I'm showing my age by saying this but I really do feel like electronics, in this case...car stereos....are getting cheaper (quality wise)

 

GREED!!

its all quantity not quality!(for most)

but they're still a few respectful brands

 

Sorry, just had to vent.

 

MB quartz has been shit for awhile , zapco owns but since stillwater took them over they're crap , oh and stillwater got bought out. DIE still strong as ever , pheonix gold used to be amazing now it sucks... everything that was good isn't anymore it seems. Alpine holds strong but even they have a cheapo line out now.

 

A lot of these takeovers are financial, and have no bearing on the quality of the product. However, some do.

 

High end car audio is a dying hobby. What was known as high end back in the day is now known as mainstream. Zapco products are still good, they are the same design, i believe the build process has changed some, but the products are still good.

Heres a question for you, Do you know what Zapco stands for?

There are definately great products out there still, might just need a loan to afford them.

But you are correct, quality has gone down across the board.

 

In the case of Head Units, I'm assuming this is because almost all new cars have their stereo integrated into the dash, making replacement more difficult??

 

Zoning and Planning Commission?

 

close...

Zeff Advanced Products Company

Robert Zeff, who is currently designing amps for Arc Audio. Recognized as one of the pioneers for high end amplifiers

 

I think it's the market (i.e. us, the people that buy car stereo equipment).

How many buyers choose their "300W" amp by looking at the fuse rating and picking the one with the biggest fuse? Probably none. They buy it because it has blinking lights, purple anodized fins and gold-plated shoe horns. Even though they are cheap, blinking lights, purple anodized fins and gold-plated shoe horns cost money, and if you can sell amps just by having those features why bother putting in a decent power supply or a high-current output stage?

What sells head units? Preamp voltage. Of all the head unit specs, what has the least to do with sound quality? Preamp voltage.

If the market buys crap then to stay in business you have to make crap.

BTW - judging an amp by it's fuse is actually not a bad idea. If your 300W amp runs on a 10A fuse it's not a 300W amp. If it has a 30A fuse you might have something. If it's 40A it's a keeper. Manufacturer's haven't (yet) started putting over-sized fuses in their products. If they are looking for a CE or UL label they can't get away with it.

.