I reached out to Ballard Custom Audio to get Apple CarPlay installed on my 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum.I thought it would be easy to add CarPlay without losing functionality of the stock features of my car. It wasn’t, but thankfully Bill and his knowledgeable team were kind and patient with me as we worked through a few different solutions to make me not just satisfied, but really happy with the outcome.These guys are great! When others would have given up, they continued to troubleshoot and work with me, including spending a lot of time on the phone with manufacturers to create new software patches to work specifically with my vehicle. I can’t recommend them enough.

Cant say enough good things about BCA. These guys know what they are doing. No intimidation tactics or high pressure sales, and excellent communication! Well worth the wait to get in- dont bother with local competitors!

Took their time to explain an antennae adapter and gave me one to try out, dedicated and stand up people.

Car Audio is a lost art, but a quick chat with Ballard Custom Audio tells me its not dead yet! Wish I had gone to them when I got the car years ago for their wholistic approach to putting top notch audio in your ride. Thanks!

Bill and Ballard Custom Audio is awesome, period end of sentence. Alright you want more detail, fine. I took my 2016 Audi S4 into Bill and his team to install a wireless CarPlay/Android Auto integration system into my existing OEM radio. Bill understood at the end of the day I wanted my car to look stock. He absolutely hit the nail on the head with his selection of equipment and the finished product meeting my intent. The system is truly integrated into my OEM stereo AND I have all the functionality of the Apple CarPlay ecosystem! If I could give 6 stars I would. One final word, Bills services may NOT be the cheapest youll find. However, if you want quality and peace-of-mind you wont always find the cheapest pricing. You need to decide whats most important for you and your install. I needed high end finishes and experience for a finicky European vehicle; Bill delivered!

Had such a great experience with Ballard Custom Audio that I ended up going twice for different installs! I originally went here for a consultation to fix what another installer in the Burien area did so poorly. Before I went to BCA, the audio was unbearable and I didnt even want to listen to the music anymore. Bill walked me through my options and explained to me what was done wrong, and how he planned to fix it. He gave me 4 different options in different price points because he understood my hesitation to spend so much money after a poor experience elsewhere. I took the leap and reinstalled everything (new speakers, new amplifier, new wiring) as recommended by Bill and was absolutely blown away.Im past the age of enjoying mega-loud bass, so Bill ensured that the balance I wanted in my music was met (highs/lows/mids) and selected the appropriate speakers in my budget. I was blown away the first time I heard the speakers. His team did an excellent job, and answered all of my questions patiently both after the install as well as during the initial consultation.Fast forward 3 months the speakers & amplifier were working so great, and I was having such a great time that I went back in for another consultation to see if I could incorporate a small subwoofer in the trunk of my SUV without losing cargo space - since I tend to throw a lot of outdoor equipment there. He was quick to show me how he planned to incorporate a small 8 subwoofer, and discussed how he can build a box that molds to the side of my car, utilizing a small opening. I was again skeptical at first, but took the leap a second time and his team blew me away yet another time when I saw how beautifully they installed the new fixture in my car so as to 1) preserve 90-95% of the space there was before and 2) blend the carpet/felt to match my interior. He even relocated my 12v port so I dont lose that power!The sound quality was and is amazing, even a month later. What I liked most about Bill was his patience when discussing my options and answering my questions, thinking forward and recommending an Amplifier that could handle a subwoofer in the future (since I originally didnt want one), and not overcharging or upselling random products as the installer in Burien did to me.The experience was painless, and I will be coming back for upgrades! There is quite a bit of a wait time for installs + consultations, but rightfully so. Their entire team know exactly what theyre doing.

Woah!!!!!! Ballard Custom Audio is amazing and Bill and Zach are awesome. They built a custom fiberglass subwoofer cabinet, installed a head unit, all new speakers and 2ch dash cam in my ‘18 RAV4 and they did amazing work. They also really care about doing the job right and stand behind everything they do. Very knowledgeable and make sure that the customer understands how everything works and are around for any support/question that may come up.I highly recommend Ballard Custom Audio and I will be a lifetime customer and can’t wait to use them again.Amazing work.

Nothing but great things from Ballard Custom Audio, He set up the units behind the rear seat of my F-150. Alot of work to rewire the entire system but he was able to manage it and now, the audio BANGS WITH my 4-8 sub woofers. The mids and highs were also swapped with high end components . If you want it done right, with no problems after, Definitely give em a call, i know i will!

