Summary
Highlights
High Five Vega and Dean greet their audience, mentioning their consistent Thursday night shows. They then playfully discuss various fidget toys, including custom 3D-printed Disney-themed clickers and a broken tape measure, highlighting their use for focus during shows.
Dean talks about a recent Kicker Key installation in a newer Ford F-150. He notes how manufacturers usually maintain similar designs, making it easier to work on successive models. They highlight the F-150's relatively accessible brain location (six screws on top of the dash), making it a good candidate for quick installations and videos.
The hosts discuss how they approach installing systems in new cars they haven't worked on before. Manufacturers often follow consistent design philosophies, which helps. For unfamiliar models, they suggest consulting online resources like Google or even eBay product listings for visual guides on component removal. They also mention that certain manufacturers, like Nissan, are known for complex dashboard dismantling processes.
Dean shares his positive experience with the Kicker Key 500.1, highlighting its sound quality and DSP capabilities, especially compared to other amps he's tried. He emphasizes that its strength lies in specific use cases, like correcting factory sound issues, and it's not a universal solution for every customer's expectations, particularly those seeking very high wattage.
The conversation shifts to the increasing difficulty of upgrading car audio due to features like noise cancellation and manufacturers like GM removing or monetizing features like Apple CarPlay. Dean expresses frustration with GM's decisions, stating they are not listening to consumers and making upgrades unnecessarily complex and expensive.
Dean recounts two recent customer interactions where clients under-budgeted for upgrading their premium factory systems (Ford F-150 Platinum and Chevy Silverado with Bose). He explains that the cost of integration modules, DSP amps, and installation for these advanced systems far exceeds typical upgrade expectations, making it hard to provide significant improvements within a limited budget.
They discuss more affordable upgrade options, referencing the 'Hailey Special'—a simple system involving a T-harness, Kicker Key amp (or similar), front speakers, and a subwoofer. This setup is relatively simple and can be installed quickly, keeping costs under five grand, making it suitable for base model audio cars.
Dean shares his opinion on factory audio systems, naming the Cybertruck as currently having the best-sounding premium audio. He also praises the Burmeister system in the GT3 Porsche for its spaciousness but notes its lack of bass and the impracticality of upgrading such high-end vehicles with a small budget.
When asked which cars are easy to work on, Dean immediately responds with Fords and Jeeps, particularly older models. He then details his ongoing personal project of upgrading his Mustang's audio system, emphasizing the time and effort involved, even for an experienced installer, particularly with custom fabrication and trying to film the process.
Dean discusses the sound treatment he's applying to his Mustang, using Resinex, highlighting its effectiveness but also the increased weight it adds. He then touches on the debatable usefulness of extensive sound treatment in convertibles or Jeeps with removable parts, where road noise is inherent to the vehicle's design.