SMS INSTALLATION PROCESS
Tell us what you want it to do. We’ll build the install around that.
A clean install starts before the first panel comes off. We need to know what you want from the system, what is already in the vehicle, which factory functions have to stay and what space or vehicle use cannot be sacrificed. That keeps the equipment, wiring, fabrication, electrical and tuning working as one plan instead of becoming five separate decisions halfway through the job.
1. Start with the result.
Cleaner vocals. More output. More bass. Better staging. CarPlay. Cameras. Lighting. A factory-looking upgrade. A stunt wall. A complete custom system. Or a correction to something already installed. We start with what you want the vehicle to do, then look at the vehicle, factory audio package and equipment already in it.
2. Build the equipment and labor plan.
Once the goal is clear, SMS matches the products and labor to the actual vehicle. That can include speakers, pro audio, amplifiers, DSP, radios, interfaces, cameras, batteries, wiring, enclosures, fabrication, acrylic, lighting and tuning.
We choose around fitment, factory signal, available space, impedance, useful power, electrical demand, cooling, service access and the rest of the system—not because a part happens to fit the hole.
3. Lock in the appointment.
Installation appointments generally require a 50% deposit. Custom and one-of-a-kind orders must be paid in full before production or ordering. Special-order products may also require advance payment.
A missed appointment or late cancellation can result in forfeiture of the appointment deposit. If something changes, contact SMS as early as possible.
4. Vehicle check-in.
Bring the vehicle with the areas we need to work in reasonably clear of personal items. At check-in, we review the agreed work, note relevant vehicle condition and confirm anything that needs to be handled before disassembly begins.
5. Build it.
This is where the plan becomes the system. Depending on the project, that can mean vehicle disassembly, speaker mounting, amplifier and DSP installation, OFC wiring and fuse protection, factory integration, radio or camera work, enclosure construction, electrical upgrades, CNC or laser fabrication, acrylic, 3D-printed parts and Lit FX.
Wiring, equipment and custom parts are mounted with heat, vibration, water paths, service access and normal vehicle use in mind. The goal is not just to make it work today; the install has to make sense in the vehicle.
6. Configure, tune and test.
When the physical work is complete, we set up and verify the system. Depending on the build, SMS may check factory-signal behavior, polarity, crossover settings, gain structure, amplifier loading, voltage, radio or camera functions and DSP routing.
DSP systems are measured in the vehicle and verified by listening. Camera, radio, lighting and retained factory functions are checked before handoff. A powerful system is fine. A complicated system is fine. It still has to operate correctly as a whole.
7. Handoff.
At pickup, we review the controls and anything you need to know for normal use. If the system has presets, controllers, removable pieces, lighting functions or special operating instructions, we cover them before the vehicle leaves.
What should you send before the appointment?
- Vehicle year, make, model, trim and factory audio package.
- Current equipment already installed.
- What you want the system or vehicle to do.
- Useful photos of the radio, doors, dash, cargo area, battery, saddlebags or existing wiring.
- Seat, cargo, roof, door, storage or service-access requirements that must remain.
- Budget range and future upgrades already planned.
SMS installation policies.
- SMS installs equipment supplied through SMS Car Audio and does not accept customer-supplied products for installation.
- Installation, DSP tuning, fabrication, lighting, custom enclosures and larger planning sessions require an appointment.
- Installation appointments generally require a 50% deposit.
- Custom and one-of-a-kind orders must be paid in full and are non-refundable and non-cancelable once ordered or approved.
- SMS does not offer automotive window tint, alarm installation or remote-start installation.
- Boat or vessel projects must be approved before equipment is ordered or an appointment is booked.
Ready to build it?
You do not need to know the complete equipment list. Tell us the vehicle, how you use it and what you want the finished system to do.