Stereo & Electronics - Kee Audio Alive???

I have emailed and called with message. I get no answers or replies. Does anyone have first hand knowledge as to whether or not this fellow is still in business. I need replacement speakers for a Monsoon stereo system. Any guidance is appreciated.

Thanks,

Dennis

Back in May calling did nothing for me. He finally replied with an email. He wasnt quick but he should get back to you. I know hes a busy guy who does the audio stuff as a hobby/side gig..

Ian is alive and well! He goes to work (his boring job) when most of us sleep, and can't talk on the phone when at work. He sneaks some emails in where he can, so that is the best bet to reach him. He checks LS1Tech when he as some time, but he has a family as well. Not making excuses for the guy, but the audio business is a sideline for him. I don't know of anyone who knows our cars better, or is better at putting together components for us that sound great at competitive prices. He did my system and even my 17 year old thinks its awesome. He will respond, and get you a great system designed for your car and sound preference, but don't look for a quick response as he just can't operate like a retailer yet. Everyone I have seen has been happy with their results from Kee.

Thanks for the info guys. I have read his threads with interest, and seems this is the guy to help with our vehicles. I am new and was unaware that the audio business was a sideline. I'll be patient.

Thanks a million for your time and comments!

Dennis

There is no reason anyone should ever have to wait for someone who claims to be running a business to get back with you. I'm sure Ian is a good guy and knows his stuff about car audio and I can appreciate him trying to make some cash on the side but dang you have to get back to people. I am a self employed business man also and I know first hand if you don't return people's phone calls they just go somewhere else. I had the same experience with Ian about two months ago was ready to pull the trigger on a complete stereo system and I called him five times and left detailed messages on what I wanted and also left e-mails and after two weeks and no response I went looking at different avenues and ran across DoubleD's website and called up Dennis and with in 15min had everything figured out and ordered and it showed up at my door two days later. That's the kind of service you should get when your dropping $2000, you shouldn't have to chase the guy down and sit around and wait for him to get back to you at his covienence. If he wants to do this on the side as a hobby fine, just tell people that up front on your website instead of leaving them hanging.

Glad you got what you wanted. Ian has hundreds of satisfied customers and will continue to make more. Having met him in person, I can say he has a lot on his plate, more than many of us, but his heart is certainly in the right place. If someone needs the system tomorrow, he is not your guy, but if you want the perfect fit and sound, and can have the perspective that this is a sound system rather than brakes, most will be pleased. Granted, setting the proper expectation is a key to happy customers and he could benefit himself from doing a better job there.

I'm in the same boat. Email and PM, no answer yet. I will probably buy locally since I am getting antsy.

Interesting, he used to post here fairly often I thought. A coworker ordered from him a couple years ago with no problems and liked his speaker package. Always heard good things about Kee.

I am in the same boat as well, we keep doing the occasional e-mail back and forth, but I haven't been able to place an order for my sail panel speaker/sub's. I was told he has a rough schedule, and I understand that and am being as patient as I can.

I hear that he has the best sub/speakers custom (by CDT) made for our F-body's and they're are direct drop in. I would love to get a set in my car (the right sail sub' is vibrating like crazy) soon. Crutchfield sold me a set of speakers for the vehicle that would've fit, but after looking at the spec's when I got them, would've sounded like garbage, distorted and probably would've blown the first chance they got.

Its nice to know that someone is trying to look out for us Fourth Gen'ers still. Hopefully, I will hear back from him soon and get the subs in my car lickety-split.

I think it's funny how people wait around on this guy like he has the last few speakers left for our cars. DoubleDMods and thousands of other company's have exactly what you need and you don't have to play his games, just call, order, and it shows up at your door. FWIW those subs sound like crap in the sail panels anyways, don't waste your money.

I have the bazooka subs in my sails, bought them from Double D last year. They sound ok, but it's not enough for me personally so I'm going to add the MTX sub box soon. Have no clue about the cdt.

