Ballard Custom Audio and owner Bill were incredible! I brought my 2008 Toyota Tundra in to have a backup camera installed with Apple Car Play. He installed SO quickly and then showed me how to work everything, including extra features he added. Highly recommend for any a/v and other misc electrical needs for all autos! read more

I finally had my system completed after my nightmare with Ballard custom audio. I initially provided 1 star because of how badly the owner Bill had performed my initial install and all of the issues that stemmed from this. I am now giving three stars and ONLY because Mark did such an amazing job with getting this system into the best shape possible - THANK YOU SO MUCH MARK! This being said - I would never bring any other vehicle here again unless mark was doing the work. I would have also been less bitter had Bill taken accountability for his poorly executed job and took the time to get it right, but instead he avoided correcting the issues and made excuses about it. That man showed me that he has such poor character. read more

Had a consultation here when looking for a subwoofer to get installed and I'm so glad I did. Passionate about audio and great attention to detail read more

I recently had a new head unit with CarPlay installed in a car from the 90's and the guys at Ballard Custom audio did a fantastic job. The car looks like it came from the factory with the modern unit installed and they also were able to do the job for literally $2000 less than what a dealership quoted me. Really happy I went to Ballard Custom Audio. It feels like I'm driving a whole new car. read more

They did my car alarm on a few of my cars. They give you the Nordstrom treatment. Highly recommend this place!!! They are honest and they care!! Trust me their so good they are booked out! You can trust this place!!! Prices are honest and fair. read more

I'm no audiophile, but managed to install two amps & a subwoofer in my ford bronco with the help of a friend. The added bass caused a common issue, a rattling noise where the sub and amp were mounted. After about 10 hours of work and an upcoming trip I was entertaining paying a professional to get rid of the rattle so I can move on with life. I spoke with the owner who was very knowledgeable and familiar with my vehicle and told me "If you were able to install the system then you can install some sound deadening." The shop has such a cool vibe and the owner looks like he has a sick doom metal band on the side. He suggested I use this material called "roadkill" and sold me a sheet of it and gave me a tutorial on the installation useful tools for the job. 30 mins later... no more rattle. He easily could've tried to charge me some exorbitant labor fee but that honesty is why I will recommend them to anybody and will enlist their services on more complex installs in the future. read more

Ballard Custom Audio - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Bill did a fantastic job installing a rear camera and CarPlay in my MINI Cooper. They took me in as a last minute appointment, after installation he walked me through all the features, and even texted one of the component manufacturers when something wasn't clear. I won't lie, it wasn't cheap, but when it's clear you're working with a talented and hard working local business it really feels like I got my moneys worth. read more

Ballard Custom Audio - CarPlay working on MINI Cooper screen - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Definitely not cheap, but well worth it for the level of work that these guys do. Installed my new head unit and a back up camera in my 2000 land cruiser without any issue (one day too!). Would recommend to anyone pursuing high quality workmanship for audio or technology installation in their vehicle. The folks here are passionate about what they do. read more

Simply Excellent. Bill designed and delivered an epic sound system for my Bronco - and completed the job in only 1 day. I am absolutely thrilled with the result. Now I've got crystal clear audio and superb bass response that blows the old factory system out of the water. If you're in the market for an audio upgrade, I highly recommend Ballard Custom Audio. You won't be disappointed! read more

Ballard Custom Audio - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I just got my 2012 RAV 4 stereo upgraded with these guys and so far I am beyond happy with everything about the experience. They were able to install everything I was hoping for in time for an upcoming planned roadtrip! In fact when I first made the appointment for a consult I told him I was hoping to get it done before the roadtrip date and even though I had to wait a while for the initial appointment Bill was able to have it ready in time. He even did the install on the Saturday to make sure it was ready! I am sure he had to do a lot of work to get everything in (stereo and new backup camera) and tied in to the older harness but everything is very clean and looks seamless. read more

Consummate pros. Bill & co. demonstrate deep technical knowledge & expertise through clear & concise communication and the delivery of quality work while making it all look easy. read more

