All these 5 star reviews must be getting boring... ;-) But here's another one. I called Ballard Custom Audio because I had a closet full of stuff I'd bought online, intending to install it myself given that I had lots of free time and good intentions. Cut to the present and I had no more time and was starting to feel guilty about the stuff gathering dust in the closet. So I found Ballard Custom Audio by looking here on Yelp. Honestly - sometimes I'm leery of a place with too many 5 star reviews, but the praise here sounded genuine, and so I gave them a call. For some reason I felt a little shy about getting custom audio in my nearly 10-yr old Rav4. Putting a valuable stereo in a not-valuable car seemed like overkill in my mind, and the reviews for the custom places were full of comments from porsche and BMW owners. But I love my trusty little car, and it definitely needed some stereo TLC after all these years. Who'd want to take on my trusty-but-unexciting, little econobox as anything but an afterthought? Well - when I talked to Bill, he immediately grasped the whole situation and displayed nothing but good humor, excitement and understanding throughout the entire process. Bill seems to have a good grasp on who his customers are. He seemed very much on the same wavelength from the get-go, and there was no pressure to do anything more or less than what I had planned. Certainly he had some suggestions, but there was no pressure, and they were all in line with my budget and the rest of the system. I also got the impression that he just genuinely wanted my car (whatever it may be) to sound as good as it could, and for me to enjoy being in it. I never got the impression that my little job was unworthy of his time and he treated my vehicle with respect. His work was done on time and very neatly. He even turned an unused storage cubby in the back into a custom enclosure for a sub-woofer so I didn't have to give up any cargo space. It turned out beautifully and I'm thrilled with it! It looks just as good as it sounds. I had a bluetooth microphone installed. It's installed in a perfect spot, no wires show and he made sure my phone paired with the system before I left. Bill was very careful to explain how things had been done, and gave me all the information I needed to know in order to use it. I would also like to note that I did opt for installing Dynamat(sp?) and it makes a noticable difference in the level of interior noise and, to a lesser extent, vibration. This is an older vehicle that has always been noisy (esp on the highway), and while it's not night and day - the difference is definitely there and I am so glad I went for it. Bill recommended it to help optimize the speakers, but I appreciate it even when they're off. I also appreciate that he was careful not to oversell it. It may be overkill for a nicer car, but boy has it made this one more comfortable. My car sounds fantastic - better than I even hoped for. The audio is crisp and clear, and that car never sounded that good new. It is 100x more fun to be in now that I have quality sound and seamless integration with my devices. I am extremely thankful I did this, and I couldn't be happier with the quality of work and the high level of customer service provided. I would highly recommend Ballard Custom Audio to anyone, and will most definitely take my car there for anything that comes up in the future. read more

Stopped by to schedule some work for our Mazda Miata. Met Bill, one of the owners. First off, what a genuine nice person, friendly and personable. Bill addressed all of our concerns, answered all of our questions and swapped out a stereo while we waited. Clearly, Bill has vast knowledge about car audio and alarms. Thanks Bill, we will be back. Peter and Lanell read more

Long story short, I self-installed a Mediabridge in my 2003 BMW to bring it to modern technologies - Bluetooth, AUX, iPod, Sirius (great product), yet when I had the system completely installed as per the install manual I had no audio. It was a previously installed other BMW after-market system that was installed that prevented the new system to work properly. I called several audio specialists, including BMW dealers in Seattle and Bellevue, to receive no help. Well, BMW offered to inspect the system for $169. Then, parts and labor after that to the tune of around $320 (just to inspect and install!!!). Frustrated, I just drove over to Bill's garage after speaking to him earlier in the week. He remembered my problem, jumped in my car (as the dash was still open and dismantled) and took care of the problem within 10 min. Saved me a ton of time, frustration and money. Bill knows his stuff and is a true to pleasure to work with. Highly recommend you visit Ballard Custom Audio if you want a good system in your car and want to drive away with superb feeling of customer satisfaction. Thanks again Bill for all of your help. read more