I think it's funny how people wait around on this guy like he has the last few speakers left for our cars. DoubleDMods and thousands of other company's have exactly what you need and you don't have to play his games, just call, order, and it shows up at your door. FWIW those subs sound like crap in the sail panels anyways, don't waste your money.

Who the hell are you? How would you know if those subs sound like crap if you've never even had them before? Maybe you need to go back and re-read Raleigh TA's post again a few times, and let it sink in.

How do you know that I haven't had those subs? I have had them and also tried other brands and the small 6.5" subs do sound like crap. You get a much cleaner and better sound by putting component speakers in the sail panels and just adding a sub in the back. If you just want to upgrade the stock monsoon system then they are alright, just not enough improvement to spend the money on IMO. And I did read Raleigh T/A's post and respect what he has to say and also like I said before I respect what Ian is trying to do, I just think he is going about it the wrong way. Don't put a phone# on your website if you are not going to answer it and explain your situation to people so they know what to expect. It's not like I'm the only one that feels this way, this is the third thread started asking if this guy is still in business and there are numerous posts asking whats going on with him.

How do you know that I haven't had those subs? I have had them and also tried other brands and the small 6.5" subs do sound like crap. You get a much cleaner and better sound by putting component speakers in the sail panels and just adding a sub in the back. If you just want to upgrade the stock monsoon system then they are alright, just not enough improvement to spend the money on IMO. And I did read Raleigh T/A's post and respect what he has to say and also like I said before I respect what Ian is trying to do, I just think he is going about it the wrong way. Don't put a phone# on your website if you are not going to answer it and explain your situation to people so they know what to expect. It's not like I'm the only one that feels this way, this is the third thread started asking if this guy is still in business and there are numerous posts asking whats going on with him.

Well, you have a (several) fair point(s) I will give you that. You have my attention then. If you had to choose a speaker for the subs, and one for the doors, what would you have gone with then?

Hybrid audio Clarus for the doors and Hybrid audio Mirus for the sail panels. One 10" sub in a stealth box in the rear produces an incredible amount of bass compared to the small subs in the sail panels. This setup sounds REALLY GOOD for any type of music.

Hybrid audio Clarus for the doors and Hybrid audio Mirus for the sail panels. One 10" sub in a stealth box in the rear produces an incredible amount of bass compared to the small subs in the sail panels. This setup sounds REALLY GOOD for any type of music.

I can only speak for myself on this issue. I am primarily looking for sub/speakers for the sail panel that will be better quality than the factory ones in both sound and durability. I'm not a huge audiophile that can hear a pin drop (actually my tinnitus from an explosion while I was in the military kinda killed that). The guys on LS1.com swear by the CDT's Kee sells, especially since they don't have to be modified to fit. I also have the factory cd changer in the back, where most people put the 10" sub and don't want to lose that (although, I would love to craft a hinged door there so I can have a storage compartment like I did in my '89 T/A). I don't see that sort of set up you described working for me.

Somebody should clarify that a lot depends on what you are trying to accomplish with an upgrade.

If you want a simple upgrade to the Monsoon system with better speakers but without replacing the factory amp and wiring then the packages from Kee Audio and Double D Mods are great options. They're not audiophile upgrades but they sound much better than stock.

I would question the opinion of someone who calls them crap but then turns around and recommends full-range components mounted behind the listener (in the sail panels)... not exactly audiophile stuff either. Generally, you want only low frequencies coming from behind except for some rear fill (which is why the hatch speakers are only 4" for rear fill). You don't want full-size, full-range speakers behind you unless you really liked the sound of 60s cars with 6x9s in the parcel shelf.

In the middle of the road area, you can take the same packages and add a stealthbox sub with its own amp to get a significant improvement in bass.

Beyond that, you can ditch the Monsoon system entirely with speakers and an aftermarket amp. The limit here is basically how much you want to spend. You can build a modest system without spending a huge amount or you can build a competition system if you are so inclined.

In every case, the first thing to replace for any sort of real sound quality improvement is the factory head unit. Even without changing speakers you will notice a big improvement in sound quality (and your speakers will last longer due to less distortion). Changing speakers without changing HU is okay if you just want to fix blown speakers and are satisfied with factory quality sound.

