I am a super duper trooper noob regarding car audio system. Whenever I want to buy gaming PC, macbook, headphone, dashcam etc, I know where to refer to. However, so far I have no idea of where to start with car audio system.

I have an old Proton Waja manufactured in 2006. Since few years ago, I noticed that the sound produced by the car speakers has become dimmer. I assume that the speaker is decaying (please correct me if I am wrong).

So far I window shopped in few car audio system shops, from big shop like brothers to small shops, but I have no idea how to choose a suitable model.

Few days ago, I window shopped in a small shop in Banting, Selangor. The shopkeeper recommended me 2 brands, which are:
1) Herts (the shopkeeper said this is an Italian brand).
http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com/
2) German Maestro (the shopkeeper said this is a German brand).
http://www.german-maestro.de/Englisch/Products/

Beside this, that shop also sells common Japanese and local brands.

I have no idea which brand to choose. That shopkeeper told me to inform him my budget, then he will choose the suitable brands and models within that range.

The shopkeeper told me that I can keep my existing Clarion radio (Head Unit) and only replace the speakers.

Instead of replacing all the speakers at one time, the shopkeeper told me to start with the replacement of the front speakers and add 2 tweeters. Once I am satisfied with the front speakers and tweeters, then I can come again to his shop to replace the rear speakers. Then, I can come again to that shop to install power amplifier and sub woofer if I want.

However, I think I still should have some basic knowledge regarding good rands and model instead of walking into a shop and choosing the model blindly based on salesman's recommendation.

This post has been edited by foxfaisal: Jun 4 2017, 01:39 PM

At that time, he focus more on Hertz an less on German Maestro. He didn't mention the specific model, but he said that the medium and high end model from Hertz that he recommends are each RM800++ and RM1800++.

After returning home, I tried to google about Hertz (and German Maestro) and found Hertz Malaysia Official Facebook Page which is available in the link below:
Hertz Malaysia Official Facebook Page

I found an old promotion posting on the Hertz Malaysia Official Facebook Page dated 7th June 2016, which are shown in the photos below:



Based on these photos, I assume that the name of the model of the medium and high end model from Hertz that the shopkeeper recommends are each Energy ESK 165.5 (RM898) and Mille MPK 165.3 (RM1800).

In Hertz Malaysia Official Facebook Page, they also highlighted about the counterfeit products. They show the photos of the genuine vs imitation on thier page, but they look just the same for me. To be safe, I will buy form the authorised seller (in the photos).

However, it is too bad because the promotions in the photos expires on 31st June 2016. Otherwise, I would have grabbed either package 2 or 3. I sent an email and telephoned the phone number available in the photos to ask if they have any more promotions in the future. So far they did not replied my email. The person who answered the phone says she was from accounting dept and knows nothing about their product - she says she will give my phone no to her manager so that her manager sill contact and explain to me about their product and future promotion (if available), but so far I don't receive any phone call.

I think their marketing is not aggressive. They seldom update their FB page, and so far didn't reply my email and my phone call. I will consider other brand if it is difficult to get information from them

This post has been edited by foxfaisal: Jun 5 2017, 05:24 PM

Try to look at the photos in these album. Elegance Audio Sdn. Bhd.

The outlet is in Kelana Jaya. Beside Hertz, they also sell German Maestro and other brands. I assume that Elegance Audio Sdn. Bhd. is trustworthy because their outlet is big. I also notice that Elegance Audio Sdn. Bhd. do give discount during Chinese New Year sale.

If Voxaudio Sdn Bhd (the seller that gives promotion in the photos that I showed before) don't make anymore promotion in the future, I will buy from Elegance Audio Sdn. Bhd. during the next Chinese New Year sale.

Thank you for the info. I have 1 thing to ask. I assume that Hertz Energy is the mind range product while Hertz Mille is the high end product. For a beginner like me, should I start with mid range product or straight away start with the high end product?

Thank you again.

Understood. I think I'll start with the medium range product first.

I contacted them using the FB page that you gave. This time they responded very quick. Unfortunately, the price for this year has been increased, as shown in the photo below.



Ah man, even their mid range product this year is too expensive for me (sigh).

Thank you very much for the reminder. However, I will still visit that outlet to window shop.

