[epijay]

I recently purchased a Skoda Kushaq monte carlo edition a little over a month ago. Based on the recommendation of another BHPian, I made an appointment with Kartik, the owner of Sound Freaks in Chennai. I wanted a complete car damping and subsequent installation of a sound system
I arrived in Chennai from Ooty, stayed in a hotel for 4 days for him to complete the sound damping. He quoted an amount of 2.5 L for the job.
After it was done, I did not notice any difference in the cars sound intrusion and thought it was because of the already excellent build quality of this vehicle. Within a few days I noticed some of the shoddy workmanship.. the floor panels were not properly fitted back, wires were dangling from under the drivers seat. See pics. I contacted Kartik and he asked me to go back to Chennai to get these fixed. I was already apprehensive about his attitude, not taking responsibility for the shoddy workmanship. I chose to go to another city to get the sound system installed. I and the new installer were shocked by the patchy, unprofessional job that was done on the inside of the doors, for eg. Minimal use of damping and foam material. See pics. I had the entire floor and doors disassembled, and this is what I found:

1. Out of 40, 10 locks missing
2. Floor locks were broken because of improper cutting of the mats
3. Wires hanging down below the driver's seat
4. Door damping was not fully done - see pics The last pic shows how the insulation should have been compared to the earlier pic showing scanty insulation on the door frame. The scanty insulation under the bonnet came loose and was found on top of the engine shroud.

The least he could have done was to have refused to do the job. As per his whatsapp message, he offered to refund my money. But lately, he has turned belligerent and saying "live with it" !!! He offered to fly in the Dr Artex guy to evaluate the install and has refused to refund.
I would urge any future customers to beware and past customers to have their soundproofing independently evaluated.

[CalmConquests]

For the uninitiated, I think this place is called - Speed Freaks, Not Sound Freaks.

[Sanidhya mukund]

Painful to see pictures of a one month old car in this state. I can understand how uneasy this feels. I cannot even tolerate rattles and squeaks on my 9 year old car; To see a brand new car going through this would drive me crazy.

This serves as a grim reminder of “Factory fit is factory fit.” No workshop, not in the least a non-company authorised one can match the fit and finish that the car had when it rolled off the assembly line. Also serves as a reminder that it is best to get major work done at workshops that are near to where you live. Aftermarket mods invariably involve follow up rectifications. It becomes a huge pain to travel again and again just to tie up the loose ends that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.

Hope your car gets fixed to acceptable levels, so that you can enjoy a rattle free driving experience.

[AnkitHJain7]

This is just so sad to hear. I’ve heard so many positive things about Speed Freaks over the years. Especially about Kartik’s passion and quality of work.

In fact I’ve always thought about visiting his shop to get audio upgrades done on my own vehicles, but ended up not being able to due to other commitments.

It hurts to see your brand new car in this shape epijay. Hope you’re able to come to some satisfactory resolution and enjoy the car moving forward.

[r24x7]

Originally Posted by epijay

He offered to fly in the Dr Artex guy to evaluate the install and has refused to refund

Did you not opt for someone flying in to check on the installation? Having spent 2.5 L, this is the lease of after sales support that can be utilized.

I always wanted to swing by SpeedFreaks after reading so many reviews, but was never mentally prepared to spend so much on Audio enhancements. Eventually, I followed BHPian Leoshashi's posts on damping his XL6 as an OG and did it myself. My car has been tight and rattle free for past year or so.

[gopa99]

That’s a lot of money. This is about many times that Skoda would have spent on the total sound package in the car with their tier. I think we should insist on seeing an objective evidence of improvement, like STL or db measurements as well as else it becomes purely subjective value add especially for the kind of money involved. I’m glad you decided on going elsewhere for the audio package.

[thirdmainroad]

Butting in here because -

I am the one who recommended SpeedFreaks to the OP, eipjay. I met him via TeamBhp.