"LOOKS LIKE A CAR TOYS INSTALL" So a few years ago I had a full install done here 2 amps all door speakers and subwoofer and have regretted it ever since. First off a kid named Zach did my install so I guess this review is for him. I have had a laundry list of problems over the years. Ballard is too far for me so I started going somewhere else and their first response was "looks like a car toys install" not a good thing. You know whats funny? Zach absolutely told me he used to work at car toys. -Rca's and power ran together -Crossovers just floating around in the kick panels up front and stuffed under the seat in the back. -A literal rats nest of wiring was stuffed under the back seat along with the cross overs -static when you touch the bass knob -left the deck amp on All this had caused so many headaches over the years. Weird whining sounds, speakers pulsating, speakers cutting out just to name a few But guess what i had my new place address all these install flaws and no more problems. IF ZACH STILL WORKS THERE DONT LET HIM TOUCH YOUR CAR P.s. go to sterling audio in everett a true 5 star business in response everything i brought to you for install was high end new product and works just fine now. I'm sure bill or someone else would do a great job but that's not what happened read more

I purchased a advanced keys kit for passive keyless access and a knob to start(woo hoo no more annoying car keys!) but the install was way beyond me. I sent an email to Bill and he was super quick to respond and said drop by when I receive it. I dropped in and he seemed super knowledgeable and scheduled me the next day the shop was open. The quality of the work was perfect, and I was really happy with the results. After getting home I realized I needed a few things tweaked and I emailed him. He responded to me at 10 PM! And said to drop by when I could the next day. He quickly took care of everything I needed and the system is perfect. Exactly what I envisioned. Seriously, don't even consider going anywhere else. This is the place! I will without a doubt return for a stereo, and other modifications in the future! read more

Sweet service and quality. I basically found them via Yelp looking for a nearby car audio place. The reason I didn't go to one of the larger nearby companies was due to a past bad experience regarding my BMW. I already knew what deck and speakers I wanted. I was happy the price I got was about the same price as if I ordered them via the internet. So now it was all about the quality of install in my SUV. This is where this place exceeds the competition. I knew being a new place and having the work being preformed by the owner of the shop, the quality was going to be good. It did not disappoint whatsoever. In closing, I would highly recommend this establishment for your daily driver or your high end sports car. The couple that owns this place are probably some of the nicest people I have ever met. read more

It is absolutely unheard-of to find the quality of customer service, product knowledge, and attention to detail that's offered from Bill and his team at Ballard Custom Audio. Besides having a seamless and quick installation, Bill assisted with a strange situation, helping out beyond expectations. We had a handsfree Apple system and backup cam installed about a year ago. Was rear-ended recently and car was deemed a total-loss. The guy's insurance company (Liberty Mutual - booooo!) refused to increase their total-loss offer to cover any of the cost of this new system. Left with no other option to recoup the cost, Bill was willing to remove the system between jobs, despite being booked out for a couple months so I can turn the car over to the insurance jerks. Highly recommend these guys!! Fully impressed! read more

Let me start by saying I'm picky. No REALLY picky about my audio. My wife decided to surprise me by picking out a few things to upgrade my stock system in my truck. Since I am so picky, I have not found a new head unit that fits all of my requirements, so I wanted to stick with the stock unit, but really improve the sound. Bill did not disappoint! I went by the shop to talk with Bill and go over exactly what I was looking for and Bill was extremely helpful in helping me design a system that fit my budget and fit my desire to have a quality sounding system, while keeping the stock unit. Bill knows his stuff and knows his product. Let me tell you this thing rocks. Crisp clean highs, great mids, and the lows for a single sub are insane. A 10" sub that growls like a 12, but with the punch of an 8". The exact sound I was looking for. Install was 100% professional and clean. You cannot tell at all from looking that there is anything other than a stock system. I cannot recommend Bill and Ballard Custom Audio enough. Forget the big box stores. Get it done right the first time by letting Bill and team get you exactly what you are looking for. I'll be back for more! read more