Glad you got what you wanted. Ian has hundreds of satisfied customers and will continue to make more. Having met him in person, I can say he has a lot on his plate, more than many of us, but his heart is certainly in the right place. If someone needs the system tomorrow, he is not your guy, but if you want the perfect fit and sound, and can have the perspective that this is a sound system rather than brakes, most will be pleased. Granted, setting the proper expectation is a key to happy customers and he could benefit himself from doing a better job there.

We all got a lot on our plate these days - what's that got to do with anything?

Somebody should clarify that a lot depends on what you are trying to accomplish with an upgrade.

If you want a simple upgrade to the Monsoon system with better speakers but without replacing the factory amp and wiring then the packages from Kee Audio and Double D Mods are great options. They're not audiophile upgrades but they sound much better than stock.

I would question the opinion of someone who calls them crap but then turns around and recommends full-range components mounted behind the listener (in the sail panels)... not exactly audiophile stuff either. Generally, you want only low frequencies coming from behind except for some rear fill (which is why the hatch speakers are only 4" for rear fill). You don't want full-size, full-range speakers behind you unless you really liked the sound of 60s cars with 6x9s in the parcel shelf.

In the middle of the road area, you can take the same packages and add a stealthbox sub with its own amp to get a significant improvement in bass.

Beyond that, you can ditch the Monsoon system entirely with speakers and an aftermarket amp. The limit here is basically how much you want to spend. You can build a modest system without spending a huge amount or you can build a competition system if you are so inclined.

In every case, the first thing to replace for any sort of real sound quality improvement is the factory head unit. Even without changing speakers you will notice a big improvement in sound quality (and your speakers will last longer due to less distortion). Changing speakers without changing HU is okay if you just want to fix blown speakers and are satisfied with factory quality sound.

Agreed 100% except for the part where you bash me.. I made a mistake and said component when I meant to say coaxial. The Hybrid Audio Mirus are a midrange coaxial speaker. Sorry for the mistake WhiteBird00 I'll just leave all the questions asked on here for you to answer and stop trying to contribute to the forum.

Component / coaxial... no real difference, they're both full-range speakers mounted behind the listener. Using the Monsoon wiring with its bass-only signal to the sail panels will make them sound bad or using your own wiring (with an aftermarket amp or direct to the HU) ruins the front sound stage.

No need to get your panties in a wad. Just be sure you have your facts straight when you call something "crap" if you don't want someone to call you out on it.

I just replaced my factory HU with an inexpensive Sony today. Holy crap it's so much better than that monsoon pos I am floored. I thought the bazooka sub were just lame until now, it sounds 100x better. I suggest changing out that monsoon asap! After that you can work from there. I bought the Sony cdx-gt56ui if anyone is curious, it was around $75 shipped.

How bad is the Monsoon head unit really? It doesn't seem that bad to me. Am I missing something?

You may not notice until you replace it with almost anything aftermarket. As floodofnoise said, there is a dramatic difference. The Monsoon HU (which is nothing special - just a cheap Delco unit with a Monsoon label on it) produces enormous distortion at fairly low volume levels. That distortion is one of the reasons that the factory speakers fail so regularly - distortion is a speaker's worst enemy.

How bad is the Monsoon head unit really? It doesn't seem that bad to me. Am I missing something?

Its pretty bad... I put in a Sony CDX-GT56UI about 2 months ago and its better in every way.

Its pretty bad... I put in a Sony CDX-GT56UI about 2 months ago and its better in every way.

Same unit I bought, I love that thing man it sounds fantastic and has tons of adjustments for fine tuning everything.

Just to give everyone a heads up. Last week I was able to order my subs from Ian. I got them Friday and plan to put them in tomorrow. He is a very good and knowledgeable guy. His primary jobs been putting a lot of doubles on him lately. I can imagine how worn out his is when he gets home.

I bought a complete set from Kee Audio this month and he replied to emails within a day, and shipping was quick. No problems here.

I have seen these, I think the stock Monsoon is okay-- I like the higher end upgrade for about 399 on that website.

