Ballard Custom Audio WA 98107

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Adam Kellar

Bill & Mark are masters of their craft and a pleasure to do business with as well. I'm really thankful for their service, time, and respect. I brought my car to them with some goals and a budget in mind. I wanted a back-up cam installed, a front & rear dashcam setup, and an overhaul of the stereo system. The original owner of my car had a custom setup installed by Car Toys and there were all sorts of issues with the wiring, amplifiers, and subwoofer. BCA tested the system, called me with guidance and estimates, and after some discussion they got to work. When I picked up my car and got a tour of the new stuff, everything looked, worked, and sounded phenomenal. The new head unit is spectacular and looks great in my dash. The cameras all work great and don't obstruct my view. The wiring job for everything is fantastic; every cable covered in a soft material and tucked in just the right way to avoid vibrations. It's also much easier to work around the amplifier to get to my car's battery in the trunk. Oh, and THE SOUND!!! I've had this car for 10 years and this is by far the best the stereo has ever sounded. Super clear all through the range, and a lovely thump from the back. I'm really glad I carry earplugs too, because sometimes I need my chest rattled by bass, and this system delivers. We hugged and I drove off for a long drive to test the whole system out. I had a minor issue along the way. I called Bill and received expert guidance for taking care until they could fix it - the old sub gave out and needed to be replaced. There was one other issue I discovered when it rained. I called, talked with Bill about it, received some guidance, and gave that fix a try. Unfortunately, that wasn't the issue. I ended up figuring out what the issue was, and it was related to the back-up camera installation. I called to discuss, and Bill made it right. Mark also tuned some settings to adjust the system based on feedback. I really appreciate how they went the extra mile here. Normally I wouldn't mention an issue that was corrected, but I think in this case it is a really positive reflection of accountability, business ethics, and ensuring proper follow-through to make sure everything works properly. I don't imagine I'll need any more work done on my stereo for a long time, but I'll certainly be telling all my friends about the best audio shop in the region.

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mister corgi

I heave joy and respect toward Bill and Mark at Ballard Custom Audio. My experience here is in my pantheon of best purchases EVER! They found a way to fit an Alpine head-unit into my 2014 Buick Verano by moving un-needed dashboard buttons onto a shelf in my glovebox and they still work! Of course the project included amplifiers and outstanding new speakers but perhaps most amazing is the noise-deadening work they did throughout the car... After all of their hardware hacking to get the system in (on a car that should not possibly have a way to fit a replacement stereo), ALL of the rattles and noises of the past are GONE. The car went from good Buick-Opel sound isolation to something more like Audi, so basically Bill and Mark upgraded my whole car along with the stereo. I would've gone out-of-state to get this level of service -- so thankful this shop is in Ballard! Please see the amazing before-and-after attached photos...

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Zack Jansky

I recently embarked on a mission to beef up the stereo in my 2015 RAV4. Apart from collecting a few quotes from other audio shops, I really had no idea what I was doing. I called into Ballard Custom Audio and spoke with Bill, who invited me down to the shop later that day. We started chatting and one of the first things he asked me was what kind of music I like to listen to, and what my goals were in a new stereo (loudness, clarity, power etc). That was the first time I'd been asked that after weeks of getting quotes elsewhere, and it signaled to me that they are actually invested in their customer's experience, rather than just making the next sale. Bill and I worked together to spec out a system that met my goals for sound while staying within my budget. He also called out several things to look for or ask about when talking to other installers, as there are many shortcuts folks take to save money and time, but deliver a worse result. It was a no-brainer for me to go with Ballard Custom Audio for my system and after 4 months I can confidently say I have zero regrets. The install is so clean you wouldn't know the car had any work (despite the 10" sub in the back). Bill's product recommendations hit the nail on the head in terms of delivering me the sound I was after, and he even threw in some free sound deadening since it would have taken me slightly over budget. Couple in the extended manufacturer's warranty and the lifetime install warranty and I don't know why you'd get your stereo done anywhere else. Thank you Ballard Custom Audio!