I hold no commercial interest with SpeedFreaks. I do not get any commissions nor am I affiliated to them in anyway. I got a very nicely done audio upgrade with Speedfreaks a few years ago, after trying many, many installers and equipment and I found them to be the best. I have after that become a friend of everyone who works in Speedfreaks, and have got all after market work done these since.

My 7 month old Taigun is due for a really top of the line audio overhaul in the next few days, which includes complete sound dampening as done on the OPs car, so I have followed this case closely. The European Mobile Media Association is soon due to launch car audio competitions in India as they do in many countries in Europe, Thailand etc, and I want to build a competition grade audio set up - NOT just to merely compete, but more to use it as a reference of how good an audio instal can be.

I have known Speedfreaks to be professional and very meticulous with their work. When in the area, I have often dropped in to Speedfreaks to see what work is happening there.

As in most stories, there is a bit of a background here. I pasting my understating of what happened after listening to both the parties.

The OP came all the way to Chennai from the Nilgiris to get the dampening done after conversations with me and Speedfreaks. I think the fact that I was highly recommending Speedfreaks played a pivotal role in the OPs decision to get work done at SF. The OP had to stay in a hotel in Chennai while the work was being carried out, and was on a schedule - which was based on what SF had committed to.

During the time when the OPs car was being worked upon, a very serious mishap occurred in SF - a neighbouring buildings construction fell on Speedfreaks workshop, and substantial damage happened. Karthik of SF informed the OP about issue, and hoped to get extra time to deliver, but the OP was unable to grant it, and therefore Karthik rushed his team - including working late and on a Sunday to get the car delivered as promised while the entire team were also salvaging damage done to the workshop.

I believe the onus on this is mostly with Speedfreaks, instead of continuing the work, they should have stopped it when op said he had no extra time. When they were faced with a serious issue with damage to the workshop, they should have insisted that they cannot deliver on the promised timescale as something beyond their control occurred, and should have offered to return the car with no work being done if they could get no extra time.

However, Karthik tried to please the customer - especially because he knew he was from another town.

This lead to some minor and I repeat, minor issues - as in things which could have been easily fixed issues to happen such as missing locks and a few panels out of place.

The car was eventually delivered on the promised day, but late at night as SF needed all the time they could get to finish up.

The op left Chennai almost immediately after picking the car up and then came up with a list of shortfalls.

Karthik acknowledged the shortfalls and offered to get all of them corrected.

The op had not payed Karthik in full when he took delivery, and had also left some of his equipment in SF then. When the op came back to SF after a few weeks to pay the amount due and pick his stuff up, Karthik had instructed his team to sort out the stuff that needed sorting out, but the OP refused.

^ Thats the story with the one panel gaps and missing locks, and wires hanging below

Now about the actual dampening, and this is why I think having a reference competition by EMMA will be key. It's like NCAP and safety. There is a clear set of standards and judging that goes in, and no one can make mere claims.

Karthik, who I know is exceptional at sound staging, says that everything and every panel in a car should not be dampened, and he showed me a Dr Artex guideline, which clearly says the same. Too much dampening is not only unnecessary, but will also be detrimental in sound staging. The dampening will absorb sound that you want to hear from the speakers and also play around with the physics of sound. Dampening should be done scientifically and only where needed - not everywhere simply because one can afford dampening material. Karthik says he has stuck to scientific and established guidelines, laid out by the Dr Artex, the manufacturer of the dampeners used.

And I dare say this to be true, for the op has hinted to me that sound staging is not all that great with his new set up - though our communication has been very minimal of late post this fiasco.

As much as I am not an expert in installation I know for sure that the blue color silicon around the speaker should come within the wooden template - not the outside of it. This is because the back of the silicon if fit correctly within the wooden template protects the speaker basket at the rear and also the front extended silicone will act as a wave guide in propagating the sound waves into the cabin properly. In this installation, the front part of the silicon is taken by the woods thickness therefore mitigating its sound wave guiding properties. If someone has done it otherwise in the manner which has been done on the ops car in the picture, I am going to seriously doubt what he says about installations.

