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Did the 1980s Start the Decline of 12-volt Aftermarket Audio?
No, the 12-volt aftermarket audio industry won’t be leaving us any time soon. But it is in decline, and has been for many years. As a trade publication for the custom electronics industry recently suggested, last year might have seen a 50 percent reduction in jobs for 12-volt electronics installers. We don’t know if that prediction became reality, but major 12-volt electronics vendors now avoid the once-ubiquitous Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Instead, they opt for the business-centric SEMA show, and a 12-volt trade specific show called KnowledgeFest.
So we are seeing smoke, which suggests there is a fire … somewhere. Perhaps we saw the genesis of this downward spiral in the late 1980s. This was the era of American automakers differentiating themselves from their imported competition with superior audio systems, installed from the factory. From digital tuners to high-wattage analog amplifiers with stunning mid-bass response, America clearly had something to prove.
And the automakers backed it up with the technology and partnerships to make it happen. As discussed previously, General Motors led the charge with a Bose partnership in the “Delco/Bose Symphony Sound”-equipped Cadillac Seville and Eldorado, Oldsmobile Toronado, and Buick Riviera for 1983. Ford had a revised (and similarly excellent) 80-watt Premium Sound system that same year, but it saw enough success in GM’s partnership to pair up with audio engineering firm JBL in 1986.
Chrysler also got the memo, adding Infinity audio to its portfolio in 1987. Most of the Detroit-based audio upgrades were intended for posh automobiles, but the trickle-down theory ensured things would get better in the coming years. The days of buying a car with an AM radio (or no radio at all) and upgrading to better hardware from places like Crutchfield or the local K-Mart as a rite of passage (for audiophiles and motorheads alike) were coming to an end.
A large number of factory stereos stopped emitting deplorable decibels by the time this MotorWeek feature story aired on public television in 1988. They go deeper, comparing the pros and cons of both factory and aftermarket stereos. As a fan of both factory (high-bias cassettes with Ford Premium Sound, please!) and aftermarket setups (Alpine’s green chicklet buttons FTW!) of the era, I was please to see the MotorWeek story rightly comparing the financing/warranty benefits of a factory audio system to the customization potential available in the aftermarket.
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Both accomplished the same mission, in completely different ways, ensuring there was no wrong answer for consumers. Some preferred a slightly elevated monthly payment to go with their audiophile intentions, while others fired up a credit card to get the finest aftermarket bits available. Things got better in the 1990s, and that might apply to both factory and aftermarket opportunities.
Factory-installed subwoofers, multiple amplifiers, and CD players were commonplace. Even the traditional Mercury Grand Marquis owner could be swayed to appreciate fine audio from JBL. Perhaps now they’d be willing to buy a CD player and amplifier for their teenage grandchildren?
Forget about seeing is believing, because ears are just as important as one’s eyes. And a rising tide lifts all boats, as better factory systems reminded all that audio upgrades weren’t just for a picky few. Anyone could do it, with little more than a visit to the nearest Radio Shack, Circuit City, or even a Service Merchandise catalog/store.
But there’s good reason why some readers have never been to the aforementioned retailers, and it’s not just because everything is on Amazon/eBay/TEMU these days. The factory systems were innovative, fed by bottomless pits of money relative to the aftermarket audio corporations’ modest cash flow. Take, for example, the dealer-installed mini-disc option in 1994 for Ford vehicles with a double-DIN stereo hole. Jac “The Knife” Nasser killed the fun in Detroit, but Ford experimented with many automotive enhancements while it could.
Ford was not alone in its innovations, either, because Oldsmobile put its Guidestar navigation system into production around 1995. These rare feats of in-car revolution portended a future where OEMs were gunning hard for all the money they could squeeze out of their customers before they left the dealership. And that future that was less than 20 years away.
The automobile’s relationship with in-car entertainment was forever changed by the 2013 Tesla Model S, as sound quality and in-car navigation weren’t the only things to pique a buyer’s interest. Huge screens, smartphone interfaces, and advanced telematics meant modern car buyers have a lot more than Bose speakers to pine for in a new vehicle.
But the “traditional” audio upgrade was still around, even for the forward-thinking Tesla Model S. Such upgrades might actually be alive and well, but owners are now balancing them with a larger universe of automotive technology. Features like navigation and HD radios are bundled with good amplification and great speaker placement. And on the retail side, this technology tortilla includes rolling automotive accessories into the proverbial meal.
Probably the best example of said automotive burrito comes from Tint World, which came to life in 1982 when Charles J. Bonfiglio opened a modest window tinting business in Tamarac, Florida. He soon realized the need to offer “auto security, car stereo systems, and wash & wax services,” and eventually opened the concept up to franchisees in 2006. Tint World now has over 150 locations globally. I visited one operation shortly after the pandemic, and it’s clear their hybrid business model offers something for anyone who loves their car. Even the vintage name aged well, when considering the meteoric rise in paint protection film sales.
