From AM to Audiophile:
Breif - History of Car Audio
Car audio has evolved from novelty to necessity — and from necessity to obsession.
Over the decades, the industry has transformed with every advancement in technology, retail, and fabrication. This is a time-stamped journey through the innovations, people, and movements that built car audio into what it is today.
1924 –1930: The First Car Radios
1924 – Kelly’s Motors in New South Wales, Australia, installs the first known in-car radio.
1930 – Galvin Manufacturing (later Motorola) introduces the Motorola 5T71, a $130 car radio during a time when a Ford Model A cost just $540.
1950 –1960: FM, Records, and Factory Options
FM radio gains traction as a clearer alternative to AM.
In 1956, Chrysler experiments with the Highway Hi-Fi — an in-dash record player.
Car radios become a standard factory feature across American-made vehicles.
1973: Jim Fosgate and the Birth of Punch
Jim Fosgate launches the PR-7000 amplifier at CES with the Frequency Energizer circuit — the first car amp that addressed in-car acoustic issues.
This leads to the creation of the Rockford Fosgate “Punch” series, which becomes a landmark in mobile sound performance.
1980 –1990: The Aftermarket Boom and Cultural Takeover
Brands like Alpine, Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, and Rockford fuel an aftermarket explosion.
Custom subwoofer enclosures, SPL competitions, and amplifier shootouts take over the scene.
Installation becomes an art form, with fiberglass fabrication, LED lighting, and trunk showcases becoming the norm.
The Rise of Installer Training
Rockford Technical Training Institute (RTTI) with their "Top Gun" installer training, at the time set the standard for installation education.
FAST School, founded by SPL world champion Mark Fukuda, helped installers bridge the gap between fabrication and real sound quality.
These institutions elevated the installer profession — from wiring tech to system designer and tuning expert.
The Legends of Fiberglass and Fabrication
Steve Brown and Gary Bell, working with Alpine, redefine custom install design with demo vehicles like Sinister 6 and Blackbird.
David “Fishman” Rivera pushes the limits of creativity and technical execution in show builds across the country.
This generation of builders makes car audio as much about appearance as it is about performance.
1990 –2000: Amps Become Art, and Retail Shifts
Iconic Amplifiers
Precision Power’s Art Series blends visual art and analog warmth.
Linear Power introduces vibrant, candy-colored heatsinks with boutique sound.
Xtant offers modular, reference-grade amplifier systems.
Zapco, under Robert Zeff, pioneers balanced line input technology and ultra-clean circuits.
ARC Audio, also led by Zeff, modernizes that legacy with compact, high-performance SQ amps proven by Brian Mitchell.
From Garage to Engineering Lab
Car audio shops used to run off table saws, jigsaws, and test lights. You’d measure twice, cut once, and hope the relay triggered right the first time.
Today’s elite shops are more like fabrication labs and electronics studios than garages.
CNC routers, laser beds, and 3D printers are now standard equipment.
3D scanners capture factory panels with millimeter precision.
Design software like Fusion 360 and Illustrator is used alongside Baltic Birch, MDF and fiberglass.
On the electronics side, the evolution is just as dramatic:
From simple SPDT relays and ground triggers to optical relays, CAN-bus interfaces, and programmable logic tied directly into vehicle networks.
Tuning used to be done by ear. Now it’s done with RTAs, microphones, binaural setups, and time-aligned DSP software.
The skill set has shifted from “install tech” to system designer, fabricator, integrator, and acoustic engineer — all under one roof.
It’s no longer about just making it work — it’s about making it beautiful, repeatable, and perfectly tuned.
Car Audio Magazine: Our Original Social Media
Before Napster. Before MySpace. Before Facebook. Before Instagram and long before the “evil” TikTok...
We had Car Audio Magazine.
That glossy monthly issue was our social media feed. It was how we found inspiration, stayed connected to the scene, and saw what other shops and builders were creating across the country. Installers waited every month to flip through tech articles, install spotlights, and SPL coverage. If your build made it into Car Audio & Electronics, you made it.
It was more than a magazine
— it was the heartbeat of a culture, passed from garage to garage, install bay to install bay.
Taking the Torch
Among today’s elite builders, Matt Schaeffer of Musaic Design stands out as a modern master of the craft.
Matt took the torch from legends like Steve Brown “ohhh that Acura Legend will always be my fav”— not just in terms of fabrication skill, but in his attention to detail, system design philosophy, and integration with vehicle aesthetics. He’s raised the bar with a perfectionist’s mindset and a clean, modern aesthetic that’s helped redefine what high-end car audio looks and sounds like in this era.