These guys are full of themselves. They talk like they provide vaccines rather than put audio parts in cars. They have contact info through Yelp and other sources. But use that and the response is "we don't give estimates here, call in". Call in, however, and the response is "we don't give estimates on the phone, you must schedule an appointment". And they're booked up for the next month, which may explain the attitude albeit still inexcusable. Ask about pricing and they start talking about their rent without you asking. I pay rent too... boohoo? Ask for recommendations and the answer is "I don't even know what car you have". So I got a $2k job done elsewhere in a few days rather than in a month just to get an estimate. And all was well again. read more

Ballard Custom Audio programmed two car remotes for me. Work was fast, very reasonably priced, with friendly service. Thank you!

The team at Ballard Custom Audio is not just professional, but driven. Willing to work around technical issues, supply issues, and not just deliver, but support the work they do. I had a fair amount of work done on my 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel (5th wheel camera, replacing the tailgate camera, replacing the instrument cluster, replaced the media unit, new tow mirrors, etc...). Some of which was straightforward and easy, some of it was brand new to the team, but they didn't flinch at the idea of tackling something new. On top of this all, getting parts in was a NIGHTMARE, but they worked with me to make sure we were always on the same page as to what was next, when it would happen, and how much it would cost. I cannot recommend Bill and his team more for anyone that wants any upgrades or updates done to their rig for audio, security, additional cameras/options... they seem to be able to do anything. read more

I took my 2023 RAV4 in to get a front and rear dash camera installed. Everything about them was professional and exceptional. I'd highly recommend Bill over any of the large local installers. read more

I came to Bill at Ballard Custom Audio because I wasn't confident the other shops in town would do the work properly. I had high expectations and Bill met them. He fixed up my Prius C with an awesome sound system that totally blows my mind. He recommended all of the best components and installed them perfectly. I love the results and I am very happy. If you want to get your car dialed in with great audio - look no further. read more

So far, so good. I walked in on a busy Friday afternoon and both guys who were there stopped to help me out. I made an appointment for a diagnostic three weeks later since it is summer and they are backed up. Everyone was friendly and helpful. They made me feel welcome and apologized for not being able to look at my car at that moment. Fine by me. I was glad to know they are busy and I'm patient when it comes to quality work. Three weeks later, update #1: Excellent progress: Bill was happy to show me all the possible bells and whistles we could add on to the basic stereo. He was not watching the clock, but was patient in answering all my questions. I'm going for an upgrade with an amp, and fancy speakers. I put down a deposit and left happy. I'll finish this up later when the work is done. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Final update 9/12/18: FABULOUS SOUND! Oh dear God! I cannot believe how wonderful this new stereo sounds. It's my new love. Thank you, Bill, for bringing my 1992 Miata into the 21st Century! I love the touch screen and high-end sound. You are a master, and I am forever grateful. I will tell everyone I know to go to Ballard Custom Audio. You are the best!!! read more

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Saw a lot of good reviews for this shop so called to get a quote on having a rearview camera installed that I purchased off of Amazon. The owner, Bill, was extremely rude and told me he wouldn't "make enough money" on installing a backup camera that didn't come from his shop. When I asked him if he could just give me a ballpark price for an install, he was extremely condescending, kept insinuating that I didn't know enough about cars, and would need me to bring in the camera to know whether or not it was even compatible. I let him know that I did know it was compatible, because I had tested it myself. He then went on to repeat his statement that an install like this wouldn't make him enough money. At this point, I was fed up and was glad that I had had a preview of this company's priorities before choosing to give them my business. I would stay away from this place - they have horrible customer service and care mostly about taking your money. read more

I wish I could get the kind of service that Ballard Custom Audio provides from all of my service providers. Bill, the owner, is laser-focused on the customer's needs. He tries to meet the customer's needs, or solve the customer's problems, in the least-expensive way possible, while providing a full range of options. He is straightforward and practical, and the prices for Ballard's work are very fair. Six stars if possible! read more

Bill and the team do a great job both with helping find the best equipment and installation in a prompt and professional manner. They treat you like family... And stand behind their work read more