So no, the rise of outstanding OEM electronics with a factory warranty and a singular monthly payment has not completely killed the aftermarket audio industry. It’s likely contracted significantly, and it took a good 40 years to happen. But audiophiles can rejoice, because if your factory audio offering disappoints, there are alternatives available both online and in person. Good tunes aren’t impossible to find—they are merely seeking refuge amongst the shelves of complementary goods and related services.
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First good factory tunes were the JBL systems in my 89-93-95 SHOs. Was putting on lots of miles then and they were pleasurable. Last aftermarket I did was on new 84 CRX. Tunes were dealer installed in Hondas at that time but wiring was there from the factory
Once the radio was integrated with the A/C controls and other stuff it became essentially impossible to install a head unit. Or very expensive. My 88 Accord DX had no radio at all, dust a filler plate in a single DIN space in the dash. Installing a CD player was very simple. That hasn’t been the case for a long time.
Things began to change when automakers saw Money to be made. Then these systems were integrated with the. Body control modules. This let the cars speed compensate for volume and even read the Eros codes for the system.
The other issue was theft. Cars and stores. The factory can lock out the radio if stolen. The stores like Kmart and others were getting robbed blind.
Even at my work we dropped audio because in the store people were shoving radios in their wheel chair padding or ordering on the web with stolen card numbers. Just no money for many retailers.
Most factory systems do sound good. My truck with Bose was a little disappointing but GMC offered a Kicker sub I installed in 45 min. If rounded out the sound.
The real key was to get away from radio, tapes and even CD’s. MP3’s of a quslity level have added much to audio sound. I just mostly play my phone with a 20k song rotation.
In my 2002 Bose Corvette stereo I just added a Bluetooth hook up that is wireless. I added a remote button and my audio is great. To go to a modern stereo I would have had to cut the dash up. I really don’t need a touch screen.
Today these 33” digital dashes are lighter and save money. Audio is all in them and no place to add much anymore at low cost.
I just order the best stereo anymore. They are good enough.
Now I did upgrade the Fiero’s from Cassette to CD but used a GM head unit that was newer. It retains the Pontiac read lights and I incorporated the factory sub which works well with the seat speakers.
Sometimes the factory mix can get interesting.
The late 1990s and early 2000s were the golden era of car audio. Two 15″ subs and a 1000W class D amplifier would get more attention in my high school parking lot than a supercharger poking through the hood. The audio wall at Best Buy (behind the football field of CD racks) was a weekly visit. Want to watch a millenial get misty-eyed? Remind them of the Pioneer CD player “with the dolphins”. I almost gave away my “chicklet” Alpine, until I looked on eBay and saw they’re going for more than I paid 20 years ago!
The decline of car audio began shortly after the first iPhone launch. No, I’m not just going to blame smartphones for everything – there are specific advancements driven by the phone market. The first was viable touchscreen technology, which was encouraged and made affordable by the phone and tablet companies. Until touchscreens, pretty much all factory car radios fit one of three industry-standard sizes. It was easy for companies like Pioneer and Alpine to make one radio that could fit almost every car built over the last 20 years. With the advent of screen-based infotainment, automakers quickly abandoned the standard size formats for proprietary designs. Second, smartphones gave rise to streaming services and apps, which change constantly. People upgrade phones every two years, but cars maybe every ten. Rather than try to build integrated audio that’s outdated by the time it reaches the showroom, it’s easier now for cars to just have Bluetooth and screen mirroring, so that the car audio is always as current as the paired device. Finally, having a big, interactive screen in the car happened around the same time as the rise of CANBUS, a standard for vehicle components to communicate with one another – for which each company has a proprietary implementation. So, you now have a touchscreen that doesn’t just play music – it controls your heated seats, displays backup cameras, and even tells you when your next service is due. It’s not worth it for the aftermarket companies to build in all that functional integration for anything but the largest manufacturers.
So, yes, the decline is happening, brought on by expanding capabilities and loss of standards. As a 90s kid with fond memories of upgrading the stereo in each new car, usually before the first tank of gas ran out, it does make me a little sad. Of course, I don’t miss flipping through a 200-disc CD binder at highway speed, or carrying my radio faceplate in the back pocket of my JNCOs to thwart theives.
Tried to put a big screen nav/ stereo unit in my daughters 2016 bmw x3. Online videos from the manufacturer helped a little but some of the wiring instructions were lacking. Took it to a car audio place and they struggled with it also. I just didn’t want to hook something up wrong and fry the $600 unit or something under the dash
I can’t even remember how many in-dash audio devices I replaced for friends, girlfriends, family and myself, my young back insisting that each one needed to be the last.
I’m shocked that the “I don’t need no fancy-schmancy music machine in MY car – I just want to listen to the sweet sounds of my engine as I row through the gears” crowd hasn’t chimed in here yet. I admit that I don’t understand two whits about what even a beginner audiophile does about vehicular sound systems, but I do know that I love listening to good music while on the road. Trouble is that my old, heavily damaged, hearing can’t appreciate the finer systems like it once did.
