FEATURED INSTALLATIONS Archives - Page 6 of 6 - Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security

2011 Ford Escape Upgrades For Anchorage Client

02/28/2016 By John Schwartz

A client from Anchorage, Alaska, came to Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in search of several 2011 Ford Escape upgrades. He wanted a remote start system and more music options. We had a look at the truck and worked together the client to decide how he wanted to use the remote start and what features he wanted from a new radio. With that decided, we set to work.

Always In Touch

We have a lot of different Compustar remote start systems on display in our showroom, and even more available to be used in our employees’ vehicles. The client had the opportunity to try the different remote control options before buying and decided on the Compustar DroneMobile system.

DroneMobile uses an app on an Android smartphone or iPhone to communicate with the remote starter system. The client receives a month of free DroneMobile service upon activation of his system and then chooses one of four service plans. The RSD-3100S DroneMobile remote start kit also includes a four-button RF remote control with a 1,000-foot range as a backup.

We installed the remote start in the client’s vehicle with the same attention to detail and care that every one of our customers receives. We soldered every connection to ensure it would be 100% reliable. We then protected each connection with 3M electrical tape. Finally, we wrapped all the new wiring with Tesa cloth tape to give it a factory-installed look. The use of cloth tape eliminates the chance of the new wiring buzzing or rattling in the dash. Automakers use Tesa cloth tapes in factory harnesses for the same reason.

Music Matters

To fulfill the client’s request for more audio sources, we used his choice of a Pioneer DEH-X6800BT source unit. This single-DIN AM/FM receiver features Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, as well as a USB port on the front panel. Both Android and iPhones can play their music directly through either connection. The client can also stream music from Pandora or Spotify.

To install the radio, we used a dash kit that replaces the entire front panel on the center console. The kit allows us to reinstall the heating and cooling controls and provides the option of installing a two-DIN radio, or single-DIN with a storage pocket. The black finish of the kit matches the dash and the radio cosmetics nicely, so we chose not to paint it to match.

Client Loved The Ford Escape Upgrades!

When the client returned to Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security to pick up the truck, we gave him a complete walk-through on how the remote starter system and radio operated. Ensuring our clients are comfortable with how to operate the products we sell is as important to us as the products themselves. Training is a standard part of our service.

If you are interested in a remote starter, security system or any audio upgrades to your vehicle, drop by the store. We’d be happy to review your request and propose a solution.

For more information about any of our products or services, contact us here.

Lancer Remote Start Covered With Compustar

01/29/2016 By John Schwartz

A local client from Anchorage, Alaska, came to Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security, to inquire about adding a remote starter and security system to his 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. He wanted to be able to warm up his vehicle before getting into it, and ensure that nobody would be able to steal it. So for this Lancer remote start and security installation, we chose one of our Compustar product solutions to fulfill his requests.

A Robust Brain With Future Expandability Options

We based the security and convenience system around a Compustar FT 7000AS controller. This provided us with an expandable platform on which we could further build onto the system in the future. The customer settled on several communication options, so integration and connectivity were key to our success on this project.

Keyless Passcode Entry Is A Perfect Addition To This Lancer Remote Start

The first control device we installed in the vehicle was an RPS Touch keyless passcode system. The RPS Touch mounts on the inside surface of the windshield. It uses the same technology as modern smartphones for fingertip detection and recognition to detect the virtual key presses directly through the glass. This unit allows the owner to type in a four-digit passcode from a choice of 10 numbers to arm or disarm the security system.

Smartphone Integration And Unlimited Range

2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Remote Start — The Drone Mobile Add-on allows virtually unlimited range for complete control of the remote starter system.

The customer also chose to add a DroneMobile smartphone integration system which utilizes cellular communications to interface with the FT 7000AS controller. Using the DroneMobile app on his smartphone, he can lock, unlock or remote start his vehicle from anywhere in the world, as long as his vehicle and phone are both within range of cellular data towers and have Internet access. Thanks to the integrated GPS receiver in the DroneMobile system, he can also request the physical location of the vehicle and have it shown on a map in the DroneMobile smartphone app.

We included a conventional style RF remote control with the system, just in case the car is in for service or his smartphone’s battery is dead.

OEM Security Bypass Solution And Safety Functions

As with every vehicle we work on, we treated this Lancer with the utmost of care regarding wire routing and electrical connection reliability. As there is not a data bypass solution available for this vehicle yet, we used an FT-CTRANSV2 transponder box to allow factory security system integration with the aftermarket remote starter while the vehicle is starting.