I would add a double-din CD player as well as a JL 10 stealth box that doubledmod's sell...

Would be a very nice upgrade over stock-- Wouldn't you say?

Gotta blast some Metal.... ;)

I guess this is a "what now post"I put the Cdt speakers in my T/a(basic package with Cdt sails and fills)They sounded great in the garage But when I hit the road with the tops off and had to turn it up the highs were terriblely pitchy and distorted(I never had this problem with the stock speakers).I suffered with this for a few weeks then replaced the head unit.it was better but those front speaker with any rock music are so distorted when turned up I have to fade them out.Also the speakers start to really break-up at higher volumes(with the stock speakers I could really crank that thing and never had that problem. the sails would just blow from time to time)Before I spend another dime on this F-ing stereo I need some educated advice.I really,really do not feel like buying and replaceing that amp with an aftermarket one if I don't have to.

I last week I finally put in my subs, they were the easiest I've seen, they sound good too, actually played with the eq to get more base out of them .

Well I just pulled up the specs for the Cdt speakers that are in my car.There is no way that stock amp is going to be able to keep up at higher volumes.This sucks.I should have done more research.Now since I don't want to chop up my car with aftermarket amp.I guess I will start putiing the stock speakers back in untill the stock amp can again carry the load at higher volumes.

Well I just pulled up the specs for the Cdt speakers that are in my car.There is no way that stock amp is going to be able to keep up at higher volumes.This sucks.I should have done more research.Now since I don't want to chop up my car with aftermarket amp.I guess I will start putiing the stock speakers back in untill the stock amp can again carry the load at higher volumes.Why would you say that? What spec do you think makes the CDT speakers unsuitable? Ian has carefully selected the speakers in those kits to replace stock speakers based on his extensive experience with f-body audio.

The listed peak/RMS power rating is immaterial. The sensitivity level and impedance are really all that matter when comparing the stock speaker specs against the CDT ones, at least with regards to how powerful of an amp should be driving them.

Well I have been fighting with this ever since I put those speakers in.All I know is that with the stock speakers that radio was awsome.Now there are songs that I can even listen to because those front speakers have such harsh highs.I put the stock fronts back in and it already is better and not as harsh.I also have seen other people on here have the same problem I am having.When you are out on the road and have to turn up the Cdt speakers with the tops off(especialy those fronts)they distort.I never,never had that problem and I have owned this car since new.The radio was always one of the cars strong points.If it wasnt for the fact of the subs blowing I would not have changed it.I know now I should have left it alone.All I wanted to do was make it better.Instead I make it worse.

Well I have been fighting with this ever since I put those speakers in.All I know is that with the stock speakers that radio was awsome.Now there are songs that I can even listen to because those front speakers have such harsh highs.I put the stock fronts back in and it already is better and not as harsh.I also have seen other people on here have the same problem I am having.When you are out on the road and have to turn up the Cdt speakers with the tops off(especialy those fronts)they distort.I never,never had that problem and I have owned this car since new.The radio was always one of the cars strong points.If it wasn't for the fact of the subs blowing I would not have changed it.I know now I should have left it alone.All I wanted to do was make it better.Instead I make it worse.

No idea what you did to those with your install. Why is it thousands of guys have those in there cars and they don't sound like that?? Why is it do you think?
I guess all the other guys are wrong and your install is perfect.
Obviously there is something going on with your car. I was just reading some of your emails about how you said there is more then just bass coming through the sail panel subs and you can hear voices through them. Are you aware that the speaker translates what it is given. It doesn't create the signal, it translates what it is fed.
You have something not right in your install. I said this before and you still won't change anything other then putting in stock crap speakers. I can't hold your hand and make you trouble shoot stuff. All I can tell you is that something is NOT right with your install if your having issues like that and you need to get in there and start switching some things around. Or you can get on the forums and bitch about how bad the speakers are. Meanwhile everyone else has great tunes with the same speakers.
There have been many guys who have put these in and switched polarity on a speaker. I have done it myself once and it sound alot like what you are describing. I also have had a stock filter on my Trans Am doors go out and they made the tweeters sound like crap until I figured that out. The key here is...I FIGURED IT OUT because I knew it wasn't the brand new speakers I just bought. Your answer is blame it on the speakers and throw back in the piece of crap Mexican speakers.
I can't help someone who can't or won't help themselves. I can try but if you don't do it then it will never get fixed.