My experience with BCA was amazing from start to finish! I was looking to have apple car play installed in a 2006 Honda CRV. After doing some research on nearby shops, I called BCA and spoke with owner Bill. Bill was very friendly and knowledgeable about the matter! Over the phone he explained to me the possibilities of what could be done and worked around my needs (he was going to put the aux cable in the charging port I needed, so instead he created a different place for the aux cable to be installed). I ended up going to the shop the same day and dropping off my car. Bill further talked with me at the shop and asked about what I was looking for and gave me recommendations. We ultimately decided on a system and 2 days later I had the car back. It looks absolutely amazing!! I am very happy with the service, the customer service and the final product! I would 100% recommend! read more

Ballard Custom Audio - Apple CarPlay installed in 2006 Honda CRV - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Seattle, Washington

BCA installed a system in my Tesla Model S. I was worried about the installation as these are not easy vehicles to work on. Bill is amazing! He's knowledgeable, extremely careful about removing/replacing trim panels, & particular about the aesthetics of the finished product. He was patient in answering all my questions and designs the system around what type of music you typically listen to. He clearly is "next-level" on crafting a design that looks factory professional. Definitely the place to go if you're looking to upgrade your car audio. read more

Bill is an icon a legend and a star! Had a speaker system with a screen and a backup camera installed and everything is perfect. I would have most certainly had the wrong stuff put in if it weren't for his helpful suggestions. He also was super knowledgeable about my car and fit me in to his fully booked schedule and got everything done so fast. Couldn't be happier! read more

I brought my car to BCA for a new Bluetooth stereo and the owner was super helpful. I got my installation right away that particular day. I had a problem with the installation and came back a week or so later and again the owner was super helpful. All was fixed and I have not had any issues since. He took the time to show me how to work everything correctly which really helped. It's expensive but the customer service and support is well worth it. read more

Great place with old fashioned business sense. Highly skilled techs and do exceptional clean work. Wish I had known they existed years ago. They turned my 2005 Toyota Tacoma into an amazing 'Apple Car Plat '. Machine! Put a backup camera in that is crazy helpful the latest gear with very fair pricing. I highly recommend this car audio shop. It's old school and as good as they get. read more

I had been having issues with a custom speaker I had put in by someone else so I took my car to Ballard Custom Audio and they made everything right plus some. I felt like the pricing was really fair too! Few things I appreciated: - they tested it out to try to fix a few things free of charge before having me book an appointment so their consultation services I was impressed with. - they were willing to work on my car that had issues due to the wiring job of someone else and they did it without question - not only did they fix everything, they offered up suggestions to make it better than before without additional cost and worked to use what I had vs. encouraging me to buy new equipment - Once I picked it up, they let me know there could be a few glitches due to the older software I had and they offered to do a new installment on that for free if I were to have issues at a later time and they would do that free of charge. - they back up their work 100% and are super transparent and no frills. It was a great first experience so I would highly recommend. read more

First off, the fact that this shop is the only one that picks up the phone NO MATTER WHAT already sets it above the rest. All of the small audio shops either don't pick up or have a weird online form. The owner Bill answered the phone right away, though he is abrupt and can come off rude to some, hang tight and tuck your pride aside, he knows his stuff. I, like most of you, was moderately put-off by the brash attitude BUT after you let your emotions and ego simmer down you realize this guy is busy as all hell and has tons and tons on his brain so he is a "down-to-business" type. I set up an in-person consultation where I was given a straight forward quote emailed to me immediately. Bill straight up told me hey I won't compete with online product cost because he has to keep his business alive. What he does offer for that premium is peace of mind, location convenience, human interaction, questions answered, and the holy grail of small business labor "The Eternal Workmanship Guarantee." OK, that covers first impressions. You will wait a month or so during summertime to have your job done so for those of you who need instant gratification, do it yourself. The work is well worth the wait. Pricing is a little on the expensive side but I really understand I am paying for more than just materials. As far as the work is concerned, I am very happy. Everything was finished right on schedule and in less than 24hrs. My Alpine Halo 9" screen fits flawlessly and is crazy secure (no wobble transfer). After a day I noticed my SiriusXM Sat antenna was being finicky so I called these guys and Zach told me I could come in that day and have them replace the part in 20mins no charge (as promised). It took about that long and voila problem solved. No complaints. Nice work guys! ATTN: For those of you with iPhone X or later looking to have the Alpine ILX-F309 installed, just be aware there is a firmware issue that prevents you from being able to hear more than a whisper during a phone call. You will have to use internal phone speakers or headphones for hands-free calls until this is updated. read more