The FT 7000AS also ensures that integration with the vehicle’s manual transmission will not be an issue when remote starting. It operates by having the customer activate “reserve mode” when previously parking the car. Activating “reserve mode” is a matter of removing the key, closing the door then arming the alarm. The system shuts the engine down and will not start it again if a door is opened before the remote start command is sent.

Sensors And Pin Switches For Maximum Vehicle Protection

As a secondary safety device, we installed a digital motion sensor called the FT-DAS. In the incredibly rare event of the vehicle starting while in gear, the sensor detects movement as small as 3 inches and instantly shuts off the engine. This is just another way that Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security goes to extreme lengths to protect our clients and their vehicles.

To provide maximum protection for the vehicle, we got the door and hood open triggers covered with pin switch integration. We used a shock sensor to detect if any physical damage occurs. And the DroneMobile app will alert the owner if the alarm goes off for any reason.

Experience Comfort And Safety In Your Vehicle Today!

If you are interested in a remote start or security system for your vehicle, we invite you to visit Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security in Anchorage. We will demonstrate for you how the different Compustar systems work on our interactive display. We will also provide you with a no-obligation quote on making your vehicle comfortable and secure. You can Contact Us Here to schedule your visit with us or for more information about any of our products and services.

Toyota Tundra Lighting Upgrades And More

11/29/2015 By John Schwartz

One of our clients decided to drop by Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security after buying himself a new truck. He wanted to upgrade the Toyota Tundra lighting and add a remote starter to his brand-new truck. We talked with him about where he was going to be using the truck and about how much extra light he wanted. With a plan in place, we set to work on helping this customer turn night into day.

High-Power Lighting Grille

Toyota Tundra Lighting — The 19″ light bar added to the front grille adds a lot of additional light for enhanced driving safety.

The customer supplied a replacement front grille that features integrated light mounts. We fitted a Vision X XPi-9M 19” light bar into the opening in the center of the grille. To fill the mounting locations on either side of the main light, we choose a Vision X XIL-OP110KIT that includes a pair of 10-Watt 3.0” Square Optimus Single lights.

Long-Distance Viewing With Huge Light Bar

To further enhance long-distance viewing when off-road, we installed a Vision X XPI-27M 51” light bar above the windshield. This monster LED light bar features a whopping 14,256 lumens of light output. The design features both a spot and flood pattern to best illuminate the road straight ahead while lighting up the shoulders, to allow the driver to see any animals that may be thinking of dashing out to make a sudden crossing.

Additional Lighting Completes The Toyota Tundra Lighting Package

We also retrofitted the factory lighting locations with HID replacement kits in the high and low beams, as well as in the fog lights in the massive front bumper. We also installed a set of 2” square Solstice series lights from Vision X in the rear bumper.

Looking Good

While we had the truck in the shop, we installed a new custom hood for the customer. The customer brought us the hood after having it painted to match the Toyota Super White factory paint. We took care to make sure the hood was aligned as perfectly as possible to maintain Toyota’s reputation for quality.

Peace Of Mind

To help our customer protect his investment, we outfitted the Tundra with a Compustar Pro T11 security system. The Pro T11 includes an amazing five-button remote control that offers up to 3 miles of range. The LCD screen on the remote makes it easy to know if the vehicle is locked at just a glance. Should the alarm go off, the owner can see what sensor or input was triggered. The T11 remote also features an IPX7 waterproof rating. You can drop it in a snow bank, a pool or a lake. All you need to do is fish it out and wipe it off, and it will be as good as new.

The customer decided to add the Drone Mobile cellular interface. Now he can lock and unlock his vehicle, or be alerted if the alarm goes off, via the Drone App on his cellphone.

Final Tuning Extracts Maximum Performance

As with any system we install at Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security, we ensure that everything we do is configured for maximum reliability, performance and ease of use. We aligned all the lights against our shop wall to ensure even output. We carefully calibrated the alarm shock sensor for maximum sensitivity without the risk of false alarms.

Finally, after we tested everything, it was time to return the truck to the owner. He was blown away by just how much output the Vision X lights offered, and loved knowing his pride and joy was safe. If you are interested in lighting or security upgrades for your car or truck, we invite you to drop by today or contact us here.

Anchorage Client Gets Stunning 2003 Corvette Audio Upgrade

09/15/2015 By John Schwartz

A new client from Anchorage, Alaska, came to Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security looking for a 2003 Chevy Corvette audio upgrade. Our team sat down with him and discussed his goals for the project. We went out to the vehicle and looked it over together, exploring ideas as we focused on different areas of the vehicle. When we came back inside, we asked him several questions to get him thinking about all of the possibilities for the Corvette. Once we had gathered all of our information, we worked up a solution that we felt best fit his needs. He liked our idea, so we set an installation appointment.