What are the specs you are referring to that are not compatible??? Do you even know what those specs mean?? Since you think they are not compatible please share that with everyone so you don't just make a blank statement with nothing to back it up. I would love to hear your expert opinion on the specs of the speakers and why they are not compatible.
I guess a 2ohm, 90.8db sensitivity level driver that is about 80watts RMS full range or 160watts @120hz HPF wouldn't be compatible??
Your thoughts?? You want to make claims like that to everyone in the forums here but you have no clue what you are talking about. It is that kind of crap that really annoys the hell out of me because then someone believes that BS that also has no clue about speakers or how they work thinks that you know what you are talking about.



To be perfectly honest, I have about had it with all the BS that is floating around this forum and is why I don't get involved like I used to. I used to love helping people on here with there installs and audio questions. I did that for 8 years. Now a 5 month newb member (not you Vette) who knows nothing about Kee Audio gets on here and trash talks my company. I did more to help out here as much as I possibly could for many years....in fact several years before I ever went into business I was on here helping people all the time. I only went into business so that I could help out the F-Body community, if you think I am getting rich off doing that your sadly mistaken or I would have quit my other job as I love car audio and I love F-Bodies!

I am still VERY much in business. I have several orders going out daily. I cannot get to my phone during the day at all when I am on duty because I will get fired from my job if I do that. If it were a brief conversation then it would be possible but it never is. So for years now I have said email me and I will get back to you. I answer every email I get the same day or no more then 24 hours after getting it. If you didn't hear back from me in 24 hours, I didn't get your email. Also, some people don't know the difference between a private message and an email. They are not the same thing and PM's do not go to my email account. Emails go to my email account.

I have NEVER hidden the fact that I have another job nor have I ever been dishonest about that as a certain newb member here has implied. This however is NOT a hobby as it was put. Just because it is not my primary source of income does not make it a hobby. It is a second job that I usually enjoy doing. I get up at 3:00AM and I go to bed at 11:00pm. In this case, I will be signing off at 12:00AM and getting up at 3:00 AM.

I said all this because I felt it needed to be said. There has been alot of misleading comments made about me and I just got sick of reading this crap and wanted to set the record straight.

Never had any issues with my system... The trick is to use "Made in USA" products.

MVH P8300BT Pioneer media head unit
Image Dynamics- CTX chameleon midbass in the doors
Digital Designs - silk dome tweets
Digital designs - Component X-over
Zapco Reference coaxials in the sails
rear speakers unplugged
Zapco 500m mono for the sub
sundown 50x4 for the door speakers
and a DD 1508 in a stealth box tuned to 42htz...

I pieced everything together to suit my tastes.. i can turn it up way past what my ears can handle and still no distortion...

Props to Kee Audio. I purchased some speakers from a forum member(premium package) and emailed kee audio and got an email back by the next day. Very good info and very helpful.

The STRIPE on the tweeter wire is POSITIVE. This is a common mistake, to reverse polarity on it.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/stereo-electronics/1256635-cdt-tweeter-wire-marks-identify-polarity.html

Never had any issues with my system... The trick is to use "Made in USA" products.

MVH P8300BT Pioneer media head unit
Image Dynamics- CTX chameleon midbass in the doors
Digital Designs - silk dome tweets
Digital designs - Component X-over
Zapco Reference coaxials in the sails
rear speakers unplugged
Zapco 500m mono for the sub
sundown 50x4 for the door speakers
and a DD 1508 in a stealth box tuned to 42htz...

I pieced everything together to suit my tastes.. i can turn it up way past what my ears can handle and still no distortion...

That is a great system with quality components. I put together systems like that all the time. Great stuff!!


