Car audio specialist - recommendation please?

Hi, can anyone recommend a decent car audio specialist in the Midlands please - the closer to Derby area the better. I've a 2002 4S with a non bose CDR22 and a Becker BE6600 amp which is I suspect knackered - no sound from rear speakers and popping / distortion from passenger footwell. I've tried the specialist recommended by Nighttrain who were good enough to reply but they can't repair this model of amp as the module is embedded onto a circuit board. Ideally I would like to retain an OEM look in the cabin but I'm open to options. I've researched the threads on here and were it a case of just changing the amp for an after market one then I'd do it myself but I don't think it's that simple. I could buy a second hand Becker amp but at £400 there's no limit on how long it will last so I think I'd rather go with something different. Any recommendations much appreciated, especially if it's a company used to working on Porsche models.

Personally I would change it all for an aftermarket head, unit amp and speakers, if you have the patience it's fairly easy and very satisfying upgrade that would be a massive upgrade over the standard kit, even the full Bose systems are very limited in terms of true sound quality! You don't have to spend thousands either. Just an example of quality kit for very reasonable money: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hea...-media-receiver-with-apple-carplay-deal-offer http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/amplifiers/focal-fd-2-350-ultra-compact-2-channel-amplifier http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/spe...ms/focal-165as3-6-5-3-way-components-speakers

Thanks for the reply. I have the patience, it's just the know how I may be lacking :lol:

Hi Haywoon Just wondering how you got on with this? I've got the exact same issue although I don't know if mine has the same system as yours? I've got on 03 C4S with the pcm 2 headunit, fibre optics to the Becker amp. Dreadful noise coming from all speakers so I believe my amp to be knackered too but I don't want to spend £500 on a second hand amp when the rest of the system may not be up to much. What did you go for in the end? and where abouts are you based? I'd be really interested to hear and see what's been done. Thanks

I'm still debating to be honest - I am going to get it sorted but in the absence of any decent recommendations it's difficult to find a reputable place who I can truly trust as I know less than sod all about the inner workings of car audio. I went to a local place in Derby who despite my clearly stated requirements were just interested in selling me double din after Market shiny shiny flashy flashy kit with a complete upgrade of everything so I've sacked them off - it's fine if that's your bag but it's not what I personally want. I've just been landed with a £850 maintenance bill so that's set the fund for amp and bits back a bit as I'd rather spend the cash on stuff that makes it go as opposed to ICE .... but it shall be done at some point this year as I'm fed up of absolute shite audio. I'll update as and when I decide.

Ah it's so hard isn't it! I emailed a company today to ask for a quote for a nice new shiny double din unit, amp and it all fitted and he told me to budget for a few grand! Once I'd picked myself up off the floor I respectfully declined. I've found a company down this way called PCM Repairs? https://www.pcmrepairs.co.uk/index.cfm?noMobile=1 Could be what you're looking for?? They deal with repairs via post as well if you're too far away. I do want a more modern unit so I think I'll just have to buy the head unit, amp and wire it all myself then hope the speakers are ok. If not then it'll be new speakers too. But could cost a fortune!! And I totally agree, I'd rather spend money on mechanical parts than a sound system. I'll probably end up gaffer taping a Bluetooth speaker to the dash and playing music from my phone

In car services in Leicester were better than the normally recommended company on Nottingham (who are rubbish hence me not naming).

Hi INWB I see you've got the same year and model as me. Does yours have pcm2 or have you gone aftermarket? Cheers

Thank you I don't work too far from Leicester so that may be an option for me. :thumbs:

I went totally aftermarket. Have Hertz cross over speakers, Focal in the rears and a small JBL sat in the gap behind the frunk. Head unit is a (old) pioneer that was in there when I bought the car. If you're local to Leicester I'm not sure if you go to the Quorn car meet? Car is currently in garage being fettled but could meet up if you want. I'm changing my head unit next so a perfectly good head unitis available - sat nav with current maps, bluetooth etc if interested?

I'm down south east so unfortunately wont be able to take you up on that but would be good to see what you've done to it. I'll drop you a PM. :thumb:

Car in at Karl and Nathan's place by any chance?

Buy a bluetooth FM transmitter that plugs in the cigar lighter. Mine cost £16 from Amazon and it its good enough for me. Alternatives from an ICE supplier were; BT unit wire in with a small box stuck to the windscreen £300. Double din unit without all the bells and whistles £800, with the bells and whistles £1200. I can also use it in our MINI Cooper. All depends how much you use you car and how fussy you are with regards sound quality. I also don't want to change the original look so this is good enough for me.

Yeh fair play. But when the factory sound doesn't work then the best FM adapter in the world isn't gonna help. So my dilemma is either £500 for a second hand amp, send it off to be fixed at god knows what cost, or replace the lot. I can buy a decent double din with Android auto, dab, Bluetooth etc for £300, speakers and a 4 channel amp for probably another £400 ish then fit the lot myself and I'd be left with a more modern system that does all I want it too. It's just a faff.

Oops sorry I forgot that most important part.