I chose Ballard Custom Audio because of all the A+ ratings on Angie's List. I had a great experience! My first contact was via email. I asked the owner and head installer of the shop, Bill, if it was possible to install a custom sound system in my newly restored '72 VW Super Beetle. He said he'd done many Beetles in the past, and that I should bring it by so we could talk. I brought my Beetle in, and we decided on a good system that would fit in my budget. Just from talking to him, I could tell he knew his stuff, so I felt very confident having him do the job. I also asked if it was possible if he could install a cigarette lighter in my dash (so I could charge my phone!) since he'd already be in there doing wiring and stuff and he said it would be no problem. I made an appt for the install and we were good to go. It took a day to do the installation. Two front speakers with separate tweeters, rear speakers, a subwoofer, an amplifier, and of course the stereo unit. The cigarette lighter was installed too, right in the dash where I wanted it. Looked like it was factory installed! In fact, the job was so precise and clean, it looked like everything was factory installed! Real nice carpeting on the front and rear speaker housings, and a custom box enclosure for the rear speakers. What was really cool about the rears is he had the forethought to install them in such a way that I could retain the flap that the car had in the first place to flip up and cover the rear speakers if I wanted to, to prevent theft. The amplifier and subwoofer are well hidden. He created a custom face for the stereo unit so the orange paint behind the dash wouldn't show through. But wait, there's more! Not only did he do a fantastic job installing everything, he did a couple really nice extra things for me. My headlight knob was really worn and crappy looking, so he replaced that! When he took the seats out to work on it, he noticed they didn't adjust very easily (a big annoyance for me that I had intended to repair), so he greased the tracks before he re-installed the seats! Now they slide back and forth very easily! He also told me there was a disconnected spring underneath the driver's seat so he reattached that. Nice!!! When I came to pick up the car, he showed me everything he did, and then educated me on how to operate my system. He took his time even though another customer was waiting, and I really appreciated that. In talking with him, I also found out that he would be able to install my new upholstery when I decided to do that. He does more than install stereos! He's a man of many talents! This is one of the reasons I frequent small businesses. Personal service and a lot of pride in their work. Just awesome! Go see Bill for all your audio needs. He does it RIGHT, and he deserves your business! read more

Bill was super super helpful & helped create a great system for my band van without breaking the bank. He was honest & upfront about every step along the way & helped me select items without being pushy (greatly appreciated). The work was done with precision & speed & he & his wife were super nice & fun to hang out with while he did the work. Highly recommend going here & working with Bill, saving money & getting the personal touch as opposed to going to Car Toys (corporate ultra pushy hell). THIS is how you run a business! read more

I have brought two of my cars here. Would bring them back. If you have audio (or a camera) you want for your car and you want it done well and to look like it was installed by a true professional, this is your place. The owner has clearly been doing this a long time and takes pride in his work. That said, he can be a bit brusque, so you have to be OK with that. I think he's good at what he does and he's decided if people don't like his style, that's ok. My cars turned out great and I was fine with the tradeoff. I do wish he'd explained more when I picked up my cars. When I had a camera installed, I had to go through the manual to find out how to connect to wifi, only to find that the password was in some super hard to reach place on the device and I practically had to uninstall the thing to get to it. That info would have been nice. I had a stereo installed in a different car and for a couple days I thought there was something wrong with the bass - but it was just because the EQ had been turned off. I think if you are charging as much as he does, it would be nice to sort of walk through the install and make sure everything is OK before the person leaves. That said, all worked out great and will 100% come back because the guy knows how to do it like a pro. read more

I've been driving a ten-year old Jetta with a Monsoon Stereo kit for a while now, envious of friends who have Bluetooth setups to play music from their iPhones. I was limping along on a single disc changer and the radio, defaulting to NO MUSIC during my commute because I was so sick of commercials. After a quick trip to Car Toys, I came to Yelp and found Ballard Custom Audio. Decided to give them a shot and was totally happy I did. Extremely local, Bill's little shop is tucked away behind a building off Leary in Frelard. He was quick to point out what I need, added it up, gave me a couple options. We set it up and he banged out the job on a Saturday morning. Sounds great, fast service, locally owned small business owner. Felt good to pay someone directly in the neighborhood and drive away with a sweet sounding stereo driven by Pandora! My car feels new again. If you need custom work done, go to Bill. He'll take care of you. read more

Bill did an excellent job installing a CarPlay stereo, new speakers, and back-up camera in my Subaru Forrester. Bill was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions so I could pick the right set up for me. read more