That being said. 99% of the guys I deal with do not want to change the factory head unit or amp. All they are looking to do is get the stock system back to operating the way it did when it was new and not have to do it again. That's where I come in and have been for several years. It has been said that there are hundreds of companies out there who carry the same stuff I do. If that were the case then Best Buys, Crutchfield and all the rest would have stuff compatible with your car when upgrading the factory Monsoon system back. The fact of the matter is they don't. Not when it comes to upgrading the stock system and leaving it to just a speaker upgrade.
Anyone can put aftermarket in there car and it will sound decent. Using high end gear, it will sound even better. Aftermarket amps and subs, etc. will all sound better then just keeping a stock system and just upgrading the speakers.
With that said the stock Monsoon system actually sounds pretty good when it is working right. Not everyone wants a monster aftermarket system in their car and just want to upgrade the stock speakers and keep the rest so they are not having to rewire the entire car.
My 98 Trans Am went through the entire gambit with Monsoon all the way to full blown competition system. I know all the tricks and ways to tweak the stock system to make it sound better and I also know how to build a full blown comp level system in the same car and everything in between.

Kee Audio's very much alive... I'll be ordering a head unit and speaker package for the 'maro sometime in the next day or so.

Out of all the modifications and working with different vendors on my car, Kee Audio is top two on my list for customer service. When the speakers I bought to replace the passenger speakers didn't fit (were too small), I was blown away when he sent me free replacements without me even knowing! He even told me to keep the wrong set he originally sent and to use them to replace my door speakers.

If I could shake his hand through the internet, thats what I would do. :usa:

Hey Ian, it is really good to hear from you on the forum again. Sorry that some people have given you a bad taste in your mouth to leave this forum. I personally really enjoyed your advice, you are a smart and hard working guy and anyone who doesn't understand that is just ignorant. Hope one day you might come back with all your audio knowledge.

Me and Ian had emailed a whole
bunch back and forth about a stereo for my ws6 and one of my z06's. Then all of the sudden, nothing. A few weeks later I even drove down to Atlanta and was wanting to hear the set-up he was trying to sell me. I called and emailed and never heard anything for the few days I was in town. I also haven't heard a single thing since. That was over a year ago.

It's a shame since that was two set-ups that he lost the sale on. Plus I'm getting a set-up for my new z06 and I just bought some new subs/amps last night for my jeep.

I'm not mad at him for working or taking care of his family, but he must not want new customers, shame, I think I would have liked dealing with him.

I also wanted to add that Ian was very helpful until the communication stopped. I had asked about some of the problems I had with factory stereos in the Mercedes and I think in the range rover too, he didn't have any compatible replacement components but he did find something that would work on eBay and obviously spent some of his own time finding out some information for me, even though I wouldn't be buying anything for those cars from him. Can't beat that kind of customer service

let me add i have had great service from kee......and would not hesitate to use him again

It probably isn't worth much since I'm a noob here, but I have read great things about kee audio all over the Internet. I will be ordering my speakers this week! I just want a nice sounding stereo with the stock look. I'm not sixteen so I don't need some crazy comp stereo anymore. :)

fwiw, no complaints here, answered my questions quickly and delivered everything quickly without any issues.

I ordered a speaker package and head unit from Ian last Friday. He was very helpful, and gave me a GREAT deal. He's usually pretty quick about responding to emails, too. I wouldn't bother calling, though.

I'm hoping my speakers and head unit show up today, so I can get my jam on this weekend.

So, just an update... I recieved my speaker package yesterday, and the head unit and mounting hardware this morning. After two days and no less than 3/4 tank of gas spent driving all over creation picking up little things (lost a speed nut, three different home depot's before I could find quickroof, self tapping screws, ect, ect), and I have everything in. OH MY GAWD. CDT is some seriously high class stuff, and the head unit Ian hooked me up with is the business.

Ian and the product are worth the wait. Bought from him in June.....great product and even better price. WAIT FOR HIM

So, after all of the hoopla, where do I go to replace the originals with equivalents, without changing amp/receiver?

Kee, his systems are direct speaker replacements.