When Karthik was informed by the OP that he thought the dampening was done wrong, Karthik was ready to fly the technical head of Dr Artex to Chennai to inspect the car, and if the technical head found a fault, he was ready to repay the op of all expenses incurred. Otherwise, Karthik was also ready to refund the amount spent in SF by the op, provided the op got the car back to SF such that they retrieve the dampening material, both offers which were rejected by the OP, who it seemed just wanted his money back + keep the product.

One panel of the dampening falling of seems to be an issue with manufacturing of the dampening, and Karthik says he is happy to replace under warranty.

Well thats story. Will update with how work goes on my Taigun!

[sabi_swat]

what on earth make you spend 2.5 lacs just for an audio setup!!! In Delhi even the best setup (full body damping, 6 speakers, bass tube, amp, player) will not cost you more than a lac.

[thirdmainroad]

Originally Posted by sabi_swat

what on earth make you spend 2.5 lacs just for an audio setup!!! In Delhi even the best setup (full body damping, 6 speakers, bass tube, amp, player) will not cost you more than a lac.

Umm.. the 2.5 lakhs the op has mentioned is just on dampening. The actual audio cost him more.

One can get audio upgrades from Rs 500, and I’ve seen setups that cost Rs 25L.

It’s not really about the cost, it’s about what you want and the quality.

[epijay]

Let the photographs speak for themselves!!!!

[buzzy_boy]

My observations as a neutral party,

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

This lead to some minor and I repeat, minor issues - as in things which could have been easily fixed issues to happen such as missing locks and a few panels out of place.

There's nothing professional about SF failing to inform the customer about these issues - however minor they may be. Any self-respecting craftsman should inform the customer at the very least.

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

The op left Chennai almost immediately after picking the car up and then came up with a list of shortfalls.

Nothing wrong with the OP's actions. The onus is on the service provider to do a QC check. The OP could've been more thorough, but I certainly wouldn't blame them.

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

The op had not payed Karthik in full when he took delivery, and had also left some of his equipment in SF then. When the op came back to SF after a few weeks to pay the amount due and pick his stuff up, Karthik had instructed his team to sort out the stuff that needed sorting out, but the OP refused.

Quite rightly so. Had it been me, I wouldn't let SF within 10 feet of my car for failing to inform me about the incomplete work.

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

Karthik, who I know is exceptional at sound staging, says that everything and every panel in a car should not be dampened, and he showed me a Dr Artex guideline, which clearly says the same.

The question is, did Mr. Karthik explain all these to the OP when they were in Chennai? Any good craftsman should explain their plan in detail before taking up such complex work. It doesn't matter if the customer asks for it. The onus again is on the service provider.

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

When Karthik was informed by the OP that he thought the dampening was done wrong, Karthik was ready to fly the technical head of Dr Artex to Chennai to inspect the car, and if the technical head found a fault, he was ready to repay the op of all expenses incurred.

Why couldn't Mr. Karthik fly the technical head to the customer's place for the inspection?

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

One panel of the dampening falling of seems to be an issue with manufacturing of the dampening, and Karthik says he is happy to replace under warranty.

Or, it could just be shoddy workmanship.

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

As in most stories, there is a bit of a background here. I pasting my understating of what happened after listening to both the parties.

Appreciate sharing the background, it helps but only to extent some sympathies to the firm and does not absolve the firm of the commitment on workmanship and schedule (both of which was a promise)

Schedule delay could have been mutually agreed and even compensated, but a rushed subpar work to fit the schedule is the worrying bit (not just in this example but any project) where quality (& safety) takes a back seat.
The latter cannot be even spotted/perceived unless one scrutinises at a minute level or just gets plain lucky!

Quoting the (any) other incident as a response to customer's concern on workmanship is fundamentally a bad approach

[ike]

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

I have known Speedfreaks to be professional and very meticulous with their work.

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

Karthik rushed his team - including working late and on a Sunday to get the car delivered as promised while the entire team were also salvaging damage done to the workshop.

