Audio Design Systems

Stefano is a master craftsman and takes pride in his work. While I waited I heard him drill the guys in the back multiple times over details… and details is what separates this shop. They installed 3M film, an ESCORT, new head unit, and backup cam in my 997TT. Everything works as it should, and he made sure I was happy before I left. Even waxed the car on the way out. Price was comparable to other places which is kinda surprising considering they are in Manhattan.

I took my jaguar to audio designs to get a radar detector. Stefano was great. He took me through my options then did a beautiful, customized installation. I couldn’t be happier with the work. And the car was ready when promised.
I recommend audio designs for any high end custom auto work.

I never really write reviews or do surveys because that shits really just annoying but when somethings good you have to give credit where its due.
At first I will have to say I was skeptical — not because things seemed sketchy but lets face it Manhattan can be pretty expensive and you usually get nothing for what you pay for. That wasn’t the case here. I happen to come across Auto Design a few months back when I was looking for a place to detail my girlfriends car and I happened to see one of his guys detailing a car outside his shop in front, plus the mural on his place was pretty cool and I had some time to kill — so I stopped by.
While inside I had a chance to speak with Stefano about some of the services they provide and I figured I’d get my girlfriend a back up camera installed on her 2014 A5 since she always wanted one on her car. So I came back the following week and they knocked it out for me. It was a really great job, quick and looked just as good as what would come from the dealer.
Since then I brought my moms Jeep in to get an in dash navigation system with screen installed and I brought my BMW 550 in to get a K40 radar detector & upgrade my speakers and install a sub.
Every time I’ve been in Auto Design I can honestly say I had great service and most importantly had work done that was seamless, clean and all the wires were hidden. The guys there really know their stuff and they are personable. I’m big on customer service (I know it doesn’t much apply because obviously this is an auto shop) but the guys were cool and always had some great recommendations for me.

Getting an aftermarket audio system installed in your car is very dicey, so here is the Good, the Bad…& the Ugly:
First, you have to decide on the components. Next, you have to find an installer. If the Installer is miffed that you bought some components from a catalog or other outside source, he might very well purposely damage the electronics, and they are so complicated and inherently undependable to begin with, that fixing blame for a malfunction is not only hard to detect at first, if at all, but fixing blame is nearly impossible. Then, there is the problem of pissing off the installer even more, over your (justified) complaint, and he might very well try to rip you off big-​time — thus, costing you a hell of a lot more in financial losses.
Furthermore, you would have to leave the car there for a daunting 2 or 3 days, and since there is no accountability for the total job done, you would pretty much have to start again from square one if it doesn’t work out.
This is EXACTLY the problem I’m facing. I went to this guy, Stefano, with Infinity component speakers for the front (separate woofer and tweeter), and a JVC radio, and agreed to his cheaper Alpine speakers for the rear (which he’d also wanted me to select for the front, but I refused), accepting his pricey Alpine subwoofer for the trunk, and his pricey J.L. Audio amp, also for the trunk.
My supplied parts cost $ 450, while his parts cost $ 1200. He REFUSED to set it up the way I wanted, with tweeters drilled directly into the front window bars. Instead, he put them on the door. I let him influence (bully) me due to his «experience,» and also because there are not enough competitors around.
The original sound was good enough to get by, but didn’t have the great imaging another installer had given similar components by drilling the tweeters directly onto the window bars, facing the windshield for reflected sound that produced realistic miniaturized three-​dimensional images across the windshield of instruments and musicians. However, when you turned the volume up, the left-​front woofer and tweeter would occasionally pop louder, as if one or more of the channels in the amp hadn’t been working properly.
Recently, I had to go back to Stefano to have the same system re-​installed due to the cables being accidentally pulled out of the amp. Stefano had to lay THE AMP HE HAD SUPPLIED tightly against the back wall of the trunk, so I couldn’t move it enough to put the cables back in.
To make a long story short, he re-​installed the original tweeters, finally moving them from the doors to the window bars as I had asked on his original installation, but now he glued plastic holders against the window bars, instead of drilling the tweeters directly into the window bars themselves, and he re-​attached the amp with the same too-​short cable!!! — AND, only after bullying me into first installing a $ 3000 replacement system, which I demanded he immediately remove because it sounded, looked and felt like cheap garbage.
My original system presently sounds flat, opaque and lacks treble «air,» with no sense of the recorded acoustic, because either the amp doesn’t fire the tweeters, or the tweeters aren’t connected properly — I can’t hear them, except for an occasional jingle when I rap the amp with a hard object! Imaging had always been flat, with vague outlines, and an uneven, poorly defined soundstage.
For me, it’s back to square one. Save yourselves the anguish. Don’t go there for anything.
Judging by some other reviews, if you’re his high school friend, or the work involves some simple cosmetics, perhaps he won’t rip you off. But, beyond that, judging from my experiences, he’s a mental midget when it come to things like electronics.
Total rip off: $ 4000!!!
P. S. Just found out that the J. L. Audio amplifier is a high-​current model that drew too much power from all other car functions — including things like headlight brightness, heater and vent fan; even the engine power, speed and gas mileage, and damaged the alternator and battery. Remedy: either get a high-​current alternator and capacitor, or change the amplifier to a low-​current model, such as Kenwood. I will drive to Harrisonburg, VA to get the job done professionally, by a Crutchfield Catalogue store, including re-​positioning the tweeters and woofers for the life-​like imaging I crave.
Just spoke to the installer there. He suspects «faulty installation.»
Just changed the battery and the whole thing works back to its potential, but the imaging is still merely left-​right-​middle, but with good-​quality individual sounds across the frequency range; BUT, it had much greater potential in minor ways, especially for all the money already spent… in other words, the components were Good-​and-​defective, installation Bad, and attitude Ugly.
I later checked both tweeters; left = distorted jingles, right = nothing… spare yourself aftermarket car audio system installations, period!