Funny line about going to the local K-Mart after a car purchase. I installed an old 8-track unit under the dash in my Pontiac (just like in the old days) as a conversation piece. It isn’t even hooked up, but I put different old tapes in it and load up matching CDs in the trunk-hidden player. Many folks ask about it, and I turn the key on so one of the appropriate songs comes on – giving the illusion that the 8-track is playing. I tell people that it’s “what we did on the way home from buying a car: stopped at K-Mart for an 8-track to install when we got home”.
You are very right, it was precisely what we did back then. My father, once he could afford it as a graduate student, got both a tape player and 8-tracks for his 1970 Mercury Montego.
High fidelity (and the unfortunate snobbery that comes with it) is irrelevant, as I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like music. And if you are one of those people living in this era, you will want to buy a stereo and/or tapes just to listen to music in your cherished vehicle.
Exactly what I did in 1969 after turning 16 and getting my car. First thing was an 8 track and some speakers before the Anson mags and Goodyear Polyglas white letter tires. Still have that car but the 8 track and speakers are long gone. Still have Anson mags in 15″ size but not on Polyglas tires.
The decline of aftermarket audio is specifically tied to the lack of standardized slots in which to install a stereo / nav, etc. into. With integrated NAV / AC / Radio units there is nowhere to put something into anymore or even if you could you might miss out on some car specific programs/modes on screen. My audio snobbiness basically wants something that is decently balanced and can play lossless audio formats. Also it is still nice to have a CD player. It costs little in terms of real estate or cost as optical drives are cheap. I was quite happy the the most recent car I purchased, A Lexus IS 500 besides all the Android/Apple stuff still has an optical drive. Heck it even plays DVD’s on top of CD’s and USB drives with FLAC/WAV/MP3, etc. formats. Plus it has a naturally aspirated high revving V8 for the other part of the audio experience that is also going away.
I was installing aftermarket stereos in my cars up until the early 2000s. I stopped for a number of reasons. One – factory systems just got better. There were always good ones, but having a good one in a more base car became a lot more common. Two – yes it’s harder without DIN sizes, and it’s a lot harder to get all the little trim pieces and whatnot off, and sneaking wires into the engine compartment, etc. and 3 if you aren’t just going for louder, there really is a maximum limit to better imposed by the geometry of car interiors and outside road noise… and four – stuffing myself under a dash without a real driving need isn’t that appealing anymore
What kills me is today all MP3 recordings are not equal. Todays systems are good enough you can tell good from bad. Kind of like even Sat Radio lacks quality.
The system in my Corvette is a better Bose. Not all Bose are the same either. Many complain about the sound. But I have found the better the recording the better the sound.
You put crap in you get crap out. Often it does not take a fancy audio system to sound good it takes better recordings.
CD quality is much the same good and bad.
Tapes will always lack in sound and now with age many degrade sadly. If you can you may want to put them on digital if they are rare.
Im good with the stock system even at 24 years old.
I always rip my MP3s to the higher file size settings
My Corvette system is Big Block so I usually don’t even bother turning the radio on
My 1985 C4 had a terrible Bose Am/Fm Cassette system where the tape deck didn’t work. I tore it and tried to install a Sony “Plug n Play” Am/Fm CD radio system. I had to tear out the old speakers with the leaking circuit boards attached and replace them with new speakers. The access holes for the speakers were so small, I felt like an obstetrician trying to undo the bolts holding the speakers and the wiring circuit boards. After a few days of broken skin and bruised pride, I finally have stereo sound. The first tune I heard was the pilots’ favorite… “Top Gun”! Next time the car goes to the dealer and they can scratch their knuckles!
My Ranger has the Bang & Olufsen uorated stereo in it and it is amazing. The best mobile stereo I’ve ever had. I’ve had aftermaket stereos installed in Jaguar and Range Rover and the factory stereo in the Ranger beats those by a long shot….
I remember in the 80’s, ARA which was one of the first companies to make auto air conditioners made radios that were plug and play for low and mid priced cars. They plugged in and mounted exactly like the factory radios and had the same buttons and faceplates. Dealers could have them installed for less than the factory charged.
In that same era, I had a contact who ran the local ARA. I used to buy the take-out radios for pennies and flip them at the local swap meets. Then I met some buyers from certain cities (Detroit, Chicago, etc) where stereo theft was rampant, and sold OEM head units to them in bulk. Fun side hustle.
Back in the day, the green Alpine buttons were an instant status symbol.
Don’t worry, they still are in certain circles!
Most new cars have a screen of some kind in the center console and most of those screens have some controls or features that cannot be managed without the screen. Furthermore, the audio systems are designed to work only with the screens, so in many vehicles, swapping out for a non-OEM system is an effort at best, impossible at worst.