Sound Advice of Everett

I had quite a problem finding a source of car stereo products in the Seattle area with a knowledgeable staff, a fairly broad selection and a good reputation. I scoured online sources such as: Angies List, Yelp, Google, Bing, Yellowpages, etc. to find local dealers with a positive reputation. There were few listed. One that impressed me from the start was Sound Advice in Everett, WA. I first went there on a Saturday morning. It's a good sized shop with a strong representation of marine and auto units - single and double DIN; audio, video and nav. I talked with the owner, Steve, and explained my wants: a replacement single DIN unit that would integrate with my factory BOSE system and had HD, XM, Bluetooth and iPhone 5 support - the last being surprisingly difficult. Steve recommended the same basic units that I had seen online. I asked him about a specific, high-end Alpine unit that was about to be released. He indicated that he did not have it yet but expected to within a few days and that he would call me when it came in. My first surprise - he DID call! I came out and looked at the unit and he walked me through the functions. He then let me play. Over the next 10-15 minutes, both Steve and Debbie passed by and asked if I had any questions, explained a few features and allowed me time to make my decision. I decided that I would purchase the Alpine CDE-HD149BT and inquired about installation. He estimated about 2.5 hours for the installation - including integration with the BOSE, installation of XM module, running the XM antenna to the back of the car, etc. (I have an Audi TT convertible. It's small, difficult to fit everything in, a pain to run wires through, etc. Such an estimate was not unique.) We agreed on a price for the radio, XM module, installation parts, labor, etc. I paid and departed. On the appointed date and time, I arrived and his team was ready to go. They asked some questions like where I wanted the XM antenna placed, the USB cable routed, etc. We agreed on a completion time (2.5 hrs later) and I departed after giving them my phone number in case any questions arose. 3 hours later, I returned to find that they had encountered a small problem with noise (a pop when the car was turned on and engine static at low volume). They had pulled the radio out and were installing a noise filter to solve the problem. When they were done, they backed my car into a parking space and walked me through both the installation and the operation of the radio. They asked me if I had any additional questions and asked me to call if I had any questions. In the end, the installation took about 3.5 hours and required some additional parts that they had not expected. When I inquired what I owed them, they said nothing. So, unlike many other places - the agreed upon price was the price. No surprises! Wow. So, now, I have a brand new car stereo - with the latest technology - completed in a manner that is both seamless and beautifully integrated with my car. I highly recommend Sound Advice of Everett. I will be back.