I had 3 pieces of work done by this business, car mirror camera, alarm and stereo upgrade.Two of which required creative custom work around solutions, with one of them that had CarToys basically pricing the estimate so high, that it was a sign it was above their pay-grade!I found Ballard Custom professional yet personal, with fair prices. And assurance with premium guarantees to the quality of their work.For auto electronics that fit the type of work they do within their wheelhouse, I won’t go anywhere else ~

This is the place you guys should go to. Definitely appreciate his help. Taught me what, how and why.. Bill, I owe you man! I totally learnt a lot! I got there and been there for like half an hour and all done. Ballard Custom Audio, guys!

4 years later: everything is working perfectly and makes me smile on a daily basis. Writing this review as Im selling the vehicle Bill worked on, and my biggest regret is how much I love to drive it because of the sound system.My 1989 VW Vanagon Westfalia had a sound system overhaul by Bill for an incredibly good price considering the significant amount of custom work (custom sub designed for underneath the driver seat, custom relay bank so amp and sub are powered only when key is turned.)He even improved some of the wiring I had done myself in the van, and otherwise cleanly routed everything to be invisible.If you drive a westy and like to hear your music above highway noise - this is a must have.

They have a storefront shop! Stopped in on a whim looking for a 2500.1 and was pleasantly surprised at the selection of head units, speakers, and amps. Owner was great, will be back again.

Bill and his team did an exceptional job on installing Apple car play in my Audi! Worth the wait for an appointment and his customer service is 2nd to none! Car Toys literally wouldn’t touch my vehicle because they’re not easy to work with but Bill took care of my car and exceeded all expectations! I highly recommend Ballard Custom Audio!

Definitely know what theyre doing on time and respectful and professional, the owner bill stand up guy... They take care of business...the Technicians super cool...

Folks at Ballard Custom Audio truly take great care of their customers!I had a problem with my head unit that was installed in this shop around 2 years ago. The warranty on the unit has already passed, and technically nobody owed me a thing. However, Bill went above and beyond to help me in this tough situation! He reached out to the distributor, persuaded them to send a free replacement, and replaced it without charging me anything! Ballard Custom Audio ❤️

Blown away by the knowledge and customer service. They helped us out and were very gracious. I will happily return for future needs and would highly recommend.

Brought my 370Z to Bill’s shop for help with a stereo install done elsewhere that caused the car’s airbag light to come on and stay on. It turned out to be a dealer only issue to resolve, but the time Bill spent looking into it and the great advice he gave me left a great impression on me. Several months later when I was ready to replace the stereo I happily returned to Ballard Custom Audio. Bill listened to what I wanted, made great suggestions, then proceeded with a flawless install at a fair price – everything done exactly as he said it would be down to the last detail. Bill obviously takes great pride in his work as well he should.

Did a great job and had amazing customer service. Ill be coming back for sure.

Dude helped me fix my broken stereo off the clock. It turned out to be a fuse, so he ended up just giving me one. Says a lot about his character and his work ethic. Ill be coming here from now on.

4 months ago Bill and crew installed much needed tech upgrades to my 2011 Corolla: apple car play/Bluetooth, blind spot monitoring, back up camera. Everything is working well, love the tech. They connected my phone and adjusted everything so I didnt have to mess around trying to do setup. Bill was great explaining my options, installation was fast and smooth. Price was reasonable. Love that I can do business with a small, local shop.

Got a response but didnt get the question answered that I asked. Was just told to call the store. Had I wanted to call thats what I would have done first. So not really sure how to rate this place as I really didnt receive service.

This review is very long overdue. I took a 2003 Land Cruiser to the shop wanting a custom head unit install and a major upgrade to my speaker, plus an amp and some other upgrades. I was really impressed with the time the owner spent listening to my goals, talking through options, and creating a proposal that got me what I needed within the budget I set out. Even when I decided I wanted some last minute changes, he shifted things seamlessly. The head unit did not fit in the huge hole left when the massive factory until was pulled so they made a custom mount out of wood and painted it to match my interior perfectly. I was really pleased with the outcome and have been enjoying the sound for the last year. It really sounds fantastic and the install was first class. Couldnt be happier and would definitely do business with them again.

Best sound system installer in the northwest. Ive had multiple High quality sound systems installed in my vehicles and the service here is second to none. The owner is very Hands-On and involved in each installation and also backs his work with a lifetime labor warranty. Ive had minor equipment glitches which were quickly resolved without question. I highly recommended Ballard Custom Audio without reservation! 25 stars!!!

I had a radio installed a few months back and the guys at Ballard Custom Audio were over-the-top amazing. I dive a ‘91 Miata with a tight interior and after being turned down from BestBuy (who I bought the radio from) for the install I decided to go to the local guys. They not only installed it in a matter of hours, but also custom made a plate for the radio to make it look just like it came from the factory. I will ONLY use BCA for any of my car audio upgrades in the future. Thanks guys, you’re amazing!

