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What do you think?

 
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I would say neither. But if your inclined to buy from either of them I would go to Circuit City. My local Best Buy has a crappy selection and unhelpful salesmen. My local CC has some good people there and some decent stuff from Alpine. I bought all my audio gear from thezeb.com, ebay, acoustic visions (Shiva), and my installer. You're going to find more high-end components and HU's at small, local shops or installers IMO. Smaller, privately owned shops may also give you a good deal if you're buying most of your gear there. Online shops are good as well such thezeb.com, Crutchfield, etc... Just make sure you research everything properly.

The help at the smaller shops is much better. IMO BB and CC don't do a good job with car audio as most sales people don't have much of a clue and don't tell you all the facts. I would talk to some other guys on the site such as ludlam, mystic, and megahurtz - they helped me get my system together and its great!!!

 
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neither

 
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One more neither, but if you really gonna choose it, I say best buy better, The CC here around my city suckz, I had an experience before buying a headunit from CC, and went back for free HU clean service after couple months. and guess what, they end up with my amp fu*ked up without taking any responsibility at fixing them back. Until I claim I am going to sue them for some ****, they fix it with very bad attitude.. CC store service/policy = gay?

 
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I also agree, they suck.. they have a poor selection and from what little selection they do have, it's like welfare stereo equipment. The only dc electronics I would ever buy from best buy are the rockford amplifiers and amp wiring kits. http://www.crutchfield.com
Go there.

 
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DIY. I went to circuit city and got raped on price. They did a decent job, although some of the wires are coming loose now. I would NEVER go to best buy for stereo install.

 
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For installation I wouldn't trust either place. The guys at my local shop aren't qualified at all. I would go to a small shop that specializes in car audio. Talk to some people in your area for some good installers - you should be able to get some good reccomendations from some people on the site. I got my installer from asking around on the site. I'm in NJ so I can't help you out - just ask around to find a decent installer - someone that just won't fill the holes in the door.

 
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what i did and have been more than happy as i have bought all my speakers for my car from these places -- www.ikesound.com -- www.onlinecarstereo.com --- is buy them from those places as they have some good deals. Then take them to best buy and have them install them. It turned out cheaper and i have had best buy install my HU, front components and rear speakers. I installed the amp and sub myself . Im sure circuit city is good but if you are looking to save some money buy from those above listed places and have it installed somewhere that all the installaion is covered. Best buy has always been helpful, maybe a little high but i dont know the prices of other places, and they did a good job with no problems and a little over 2 years with the whole system in place.

 
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Best buy wanted $50 to install my front speakers. I was like um no. Circuit City wanted $35, and I went in the back and talked to the guy who does it and he seemed to know what he was talking about. He was pretty nice, and said he enters his truck in some sound competition or something. So, I'm gonna have Circuit City put them in tomorrow.

 
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If you wait til the meet, I'll show you how to install them. You just need some spacers and wire harness.

 
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is that about component speakers? if it is, either 35 or 50 I am not going to believe it! I am installing mine right now, they need a wire run and wire change, so if that's how they charge them, they might just put the speaker in without changing the wire to 16/14 gauge. the work cost about 75 per door 150 for both I heard!

 
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btw, how the hell do you get the door handle panel off? I saw a little indentation near where it touches the door but I couldn't pop it off. I tried for like 10 minutes. Not the door latch, that one's easy, but the door handle.

Gearbox, thanks, but I'm impatient. When is the next Chicago meet, anyway?

 
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they both suck ***!!!

What do you mean the door handle? The one on the inside? If I remember correctly you remove a little cover with either a sharp pick or small screwdriver or something else with a very small tip. Take out 2 screws and the handle will come out. There should be a plug for the power locks and a brown clip holding the rod in. get a flathead screwdriver and push the brown clip away from the rod, it will unclip and rotate around... it's super easy

 
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Next meet is THIS coming saturday in a few days! Here, I already did a diy for the door panels.

http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...+panel+removal

 
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I'll help you install them as well. I'm living in Urbana at the moment.

 
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the more I DIY, the more I recommend it. For me it takes longer than a shop but I learn more each time and can insure the job is done right.