Bill and crew did a great job on a couple of kicks in my classic '72 'burban. They found a truly perfect modern replacement for the AM radio in the dash. It looks KILLER, and I can tell Bill spent a lot of time to get it just right - including a few bits he shanghai'd from the original unit. Having Bluetooth compatibility and two cleverly hidden USB ports completes the awesome job. I really really like the look and appreciate all the thoughtful design decisions Bill made. The kicks both sound great too, nice speakers and they blend really well into the still vintage cab. On the flip-side though, I lost the ability to fully open the two knee level vents, which is a bit of a bummer, but not a big deal. The light bar that attached to the roof during the job also left a few deep scratches and two rectangular scuff marks in the exterior paint over my door, but nothing too obvious, and not quite worth bumping down a star in the review, as the inside was really exceptional. Not cheap, but top quality work never should be. read more

Ballard Custom Audio - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really wanted them to install my new head unit and speakers, but couldn't wait 2 months to get a consultation let alone an install appointment. Happy for them, sad for me read more

Bill and his crew worked on my 2008 Miata (which didn't even have bluetooth) and replaced the head unit with a Pioneer receiver that gives me Apple Car Play and much more. They subsequently installed a backup camera using the same receiver. First class work. My Miata's new electronics make it feel like a brand new car. This shop really is great. The people working on your car know what they are doing. You certainly won't get the cheapest prices from them, but you will get first class work from knowledgeable people who really care about what they are doing. read more

Bill Brown at Ballard Custom Audio is the only place you need to be for a car stereo system I can assure you of this! He's an absolute perfectionist when it comes to car audio, sound, installation, and all that goes into his profession. Trust me, don't even think about going to CarToys! I learned my lesson after spending many evenings after work for 2 months, trying to get my stereo installed right, and to get it sounding good, NOT! Bill Brown cleaned up their mess in less than 1 day. My stereo actually sounds amazing and is very pleasing to the ears. Let me tell you, Ballard Custom Audio is the complete opposite of CarToys. My car was cleaner than I dropped it off. They actually use a vacuum and clean up the plastic trimmings. My interior was actually intact and not screwed up. The stereo sounds freaking amazing. I was doubting this was actually possible. I was starting to think the Defender 90 was at fault for having such a tinny interior. That's what CarToys of course blamed it on. I really thank you Bill, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the gift of good music of any genre. I was really starting to think would never happen. read more

These guys are awesome. Honest, reliable, and great craftsmanship. Ballard Custom Audio worked on my Range Rover and eliminated some unwanted rattling. The process was easy and painless. I enjoyed going to the shop and talking to the team members - friendly crew. Best sound shop in Seattle! read more

Bill to the rescue! My stereo randomly stopped working two days before I was supposed to leave for a road trip, so I called BCA and Bill had me come in that day and squeezed my car in the next day to make sure it was done before I left. He didn't have all the parts in the shop, so he even went to another shop to get the parts to make sure it was done in time. My new stereo looks and works great and I am extremely grateful they were willing to fit my car in on such short notice, especially because they were super busy. Great customer service! read more

Reviews seem legit. I requested a consultation on their website. It was stated that they try to respond back to all messages and emails within 48 hours. It's been about a week. No response. So I guess I'll have to call their shop, but I won't. Oh well. Best of luck to you guys from that one potential customer that slid through the cracks! read more

Five stars. I came here for a front camera to be installed. I can tell the staff is totally car/gear obsessed. You definitely are in safe hands. read more