IM SO HAPPY!!!! THANK YOU GUYS!! they knocked it out the day i went in after hours. you guys are the best

Im pretty sure I rated BCA on a previous installation but since I hired them for a new install on another vehicle I get to review them again. *Bill is the top drawer installer you want*. Besides having the tuning ear of a professional musician, he treats every install like it is his passion, his art. Its rare and a pleasure to find someone so devoted to their work.

If youre willing to throw down some serious cash, theyll build your dream system and make some great recommendations. From the looks of it, they do great install work too. My ding was mainly due to not working within budgets and upsale pressure. This is a Morel speaker shop, and thats what they push, which comes at a premium price, even though they do have cheaper options (Phoenix Gold). My initial quote was for $1250 for a new amp and install (with no speakers). Of that, $300 labor, $30 parts, and $150 for amp wiring kit. I was quoted over $3000 for speakers/sub and amp. If you really want a dream system, want the job done right, money is no issue, and you just want to hand off your car no muss no fuss theyll probably do a great job, but youll pay big bucks. If youre trying to create a good system at a reasonable price this is not the place to go, or just do it yourself.

Read all the reviews. They are well earned as this is the place to take your car with complete confidence in their experience, pricing, products and guarantee and support. Im so glad to have found them. Yet another very happy customer.

Professional from start to finish, we were able to put together a 4 speaker, amp, and sub combination that met and exceeded what I was looking for. The work looks professional and discrete, and the sound is incredible. The job was also finished within the given time frame and on budget for the quote initially given.

I’m sure these guys do great work based on their rating and the setup in their shop. My lower rating is because of the initial experience I had with them.I requested a quote via email for a specific double-din receiver installed and provided the year, make, and model of car. I mentioned I might also be interested in a bigger car battery. I was told via email to just drop in for measurements. I replied, requesting a good time since I’d have to leave work early to make it during business hours, and suggesting that I really just wanted a ballpark. I was again just told to drop in any time.So I just “came in” during business hours and the 60min window I stated I would via email.The owner was apparently frustratedly cranking through a problem and the other guy helping was also super busy. So I was told to just drop in again the next day. I get it. When you’re “in the zone” on a tough problem and running behind schedule you don’t want to get pulled out of it. As a would-be customer, it’s frustrating to be told something, go out of your way to facilitate that, do your best to accommodate and upon arrival be told “Sorry. Can’t help now. Try again later.”Their shop has the feel of a couple guys doing what they love, clearly good at and passionate about it. I really wish I could use them, but unfortunately during the hours they’re open I don’t have the flexibility to keep dropping in and hoping they can give me a quote.

Great to see good small businesses doing such a good job! Owner really helps out and knows his stuff!

About 18 months ago I purchased a car audio system from Ballard Custom Audio. Great system, great service, I was very happy. But the true measure of a business is what happens after you make a purchase and something goes wrong. The head unit (CD/radio/etc) died over the weekend and over the course of 36 hours, drained the car battery. I called BCS today and was told to bring the car in. I did so. A new head unit was quickly installed and I was on my way. I am impressed by the quick and friendly response to my problem. Lesser car stereo retailers would have me make an appointment, leave the car, come back for the car and create a general hassle. Im a fan of Ballard Custom Audio and am happy to recommend it.

Excellent job installing a head unit in an older car, the old wiring had me scratching my head but no problem for Ballard Custom Audio. Even flush mounted the microphone unit in an unused part of the dash. Perfect!

Yesterday some punks tried to run off with my car. Josh was able to get all of the dash and trim pieces back in place and in less than 20 minutes I was back in business. Look no further! Ballard Custom Audio will take it from here!

Just got my 1989 Honda Pacific Coast hooked up with a full audio system from Ballard Custom Audio. Zach and Bill are true craftman with vision. My install was tricky but the guys worked with me and my budget. I am so happy and excited for the spring weather!!! Im going to ride and ride and ride with the tunes flowing! If you need quality work on your baby at a fair price check out my guys at Ballard Custom Audio! They Love Bikes!

My Toyota Corollas auxillary jack had started to have issues. It would cut out when I hit a bump, the sound wasnt even in my car, etc. When I took it to the dealer they made it seem like a complex issue. When I went to Ballard Custom Audio to talk to them about replacing it vs changing my stereo, they were quick to explain the problem and that it would be an easy fix. They helped me to find the most affordable and appropriate option for myself instead of guiding me toward more expensive options. I was able to walk-in with the part and have it replaced in minutes. I was really impressed with their service all around and wouldnt hesitate to send anyone their direction. They really went above and beyond for me. (And even remembered me when when it was nearly a month between my first and second visit.)