If speedfreaks were as thorough and meticulous as you say they are, difficult to believe that the car would have been delivered with misaligned panels and shoddy wiring. Accidents happen, and doing something that isn't feasible just to please the customer is not what professionals do.

[wild child]

Originally Posted by epijay

1. Out of 40, 10 locks missing
2. Floor locks were broken because of improper cutting of the mats
3. Wires hanging down below the driver's seat
4. Door damping was not fully done


I would urge any future customers to beware and past customers to have their soundproofing independently evaluated.

Hello.

Everybody is happy as long as things go the right way. Once something unexpected happens, we start finger pointing.

I would like to bring it to all of your notice that I am in no way associated with SF and its business, but just another happy and content customer. The way Karthik and his boys treated me and my seven-year-old car which went in for an audio upgrade makes me defend them here.

The complaints raised here are poles apart from the way the team at SF treat a possible customer.

My views for your complaints are as below.

1,2 & 3 – Had the work panned out as planned, none of these would have happened. Upon talking to Karthik, I understand that due to the mishap by the construction that was happening nearby, there has been a shortage in time. I have personally experienced various installers in Chennai and I genuinely feel SF is the only place where they sell a wholesome experience, and not just products. Such is the level of customer satisfaction there. To any Entrepreneur, a customer is always God. Following these lines, I am sure that Karthik and his boys would have definitely acted in a responsible way and not as portrayed in this thread.

4 - Patchy sound dampening. – Yes sir, that is how it is done. Installing it fully on the door’s inner side is actually a wrong practice. Secondly, knowing where to fix them matters. Please recollect the old marine mechanic joke – hammering - $1, knowing where to hammer - $8,000.

No person from the same industry will appreciate another person’s work. While re-evaluating an SF prepped car by another person/agency, you are definitely going to hear “Bro, this SF guy has not done a good job,” because that is how this particular industry works. Very unorganized and full of hatred/jealousy. Nobody has the heart to appreciate good workmanship. Going by the words which you have posted, I am sure that these would have been the actual words of the agency to whom you took your car for re-evaluation.

I personally value customer testimonial and SF has never had an issue with that. They have always cared for their customers and have been producing excellent results. This is what had brought you to Chennai all the way from The Nilgiris.

Defamation shouldn’t be your retort to attack a person / agency. The benefit of doubt should be given to the opposite party as well. We have to use social media in a more responsible way, especially while giving our feedback because it is platforms like these which bring out hidden jewels like SF to common people. This thread is never going to solve your problem but only going to create an egoistic mess. Let us learn to sort our issues, not to grow them. Go ahead and give Speed Freaks a chance and see how your car gets transformed. Mine did.

Cheers buddy.

[greenhorn]

I am not sure who here is qualified to comment on these pictures. As much as I consider myself an audio nut, 2.5L for damping alone is way into high end territory. I wouldn't know what the expectations would be at all. Having said that the wires dangling and the loose panel gaps seem sad, but again would prefer before pictures or those of another car for reference. As a tata car owner, this is pretty close to factory spec. The damping I really don't see much wrong apart from that piece under the hood - though I will acknowledge my expectations are for 10-15K damping jobs. As someone who has spent 2.5L on an audio install that doesn't meet expectations, I can sympathize - but not sure if there are many here who can empathize.

Your concerns 1,2,3 are valid. 4 I am not sure - I can say for sure that the last pic you showed is not the perfect way to do damping - This looks like a local install where they tried to create an enclosure by sealing off the interior panels. While a lot of beginners do this approach, and it is certainly one way to do it, I wouldn't say it's the best way. Ideally its the outer doors skin that needs to be done, and elsewhere you just need some strategically placed bits and pieces. Covering the whole thing in damping may look visually impressive, and that's what beginners do, but identifying the resonant locations and heavily damping those areas is what the pros do. whether that has been done can only be judged by measuring it - hard to judge visually unless you have worked on this exact same car and know where the resonance points are.