Ok fellow SAAB owners, we've heard it before, your brand is quirky and sometimes difficult to work on. This is sometimes true, and after calling several places for a navigation installation on my 9-3 Aero only to be told they didn't have access to a dash kit that would work and didn't think the navigation unit i bought was a good fit, I found Bill at Ballard Custom Audio. Bill was enthusiastic about working on my SAAB and although he did admit they can sometimes be a bit more challenging, he confidently said it can be done and I would be happy with the end result. He kept me informed throughout the process and I felt he was extremely thorough. I now have an awesome in dash navigation/Bluetooth system that works and looks great! If you are extremely particular about your vehicle, own a saab or another non-mainstream brand, and want higher quality work completed by a local small business, then check out this place. You will be happy with the results! read more

Came in on a weekday around lunch, looking to upgrade my OEM deck. I was sold an inexpensive great deck that works great. Installation was quick, the work was high-level. Incredible customer service; the tone at this place is 100% sincere and authentic. It's clear that the business is based around a love for car audio, a mastery of the craft, and a genuine care for other people. I'll be coming back as long as they're in business (which I hope to be a long time). read more

You won't find better quality, better pricing or better service anywhere else. Hands down 5 stars for professionalism, price, quality and service. If you are in the market for a new system, no matter how big or small, this is where you want to spend your money, you won't be disappointed, and your system will BUMP. read more

I called Ballard Custom Audio to see how much it would be to replace my stock stereo and put in my subwoofer. I get a voicemail. I thought to myself "wow ok whatever." Bill called me back in less than an hour and gave me a quote. I came down and had the system put in. Bill and his crew were very friendly and professional. Price came to exactly what Bill quoted me and my system sounds amazing. There is a reason everyone gives this place a 5 star review. Thank you very much, I will be coming back here for all my stereo needs. Thanks again!!! read more

I waited several months to review. These folks really know audio and can handle large and small jobs and their advice is honest and worth taking. I wanted a small installation compared to what they can do. They treated me well, did the job efficiently. Now months later it is still working perfectly. I would be glad to do business with these folks again. You want good sound done well, these are the guys. read more

Late on a Thursday morning, I decided I needed a car stereo that would play my smartphone music. And I needed it now. I called and spoke to Bill. He said come on by. I went. I picked up my car later that afternoon, after receiving a call that it was ready, and it is perfect. Bill was professional, knowledgeable, helpful and didn't try to sell me a bunch of stuff I didn't need. He just gave me a new car stereo with Bluetooth for my phone. I can now be one of those modern folks in an old car that talks on the phone from my freaking radio! Josh walked me through the new equipment patiently and until I was completely satisfied. These guys are the real deal. Based on Yelp reviews, I didn't shop around, I just went with BCA. I'm so glad I did. read more

These guys were so helpful and helped me figure out the right parts for a stero I was installing. Excellent service and nice people!

Someone broke into my car and tried to steal my stereo equipment. Not only did Ballard Custom Audio repair the damage, but they went above and beyond to make improvements to the way the stereo was set up. I will absolutely use them again for any future stereo needs. read more