Tricky to find and get an appointment, but otherwise otherworldly quality service!

I never write reviews but am taking the time to do so here because this company is fabulous- everyone I have had the pleasure of dealing with at Ballard Custom Audio has been professional, efficient, friendly, and highly skilled, and as an added bonus their services are very fairly priced. I recommend them to everyone I know who needs any custom audio work done on their vehicles.

Bill and his crew knew what they were doing. My 2013 Elantra had the stock radio and speakers replaced by them. The most impressive bit of craftsmanship was that he managed to get a 12 sub in the side of my trunk. It looks like it came off the factory floor that way. The parts and work were both high quality. Go here if you value professional work and fantastic sound. You do get what you pay for.

Doesnt answer the phone or emails. Works by appt only. Cool.

I wanted great sound in my Tesla Model X. I looked around and saw that Ballard Custom Audio had worked on Teslas before, and asked for a quote. They put in a 6 channel amplifier under the driver seat, very nice component drivers in the factory locations, and a custom 10 subwoofer enclosure in the back with a control knob on the console. Everything is seamless. It was essentially a brand new car, and it still looks that way, but now it sounds like it should, which is to say AWESOME. Was I nervous leaving my brand new Tesla to get taken apart and put back together? Yes. But they did a great job, and I have no regrets. These guys are serious professionals.

We were visiting Seattle and our 14 year old car stereo just wasnt working on the drive up. These guys slotted us in on short notice, and gave us a great new stereo that will serve us well on the drive home.

I had a great experience with Bill. I live in Olympia and didnt find the expertise I was looking for. While visitimg Seartle for work, I dropped in on Bill without an appointment. He took quite a bit of time goimg through options and educating me so I could make an informed decision. Using some lightly used components, he was able to put a killer system together for my car at a discount. He also put in a back up camera and permanently wired in my dash cam. I cant say enough about the amazing sound quality of the system. Well worth the price and the travel up to Seattle for the install. Also, Bill was cool to let me hang out on his couch to work and take a nap while they installed the system (about 8 hours). Bill warned me about my stock car battery, and I upgraded it to one he suggested on my drive home (headlights were dimming to the beat of the music). All in all, I love the system and service.

Amazing car audio services. We recently purchased a used Rav which I felt needed a backup camera. After reviewing all of the options with us Bill and Jordan recommended a newer Pioneer head unit. At first I wasnt sure, due to other companies messing up installs in my other vehicles, you know those famous car t*& guys. Anyway, after reviewing the head unit they recommend, I went home and researched it myself. The Pioneer was the right fit for the job, plus it added a lot of other features, like Bluetooth and map options all via my Android or iPhone. The install was great. The stereo was flush mounted, it looked good and works great. I would highly recommend their work!

Had these guys install a cd unit in a 1999 Mercedes. They had all the parts there, squeezed me in without an appointment and finished earlier than expected. Great experience.

They installed Bluetooth audio into my Prius in under 30 minutes. It’s working seamlessly & has made my driving experience a lot better. This is the place to go in the Seattle area 👍🏼 they do it the right way

Call this guy first. he knows his stuff and will not lead you astray. a true professional.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Did a great job upgrading my stereo.

Honest and transparent, you can tell these guys care about providing the best service for every customer.

Got help with wiring and circuitry over the phone for no charge at all. Then came in and got a fuse replaced all for free, and I learned a lot. Awesome service

My Audi dealer couldnt fix it. Car Toys couldnt fix it, even though I boughtthe car stereo system there.But, Ballard Custom Audio gave my car radio reception at a very fair price.I am a true believer.

Knowledgeable, honest, and reliable. Everything you want in an audio shop. Highly recommended.

Had a minor power amp issue. Fixed me right up! I will return.

Service was great, friendly and Im headed back with me next install. I highly suggest this shop.

Bill is great. It took a few times to get it right. It was a challenge just trying to get my silly stock, tiny speaker BMW x1 to sound as good as the stock system in my VW wagon (seriously, BMW!) But now, it surpasses even the VW.

Knowledgeable with Excellent customer service from Bill and Jordan. My XM RADIO problem diagnosed and repaired onsite promptly.

Very good and fast work fair prices as well

These guys killed the install, they hid everything when I didnt think it could be done, I wanted a stealth sub install and they crushed it

Called these guys about an installation problem and they not only gave me advice on how to do myself, they gave me the parts I needed!!

Great placeGreat deals

Very nice