That said I had my Boston comps installed at Tweeter - mainly because of the custom modification and I didn't have the right tools for cutting into the doors.

I almost bought all Alpine gear at CC - I've not heard much positives about Best Buy.

 
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OK, I'm biased because I am a Best Buy certified installer. My comments are based on local experience from what I have seen come into the install bay and from locals who have had other shops install their equipment.

I have seen way too many cars come in with problems after the local Circuit City has done the install. A lot of people also complain about the local specialty shops, and not just about their outrageous prices. My friend/coworker had one of the local shops install his amps and subs because he needed some custom work done that he didn't want to deal with. A couple months later, his subs are blown.

Not sure on Circuit City's install warranty, but Best Buy will stand behind the install for the life of the vehicle. As an added note, we will also reinstall the stock equipment for you free of charge, provided their was no custom modifications done during install.

 
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once again. neither. But if I had to choose Circuit City. Best buy seems amaturish.

 
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Thought I'd chime in since I've worked at both places.
I am a car audio installer currently at Circuit City and I used to work at Best Buy.
Just like Best Buy, CC has a lifetime warranty on their installs and contrary to what the BB guy posted beforehand, I get a lot of Best Buy installs gone wrong at our shop.

The thing you have to remember is that since both are a national chain, not all of the installers at these places are created equal.
You have your good share and you have your bad share.
Some installers take pride in their work(like me) and some are there only to make money...BUT I would recommend CC over BB...we carry Alpine and we solder our connections.

 
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Hwoody77 - You are absolutely right, it depends on the installer(s) at the particular store you visit. Like you I am an installer who takes pride in the work, and I also take the time to solder the connections. I guess the bottom line is install it yourself if you can, or know your installer.

 
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I bought some KFC-P605ie Component Kenwoods from bestbuy, blew them out 3 times within 30 days then decided to go to Circuit City and get some Infinity 6000cs Reference Series component speakers. These speakers kick some major a**, I have 150w RMS running to each and there is no distortion what so ever. Been runnin em for about 2 months. In fact I didnt even hook up the back 6x9's cause I dont need em! The only downside to buying them at circuit city is the price for the service plan is almost twice as much in cost and is only good for 2 years, as opposed to bestbuy's plan that lasts 3 years. But at bestbuy you will need that service plan, especially if you get kenwood garbage. Steer clear from Kenwood, heard nothing but bad things about them.

 
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It strongly depends on what you are installing too. A chimp can install your headunit. If you want a false floor, go somewhere pro like a specialty shop.

 
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hey all, just my opinion since i've worked at both cc and bb...i believe cc has a better selection when it comes to speakers but install-wise it all depends on the installer. try to find some friends who has gotten stuff installed at your local bb and cc, and see their opinions on the installers. go from there. that's the best advice i can give ya. you're always going to hear horror stories about both companies, but you'll hardly hear about a good install from either.

 
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Besides RF, what does BB carry anyway?

 
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Best Buy. They are trained and certified to do installation. Just because they're a mainstream retailer doesn't mean they're crap. Some people just choose to go "emo" on stereo equipment...

 
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circuit city used 1 inch long screws to hold my grill on that went through the box, and a few other small messups. At best buy, someone's car caught on fire. Don't know if it's true, but I'd believe it.

 
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circuit city >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Best buy.. never had a problem w/ best buy installing decks, but as far as amps and subs go.. they suck, but its all about the people who work there.. i've heard bad things about both, so you just have to find out if they local guys are knowledgable..

 
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Well I started this thread like a month ago. CC has better speakers. CC has cheaper installation prices. CC carries Alpine, altho people have told me they're not going to carry it anymore in a month or two.

CC also ripped me off by trying to charge me $40 for a remote gain control **** that is supposed to be included with the amp I got. F them. But that's probably just an ******* installer and not a problem with CC as a whole. But at any rate, it was the Circuit City on Fabyan pkwy in Batavia, Illinois. So if you go there feel free to mention the incident and say "you better include the remote gain control **** unlike that guy you tried to rip off for $40." Damn, I wish I remembered the installer's name. I would post it all over the net.

 
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FYI, Best Buy will be carrying Alpine early 2005.