????

 

That's a pretty difficult to answer, because it all depends on wht you want component-wise, and how you want it to look, etc....

 

Just basic like the cd player the amp and the subs installed

 

it's kinda hard to say... some places will install it all for your for free if you buy all the stuff from them... others will charge you 100 bucks plus wiring costs, it all depends.

 

The shop that I deal with will charge about $40 for a head unit install, and I think it's $60, or 80 for an amp. Box building, I don't know about. I do all of my installs on my own, but I was having trouble with my DX700 Kicker amp for a while, and to reoslve the issue, I had them re-install the replacement (which died about 20 minutes later).

As for boxes, if it's not a pre-fab box, it can get expensive!

 

Free, just learn to do it yourself thats what i did but i'd suggest finding a friend who has a clue to help you

 

$40-60 per hour. Most places have standard prices for deck installs and speaker installs assuming that no custom fabbing is required. $45 + parts for a deck install and usually $25-40 for each pair of speakers. Any custom fabbing (spacers, custom wiring, etc) drives the price up fast.

 

Yeah, from what I remember, that's not a basic install. Basic is just replacing the factory speakers and the factory radio (head unit). That's "unplug old", "plug in new".

Once you get into amps, cost goes up! You have to buy additional wires. (NEVER go cheap on amp wires- your amp will sound like crap.) Then the wires have to be run under the carpet. Then there's other minor things like where to put the amp, drilling, sub placement, etc...

You used to be able to buy radio install instructions from http://www.crutchfield.com . They include these instructions free when you buy a radio from them, but they used to let you buy the instructions separately for like $5- for the purpose of letting you "see" if you can install the radio yourself.

Also, check the local papers. Once in a while, usually before summer, stores run ads saying "free radio install with purchase". Granted, you usually won't ever see a "free amp install", but at least you wouldn't have to pay extra for the radio.

 

Hawkeye:-
Have you decided on the amp and subs you are interested in yet? Be careful if dealing with installers though. Make sure you get a price for the whole job, and not go on a hourly rate.

You might be best going for a new headunit and replacements for the stock speakers in the stock locations first, as you could presumably manage that by yourself. Then decide at a later time if you wish to spend the money on amps/subs etc.

In this game you are often better learning yourself if you don't know someone who can do it for you.

Good luck.

 

I agree with what everyone said. I run a small mobile install business on the side, and I rarely do deck or speaker installs without running amps. The reason is because I don't make much money off of just swapping things back in. People don't want to pay for the install kit and wiring harnesses, and then pay extra to have someone put it in. I try to charge about $30 for a deck install, and about $50-75 for an amp install, depending on how hard it is to run all of the wiring and how many interior pieces I have to take off.

I never learned anything professionally, I picked alot of it up by just installing my own stuff. My love for car audio developed into this little side business. I could charge a lot less, and still be happy doing it. My advice is exactly what others have said. Do what you can, and learn as you go. It is not very hard to run amp wiring, and hooking up a system. But start with the basics, a good head unit, and good speakers in the stock locations. Having those done, you now have a good starting point for the future of a great car audio system.

I'm doing an install this weekend in a new Protege. I'm putting in an Alpine amp with a Bazooka tube. My customer is keeping everything else stock, as he only wants a little extra "boom." I'm putting it in for a total of $160 (including all wiring, rca's, my own amp, and the install kit for the bazooka). My actual labor is only $60, but I am selling him my amp. If he already had an amp, it would only be $90 total.

Hope this helps!

 

Best Buy charges around $200 for an install like you mentioned. If you go to a real stereo shop that knows what they're doing it will be more. I would look at it like this: If you're using cheap components, install them yourself. If you're using high end stuff and you don't feel comfortable do it yourself have a shop do it (not best buy).

FRDH8R, you have mail.

 

just thought I would throw in some info, I was ditching school with some friends today and we went to the prominate car audio shop in town. My friend was asking about getting a basic sub/box/amp deal for his lexus, (his parents, but he drives it). The manager said installation costs are as follows:
Deck $75 (includes harness, but not dash kit)
Amp $75 (includes 10 gauge wire, no fuse, and basic RCA's)
add $25 to amp install for 8 gauge wire, and $40 for 4 gauge
Box $100 for prefab, custom start at $150
Fiberglass $50 an hour plus cost of glass/resin

I dont want to scare you away from car audio, but hearing prices like this, i was like no wonder people want to do it themselves. If you know how to use basic hand tools, and your not afraid to take apart the interior a litte, i say do it yourself. If you ever have questions you can come here, Thats the whole reason for the site right?

 

These prices make my business happy

JoeZero, you've got mail too

 

I got an estimate for my car for ****s and giggles from best buy they said like 6-800 bucks to put my stuff in. I already had the headunit had the amp and subs they were charging me for the 4 gauge wire and running and headunit install i said " **** that " got the hell out of there.

 

its gonna be a kicker 12" L5 and probably a JBL 600.1 amp and an alpine deck

 

Something like that, I charge $100-$150 including dash kit, harness and basic amp kit. Free labor if the products were purchased from me, and only charge for parts starting at $75 and up, adjusting for upsize in power wire, RCA's, etc.

But try it yourself. As long as the stuff is new, they should have instructions. Read them enough to understand how it all goes together. Then read them again while installing for good measure, lol. If it's all used, get help from a friend who knows whats going on if you don't feel you can do it.