (yep, a year) trying to get them to replace the dash including two separate trips to Wilmington when they said they would have it in, only to mysteriously say it wasn't there when I arrived. I even offered to have them just ship it to Raleigh, which is about a 3 hours drive away so I could have it installed locally. No dice there either.
At first, I had a real good feeling that they would take care of it. The owner had talked to me and seemed like a stand up guy and said they would make sure I got it taken care of. Unfortunately, over time, he stopped responding to my emails and I knew it wasn't going to end well.
So to say I had a bad experience with Ultimate Sounds is an understatement. I hope this review helps you choose somewhere...anywhere else to get your car audio done. I think of myself as reasonable but this situation was beyond belief. Save yourself the headache and the cost and avoid Ultimate Sounds.