Custom Radio

First let me say I researched a car stereo for my car for two years before finally pulling the trigger. I wanted reference quality sound. I knew I’d be spending a fair chunk of change, but I also did not want to get taken to the cleaners.
I visited almost all the car stereo shops in Columbus, GA. I went to Kar Tunes, Jimmy’s, Crunks, and Custom Radio.
It was at Custom Radio I found what I was looking for. #1 I wanted to know whoever would be working on my car, because of my investment, had to know his stuff. You see, I mistakenly bought the «high end» option of a stereo/​nav on my new car (2013 Camry) and they took me to the bank — more on that later. The points I want to mention revolving the Toyota debacle are a.) never buy the high end factory radio — you will be sorry. b.) Toyota put such a crappy system in my car, the ENTIRE thing had to be redone, including wiring, head unit, speakers, ect.
In my many visits to the Columbus Car Stereo shops, I talked to them and showed them, extensively about the Toyota audio agony. I’m sure the guys at each shop got sick of me coming in, asking questions and then leaving without purchasing anything.
Ok, so the winner? Custom Radio, hands down. Chris at Custom Radio really, really new his stuff — and to be honest, he was the only one out of all 4 shops that could come up with a plan — and he gave me options to boot. I’ll just say the other shops were willing to «try» this or that. I did not want someone «trying» this or that with the investment I was about to make.
Ok, so Custom Radio passed the first test with flying colors — thank you Chris!
The next two tests were a.) did they carry/​sell/​and recommend the best equipment, and b.) what was it going to cost to have the «reference» sound I was looking for. Jimmy’s had the product, but was too expensive (and Jimmy could be condescending at times, like I was bothering him when needed him to get up from behind his desk and help me). Crunks had the prices, but had low end product. Kar Tunes, the technician was very knowledgeable, but they just didn’t have enough product on display that I could mess around with.
Custom Radio won again. They had the best equipment, in mine and the internet’s opinion: JL Audio speakers and subs. Pioneer and Kenwood Head Units. And JL Amps.
It was an investment, but I went for a few pts. below the top, top of the line models. Tommy, the owner was great at working with me on pricing. Tommy also was the best at meeting service needs — he even sent someone to pick me up the day my car was ready and I live in Pine Mountain!
Chris laid out a plan. I knew I was in great hands with his 14+ years of experience.
So, after 2 years of research, I found my guys. I dropped my car off and they went to work. It took a little longer than expected, but when I showed up, I didn’t care one bit — it was gorgeous. Chris said the standard dash kit looked so bad when he put it in, he ripped it out and fabricated one (he said this took him a full day of work just to do this) which ended up looking better than Toyota’s built in factory kit on the old radio! Chris fabricated a box to hold my JL sub in the trunk, and it matches the trunk carpet perfectly — it actually looks like its supposed to be part of the car! The JL speakers in the front and rear, from the inside of the car, it looked like nothing had been done — looked like it came right from the factory (this is a good thing, because I’ve seen some systems where it looks like something from robot wars where they installed the in door speakers).
Now, the bell of the ball. The sound. I powered it up and knew right then and there I got what I paid for. The clarity of the C5’s from JL… like silk. The clean power of the JL subs and the 12″ JL subwoofer rivaled that of some LA nightclubs I’ve been in. And the Pioneer Head Unit with the Capacitive Display and CarPlay compatibility — well, needless to say, I get in the car, connect my iPhone 6 plus and I put it in the center console. I NEVER have to look at it because Chris integrated the system and my phone to the steering wheel controls. All I have to do is say «Hey Siri», «Shuffle Artist Van Halen», or «Hey Siri, call Custom Radio», or «Hey Siri, directions to Hunter’s Pub», and whala! everything seems to just happen on screen and through the audiophile masterpiece.
I’ve had the system about a week now, and I’ve almost tweaked (not twerked, lol) the equalizer settings just to where I like them — granted, my classic rock is going to need Custom1 Settings vs. my Trance music which use «Custom2 Settings», which I change at the touch of a button.
Music I’ve listened to for 30 years, I am hearing new instruments in the song. Or, if its live, I can actually hear people talking and what they are saying in the audience. I’m serious, its that smooth. And if I want power, man, I got it. Metallica’s ‘One” never sounded so ominous! So get in there and tell ‘em Wayne Pruski sent you!