I am writing this review, as I am so livid on how my interaction was mishandled with Ballard Custom Audio on 06/27/17. I stopped what I was doing, created a Yelp account and wrote this review because of it. On their website they have an option to contact them via email on their site (not an external manual email). They do ask that you allow 48 hours, as they will 'try' and reply back within that time - keyword 'try'. I have waited over seven days (five of their business days) and no reply back given on if they can or cannot install a cellular booster system in a vehicle (a Yes or No answer email). I of course checked my Spam box - no response was received from Ballard Custom Audio. I called them on the telephone (after the 7th day). I don't know what kind of VOIP telephone system they use but the entire call was breaking up. I could barely understand what they said and had to repeat everything over and over again. I was calling from a traditional landline home telephone (a non, cordless telephone so it was not my telephone equipment). When I mentioned this to the guy about the line breaking up he kind of chuckled somewhat. If you are running a business you need to have a telephone system where both the caller and receiver can communicate clearly, particularly if you don't reply back to a customer via email. After finally getting my answer (which was a Yes they can install a cellular booster system in a vehicle) they wanted me to bring the kit into their location (to look at it first), then schedule an appointment to come back in the next 4 plus weeks. They should consider hiring more help if this is their standard turnaround time - which in my opinion is to w a y to long to ask customers to wait when you only have 30 days to return an item if it does not work to avoid filing a manufactures warranty claim. The person on the telephone (no name given when answering the telephone) said these installs could take upwards to 8 hours and that was the reason for the install date being up to four weeks plus. I have had a mobile phone/car install system since 1996. It has never taken anymore more than a few hours at most and that was when you had to drill a hole in the roof to attach the exterior antenna (the biggest time zapper of the installation). This system is more of a 'plug and play' installation. See link: https://www.weboost.com/products/drive-4gx The reason I was reaching out to Ballard Custom Audio is I just wanted the system 'hardwired' so that the booster would shut on/off when you are running your vehicle. This is why I needed their help and can't do the install by myself. I would have liked the option for me to email them a link of the system, guide and video on how to install to save me a trip and from taking time off from work driving clear across town just for them to look at it and then schedule me to come back weeks later. While their posted reviews of work may shine, before getting into the door this was my "Mickey Mouse Ring" experience, which has left a very bitter aftertaste. I understand you can never satisfy everyone although, the concerns that I discussed here, don't seem unreasonable and need immediate improvement. Needless to say, I feel like I am forced to go elsewhere for service. I won't be able to recommend Ballard Custom Audio based on my meager interaction with them thus far. Ballard Custom Audio, can you hear me now? read more

Excellent service, super understanding with all my geeky questions, very personable. Extremely happy and would recommend highly:)

The best stereo installation place I have seen in along time, after putting up with inexperienced kids at car toys for the last 10 years I had to find a new shop, these guys dont try and upsell you or make you pay for parts you dont need, very pleased with the customer service and skill level they have, will be my shop for all my cars, boats etc. read more

The day before a long road trip, my car stereo stopped working. They replaced and improved the system within hours. A pleasant experience. Road trip: awesome music awaits! read more

This place is really good very helpful right in Ballard the owner really knows his car audio

Bill at Ballard Custom Audio went above and beyond to get the audio setup working in my Volvo XC90. XC90s (actually most Volvos) are notorious for complicated stereo installs. Most places I had taken my car to either refused to work on my car citing the complexity or quoted me sky high estimates. Bill however, while setting expectations with me that it would not be simple, worked over a couple of visits and late hours to get the audio setup to work. He let me know what my options were, quoted me a price and let me decide if I wanted to go ahead with it. He spent an hour or so taking the complex fiber optic audio setup apart, made calls to other experts and gave me a couple of options. I could have walked away at that point no charge. No retailer really does all the discovery work and lets you leave if you want. Most want money just to research/see what's wrong. I decided to try it out and see what he could do with it. Glad I did. His prices were reasonable and his rates on equipment was below any retail stores. I said retail store, not eBay. eBay you never know what you are getting. Here I have guarantees for the equipment and the work. I got just about everything I wanted and some extras. A+++ all the way. Highly recommended. Don't waste your time at CarToys or any other corporate place. Your setup will get Bill's personal touch and attention. Any audio/security/keyless updates I want to make to my current or future cars, I'm taking it to Ballard Custom Audio. read more

I came to Ballard Custom Audio because the sound wasn't working on my audio system. Not only did they fix my problem, a blow fuse, in a couple of minutes, they also didn't charge me. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. Extremely knowledgeable, courteous, and fair. read more

This is a wonderful business. Professional, friendly, quality products, good follow through. Overall a very good experience. It is a family operation and everyone seems happy and content to do what they are doing. I would recommend them very highly to anyone seeking a system for their vehicle. Bruce and Simonne read more

I never ever fill out reviews on Yelp, but for these guys I absolutely will. First and foremost I could not be happier with the two subwoofers they put in my Jetta TDI. Even though the quality of workmanship is well worth the 5 star rating, I really want to talk about their customer service. I scheduled an appointment with them, knowing nothing about sound systems. I told Bill what I wanted and he gave me three options with out any outside pressure. Due to a family emergency (moving out of state) I put them in a time crunch. They literally bent over backwards for me, and for that I will be forever grateful. Whether you are an audio genius like Bill (the owner), or a complete idiot like me, make sure to go to these guys. You will not be disappointed. For their workmanship i give a 5+ out of 5. For their customer care and service I give them a 500000 out of 5. read more