I wanted to get a new infotainment system in my Crosstrek and had already received an estimate from Best Buy/Geek Squad but wanted to use someone local. I requested a quote from from Ballard Custom Audio and Bill reached out to me very quickly to arrange a time to come in and go over an estimate as well as how long my car would be in the shop. He explained in great detail his estimate and the work that would go into it and offered an alternative to waiting a few weeks before starting work on my car by leaving it overnight the next three days and he can work on it in off-time. I vouched for the latter and he finished the car exactly on time, showed me how to use the new equipment, made sure that everything looked as stock as possible (no dangling cords, sticking-out surfaces, etc.) and was generally a really friendly guy. He even exchanged one of the parts I purchased that wasn't exactly right for one he had in stock as an even-swap. Right on. Highly recommend and will be coming back soon for a sound system upgrade and sound proofing. read more

Bill is THE custom audio electronics professional, hands down.  I purchased a front and rear dash cam from him and had him install it in a 3 week new hybrid. I had to take it back since some fluke weirdness happened to the fuse area after the installation and my rear window stopped working.  He was so patient and wanted to make sure the issue was fixed, and even had to deal with the headache of having to listen to the car dealership meatheads talk garbage about his work (lies) and what they thought was wrong (they were incorrect).  After everything was fixed I had him install new Hella horns in my new car since I hated the stock horn - weak and lame sound.  The entire time I'm in there, he's ripping out peoples' cars and outfitting them with custom whatnot - I was amazed at the scope of vehicles he works on. Bill is a dedicated, honest, talented professional.  I've seen him working on run of the mill and vintage cars and much nicer ones (Teslas, Infinity) - he is truly talented.  If you are super finicky about who touches your car (like I am) and concerned if it will get the care and attention it needs, bring it here. This is the antithesis of taking it to Best Buy or Car Toys.  Probably about the same price or maybe very slightly higher, but world class vs dubious quality service. We are fortunate to have such a technically talented, honest, and hard working pro in this area. Stop looking at reviews and call him. He will be the one answering your call, so be prepared to give him the 411 on what your needs are. read more

This is the best car audio store I've ever visited. Without question, I'd recommend Bill and Ballard Custom Audio for any car electronics repairs or upgrades. Not only is he a master of his craft, he is also scrupulously honest and puts the customer's interests first. On top of the quality of service, friendliness, and honesty, prices are exceptionally fair. I went in with an annoying audio problem in my $8-10k 2006 Audi A4 (from an ok but not-perfect installation at a shop in California 5y ago). I was ready to spend $2k to replace the stereo and AV to eliminate the problem. I actually slept through one appointment here, which was graciously rescheduled for the following day. I showed up a bit early for my appointment and Bill took a quick look at the car. We discussed what would be required to upgrade the car (which has some other benefits, but the car will likely be replaced as soon as a $2-5k major maintenance issue comes up, which on an audi turbo over 100k miles, is unfortunately not that uncommon.) While pulling the factory radio and discussing options, he found the source of the problem; the current booster for iPhone 5 and later phones on the particular old Dension adapter was creating electrical noise due to placement. By rearranging wires, the problem was fixed. What really impressed me is fixing this basically prevented a $2-3k major upgrade (or rather delayed it -- I still am likely to upgrade to get all the new functionality I want). A lot of shops would have been tempted to just directly go for the upgrade. By not doing that, I'll take all my future cars, and encourage everyone else in the PNW, to take their cars to Ballard Custom Audio. read more

Bill really knows cars! He went above and beyond to get our car work done, even though he was dealing with supply chain issues and our car isn't the easiest to get parts for. We had a new stereo with Bluetooth and apple play and a backup camera installed and they all work great and look like the car came with them. Definitely recommend. read more

When it comes to smooth, I'm tough to beat: I put a nice sized piece of lumber right through the infotainment screen on my VW Touareg. Bill sourced the replacement screen at a price equivalent to the best price available after an hour searching the internet myself, and completed the install in a very timely fashion. But where they earned that fifth star was the support provided post-replacement. The part itself, through no fault of Ballard's, was faulty. Bill sourced a second screen, tested it, and re-installed it, at no additional cost to me. I'd also note the cost of his labor was perfectly fair, and well worth it for the finish and attention to detail. They've earned a long-term customer for interior electronic needs. read more