Big Tech Upgrade With Pioneer Radio

It was decided early on that we would not do any major modifications to the vehicle that could not be reversed at a later date, so we chose a Pioneer AVHX-7700BT motorized touchscreen unit for the dash. The client gained a laundry list of new technologies and features, including Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, and USB control of his digital music and an iPod or iPhone. The Pioneer unit comes with a high-quality preamp, so it will deliver a great-sounding signal downstream to the rest of the electronics we installed in the vehicle.

Hertz Speakers Replace Lifeless Sounding Factory Bose

In the front doors, we removed the existing Bose Audio speakers and installed a set of Hertz HSK165.4 components. That included 6.5” woofers that we installed in custom, composite speaker plates designed to bolt right back into the stock mounting holes. They also come with a 1” tweeter that we installed into the stock tweeter locations, again using custom mounts and stock mounting points. In doing this, we kept the front door panels looking completely stock, with a set of great-sounding speakers hidden behind them befitting a performance vehicle like a Corvette.

Custom Subwoofer Enclosure For Hertz Subwoofers Adds Class And Great Low End Output

In the rear of the vehicle, we decided that we would show off some beautiful fiberglass and woodworking, yet keep the system completely removable, should the client ever choose. We installed two Hertz HX250 10” subwoofers in sealed enclosures, with the speakers aimed toward the rear of the car. Our team modeled the enclosures to fit the theme of the flowing lines in the interior, and we covered the enclosure in a beautiful black vinyl that matched well with the interior panels. We used carbon fiber trim around the outside of the subwoofers and the Perfectionist logo between the subs, adding another layer of class to an already beautiful install.

Hertz Amplifiers Provide Plenty Of Clean Power

Now it was time to choose the power for the system and, again, we went back to Hertz. We chose their HDP4 and HDP1 amplifiers from their Digital Power series. We like these amplifiers for their combination of small footprint, great output, high fidelity and low current draw. It is a winning combination. The HDP1 supplies well over 1,000 watts of clean power to the subwoofers, and the HDP4 sends more than 150 watts to each woofer and tweeter in the front stage.

As you can see in the pictures, the fabricators at Perfectionist used the well in the rear of the Corvette to house the amplifiers and the processor. We made a custom floor with a grille insert to highlight the equipment, and we finished it off with LED accent lighting.

Precise Tuning Made Possible With Audison Processor

It is the opinion of Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security that, if you are going to build a great-sounding car audio system, you should have a processor as a piece of the puzzle. In this build, we chose an Audison Bit10D, which is one of our personal favorites. In the hands of a skilled tuner, the Audison processor can take a good-sounding system and make it sound incredible. It allows individual control over the output level, equalization, crossover points and time delay for each and every speaker in the audio system.

The end result has to be heard in person to truly understand the improvement it makes in sound quality. When you fire up this system, the sound is no longer biased to the driver’s door, but rather, it stages beautifully across the dash as if you were sitting in the perfect seat at a live concert. And the quality of the music is as good as it gets, since we can fine-tune each and every speaker with 31 different bands of equalization.

We believe that you should get all of the sound quality that you paid for, so our attention to detail also encompasses the fine-tuning of equipment before it is released from our shop. Most retailers will fire up the equipment, make a few adjustments and send it on its way. It is our experience that the extra time we spend on fine-tuning each piece of audio equipment can be a night-and-day difference in the final sound quality. It is just another way we strive for Perfection in all that we do.

Audison DRC Allows For Fingertip Control Of The System

The good news for the client is that controlling this couldn’t be easier. It comes with a small controller called a DRC that we installed on a custom mount in the ashtray location, under the Pioneer stereo system. It gives the client a large volume knob to control the volume and subwoofer level, and it lets him choose between two different preset curves we program for different kinds of music, listening levels, etc.

We Go To Great Lengths To Protect Your Vehicle While It Is In Our Care

Here at Perfectionist, we take our name seriously, so the care we give to a vehicle while it’s in our possession is legendary. We use protective tape on any paint or trim panels where we may be in contact, and go to extreme measures to ensure your vehicle is delivered back to you in the same condition as we received it.

In the end, where the rubber meets the road is when the client comes to pick up the vehicle. Will he like the sound? How about the installation? The good news is that this client loved it. He never imagined the sound would be that good – like a studio on wheels. And the fit and finish of the installation made him all smiles. That made our day.

When you are in the market for an audio upgrade for your vehicle, we invite you to stop by Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security. One of our award-winning team members will work with you to design and build an audio system that meets your unique needs. Let us show you why we are a multi-year winner of the Top Mobile Electronics Retailer recognition in the Nation by Mobile Electronics magazine.

You can also contact us here for more information about any of our products and services.