Almost went to Car Toys or Best Buy, I'm glad I didn't. Bill took just a few minutes to install my stereo, and he even took the time to show me how it works. Their price is comparable to the big box stores, but their service exceeded what I would expect from said stores. read more

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Owner, Bill Brown, will do what it takes to make sure you get a sound system of excellent quality, superb, balanced acoustics and a great installation without hassles or lack of professionalism. Bill and Logan, his technician, spent their day off during the busy holiday season to install a small system in my wife's Dodge Mega Cab Pickup as a Christmas present. I was impressed that these guys would take their time away from their families to help me. Their schedule was full, yet they accommodated me. Before they got started on the installation, Bill verified all the components we'd talked about were on hand. Bill told me he'd take until 4:00 PM. I showed up at 4:00PM and he was hooking up the battery. On time, as promised! I can't say enough about the level of honesty, professionalism and quality Bill has committed to his business. It's impressive. Bill's help made my Christmas surprise a great success. So, don't waste your time going to any of the "big" names in the Puget Sound area and buying mis-matched, on sale equipment. It's always better to go with an experienced professional when you're going to change the sound system in your car. There's a big difference between a loud, hastily installed system and a quality installation. Bill knows what works and how to make it sound good. You're going to be spending a lot of time in your car with your new system. Make sure it's been installed by Ballard Custom Audio! read more

I did not come to these guys for service but was parked out front and realized I had locked my key in my car. They weren't even open yet but when I asked for their help they were so kind and were able to unlock it for me, totally saving me from having to call pop-a-lock! If I ever need car stereo work I'll 100% come here! read more

I drove by this place many times and when I needed a stereo install I looked them up on yelp. After seeing all the great reviews I had them install my stereo. And all the great reviews were right on! These guys are great! I can not say enough good things. Friendly, fast, perfect job. And the price was reasonable and worth it. It was a great birthday present boys! Thank you! read more

Went to install an App Radio 3 and rear-view camera in my E46 . My console was Single-DIN, so they had to move the HVAC unit down to the empty slot at the bottom for this installation to work. It took them a whole day, but they did a great job and I haven't had any issues with their installation. read more

BCA has plenty of 5 star reviews, but I need to add one more. My perspective is twofold - I used to design high end car audio systems, and I'm a longtime BCA customer. in 2012 I brought my car and a pile of audio equipment to BCA and asked them to install it without altering the appearance or affecting the warranty of the car. Bill, the owner, worked with me to make sure everything would fit and make suggestions to improving the system, which included multiple amps, sound processor, and speakers. They also built a subwoofer box that's among the best I've seen. The end result was amazing - it wasn't just loud, but the sound fidelity was topnotch. FF to 2017, I just bought another car, so I asked BCA to uninstall my stereo from my old car on short notice, and they came through within one day. When I upgrade the new car with my old components, BCA is ready to do the install, and they have a wide selection of upgrades that will make my new car sound even better. If they can do this for me, they can make any car audio system sound amazing. read more

I took my car in without an appointment and Josh at Ballard Custom Audio immediately stepped up to help me and fixed my alarm in less than 10 minutes. Three other places I took my car to told me they couldn't figure out what was wrong with my alarm, but Josh knew exactly what to do! Thank you thank you thank you read more

These guys are awesome! Easy to get appointments and the work is top notch. Coffee shop across the street is a good place to hang out while you wait. Will definitely refer Bill to all my friends. read more

I love this place! They have the best customer service since the good old Magnolia Hi-Fi Days; polite, courteous and professional. Bill is definitely an expert when it comes to having car audio knowledge and experience; totally worth the 28 mile drive! The only thing that bothers me a bit is that their driveway entrance is not lowrider-friendly. So if your car is lowered, be careful when entering. Your car will stand a good chance of being scraped. read more

I was looking for a quality stereo install and came across Ballard Custom Audio through Yelp. I was impressed with their ratings and decided to give them a try. You will not be disappointed by their work. Everyone gives them a 5 stars for a reason and you'll know why when you go there. Not only did they did a great job on the install but they vacuumed the floor and made it look spotless. Excellent customer service Bill! I will be back for my car alarm and new double din! read more