*****Stefan runs his business how «Manhattan Motor Cars» should. He BLACKED-​OUT my Porsche, installed sound equipment, phone, and did a good amount of bodywork. *****His prices are excellent, delivers when promised, and I’ll never go anywhere else!
*****Anyone with anything bad to say about Stefan, or his work, probably has nothing good to say about anyone.
ONE NOTE: I wish I could post a photo of what Stefan did to my car! I had my car «Blacked-​Out», bc at first, I was just playing around, but Stefan said «that’s a really good idea». He was so sure I’d like it, he told me if «you don’t like it, you don’t have to pay for it.» It turned out I loved it! I’ve recommended friends to him, and they’re all happy. People actually stop me on the streets with their hands over their foreheads, and tell me «Thats the most beautiful Porsche I’ve ever seen».

I recently installed the Dension gateway 500 in my 2006 Porsche Carrera S. After having had a bad experience with another local audio installer, I was very careful as well as skeptical about the people that work on vehicle audio systems. I contacted Stephano on the phone and made arrangements to come in and get the work done. He was able to quote me a REASONABLE price. When I arrived at his shop, I was greeted by him and he immediately gave me several options regarding what I wanted done to my vehicle. I decided to stick with the original plan and go with the Dension. His staff is knowledgable, professional, and pays very close attention to detail. Once the work was completed, I was brought to my vehicle and briefed on how the Dension worked, what I was able to do with it, and how I was able to do it! I was so satisfied, that I decided to come back the next day and have a couple of dings removed from the front fender by a very competent guy that Stephano knows. To sum it up, I will be back to Audio Design Systems. If you’re particular and careful about getting work done on your «toy,» then this is the place for you!!!

Quick, professional and flawless. Worked with Michael who arranged the installation of a Prestigious Society navigation and video module for my 2011 Highlander Hybrid. Great work.

I have been going to Stephan since high school (almost 15 years) and his work is always great. This week he installed a K-​40 stealth radar, tinted my windows, and put a clear bra on the front of my car. All of it came out… perfect as i expected. i just recommended 2 of my friends to go to him and would highly recommend him to anyone who loves toys in their toys.