But he’s not alone.
Behind him, a wave of young guns is rising fast — installers and designers who grew up watching YouTube, listening to podcasts, and absorbing every ounce of knowledge available. They’re hungry, creative, and pushing boundaries — and they’re proving that the next generation isn’t just coming, it’s already here.
Retail Changes: Crutchfield to Big Box
Crutchfield revolutionized mail-order car audio in 1974 with detailed catalogs and fitment guides.
Circuit City, The Good Guys, and Tweeter become retail giants offering same-day installs and in-store demos.
Installers honed their craft in high-volume environments while customers experience audio upgrades firsthand.
In many cities, car theft has created an entire subcategory of work for audio and security shops — replacing stolen electronics, damaged door lock cylinders, and steering columns. This ongoing problem poured fuel on the fire for the car alarm and vehicle automation market, driving demand for smarter, more secure systems.
2000 – 2010: Amazon, OEM DSP, and the Collapse of Big Box
Big-box stores collapse, with Circuit City and The Good Guys shutting down. Best Buy reduces its mobile install presence.
Amazon reshapes the consumer buying experience — low prices, fast shipping, but no guidance or install support.
Meanwhile, car manufacturers begin using DSP to correct cheap factory speakers, giving consumers a “good enough” sound — but lacking the emotion and dynamics car audio is known for.
2010 – 2020: The Return of the Local Expert
As vehicles become more complex, DIY installs become riskier and more difficult.
Professional shops began to rise again and get stronger — not for convenience, but for their technical ability to integrate with OEM systems, tune DSPs, and build experiences instead of just systems.
The new generation of car audio builds focuses on soundstage, time alignment, and realism — not just loudness.
Quiet Giants & Culture CarriersThe industry is also being shaped by those who are less about self-promotion and more about letting the work speak for itself.
Aaron White, through his genisis of the Audio Dynamics Roadshow, continues to bring high-performance, high-value car audio to the forefront. His commitment to real-world systems that sound exceptional without exceeding budget. His touring pioneered while introducing thousands of installers and enthusiasts to gear that performs far beyond expectations, helping to rebuild consumer trust.
Meanwhile, Bobby Gately, founder of Gately Audio, has carved out a respected space in the SPL and enclosure design world. Known for his precision-built subwoofer enclosures, Bobby’s work “quietly loud” (podcast plug) sets a high standard for output, tuning accuracy, and build quality in both competition and daily-use systems.Industry experts aren’t just selling audio—they’re crafting legacies, leading with action, and contributing to a stronger, more technical, and more emotionally connected industry.
2020: Digital Education, Podcasts, and the Rebirth of Passion
Modern Education and Industry Growth
Mobile Solutions, led by Bryan Schmitt, becomes the gold standard in professional training for fabrication, tuning, and OEM integration.
KnowledgeFest emerges as the national training, networking, and product launch hub for serious car audio pros.
The Digital Classrooms
Mark from Car Audio Fabrication (CAF) leads the charge on YouTube with professional tutorials, install walk-throughs, and CAD-based fabrication techniques — giving newcomers a real education from their garage.
The Old-Fashioned Car Audio Podcast delivers long-form discussions with industry veterans, sharing stories, philosophy, and history for those hungry to go deeper into the culture and craft.
Together, these platforms are passing down knowledge, building the next wave of professionals, and rekindling the passion that built the scene decades ago.
A Personal Note from Advanced Car Audio Solutions
As someone who started in the car audio business in the late 1980s, I’ve lived through every stage of this industry — from running installs in the back of big-box stores to building award-winning custom systems, and later collaborating with legends like Mark Fukuda, Gary Bell, Steve Brown, and David “Fishman” Rivera.
I trained through RTTI and FAST School, and I continue to push our business forward by engaging with today’s leaders at KnowledgeFest and Mobile Solutions — and yes, I still watch CAF videos and listen to the Old-Fashioned Car Audio Podcast.
We’re proud to say we’ve not only witnessed this history — we’ve been part of it.
Final Thoughts
Car audio isn’t dying. It’s evolving.
We’ve moved from tape decks and 6x9s to fiber optic inputs, DSPs, and high-resolution tuning. We’ve gone from catalog shopping to Amazon — and now, back to something better: the trusted local shop.
At Advanced Car Audio Solutions, we build systems that do more than play — they create emotions that move you everyday.
Because we believe great car audio should never be about convenience — it should be about craftsmanship, connection, and joy, even if you just listen to podcasts…
If you’re ready to feel your music again….. we’re ready to build it.