I scan the business card that the taukeh gave to me and put it below. The name of the taukeh is John, the name of the shop is Park City Car Audio Acc, and the location is actually in Telok Panglima Garang (Klang-Banting)




I don't know how to differentiate between genuine and imitation products, so I ask the taukeh about it. The taukeh said every Hertz packaging box and speaker has serial number. The serial number on the speaker should be the same as the serial number on the packaging box. I can email to Hertz headquarter to ask whether the serial number is valid or not. The taukeh said he also have the stock of imitation Sony Xplode at his shop, but he said he will never put the brand 'Sony' whenever he sells imitation products. He said nowadays it is easier for the government to trace what he sells through GST invoice, so he will never put the brand of the imitation products in the receipt. Otherwise, it will be easier for customer and government to take action against him.

I tried to google the name of the shop and so far I found many people tagged their location whenever they visit their shop, which is shown below:
Park City Car Audio Acc

I even find a post from Vozaudio (the authorised Hertz and German Maestro dispributor in Malaysia, according to Hertz and German Maestro International website) showing that they send their Hertz demo car to Park City Car Audio Acc, as shown below. Based on this, I assume that Park City Car Audio Acc gets their Hertz (and German Maestro) stocks from Vozaudio and those stocks are genuine.
Vozaudio Sent Demo Car to Park City Car Audio Acc

The taukeh also told me that Park City Car Audio Acc is the only authorised seller for Hertz and German Maestro in Telok Panglima Garang.

However, I'm not sure whether workmanship at Park City Car Audio Acc is good or not.


The taukeh adviced me to start replacing the speakers first. If I am satisfied, he said I can come again to upgrade the Head Unit.

So far his shop still sells Hertz at last year's price. Maybe because they still keep the stocks that they bought before the price went up. I go to his shop again today and he quoted me this price:
1) Hertz Hi-Energy HSK 165 Two way component, RM1800++
Hertz Hi-Energy HSK 165 Two way component
2) Hertz Energy ESK 165.5 Two way component, RM800++
Hertz Energy ESK 165.5 Two way component
3) Hertz Dieci DCX 690.3 Three way coaxial, RM580
Hertz Dieci DCX 690.3 Three way coaxial
4) German Maestro Concept CS6508 Two way component, RM900++
4) German Maestro Concept CS6508 Two way component

The taukeh also said that both Hertz and German Maestro perform almost the same for the same price range. The only obvious difference is in terms of appearance, Hertz looks more awesome while German Maestro looks plain


Since I am the beginner, the taukeh advised me not to waste money buying expensive high end products. He advised me to start with the second and third Hertz products above for front and rear speakers (or any equivalent product from German Maestro). He also told me that even a Mercedes owner bought only the second Hertz product above from his shop and was satisfied with the performance (without buying high end product). He said if I purchased the 2nd and 3rd products at the same time, he will qoute me RM1400 flat.

This post has been edited by foxfaisal: Jun 7 2017, 10:57 AM

I think he has. But you may call him using the phone number in the business card that I scanned to double-check. Don't forget to inform me what he said :-)

Guys, I have 1 question.

The the Hertz and German Maestro front speakers that were recommended by the tauke are 6.5" size but my the door speakers in my Proton Waja is 5.25" size. The tauke told me that drilling is needed if I want to install the 6.5" size speakers on the door of my car.

If possible, I would like to avoid unnecessary drilling. If it is difficult to find the 5.25" size Hertz, German Maestro, or any other model in the Malaysian market, can I just install the 6.5" size by using any kind of adapter to avoid unnecessary drilling?

Thank you.

This post has been edited by foxfaisal: Jun 9 2017, 06:25 PM

Understood. I tried to survey some brands on lazada, mudah, lelong, 11 street etc., but most of them are 6.5 inch. If I still want the 6.5 inch, I have no choice but to purchase through ebay or amazon.

Understood. I tried to survey some brands on lazada, mudah, lelong, 11 street etc., but most of them are 6.5 inch. If I still want the 5.25 inch, I have no choice but to purchase through ebay or amazon.

This post has been edited by foxfaisal: Jun 10 2017, 02:12 AM

All right. I hope those shops do sell the 5.25" size because I would like to avoid unnecessary drilling and trimming.

Btw, 1 nice guy PMed me to recommend the Focal brand. I have gone through the website & think that it is also a good brand. Please feel free to inform me if there is any other good brand :-)

Beside that, I also go through the JBL website to see their car speaker product because JBL is also a well known brand for domestic application (headphone, earphone, portable bluetooth speakers etc.).

I have emailed all the Malaysian authorised distributors for Hertz, German Maestro, Focal, and JBL to ask whether they do import the 5.25" size component speakers or not. If they don't, then I have no choice but to find other brands (or proceed purchasing on ebay/amazon).

Sorry, I forgot to answer your 2nd question. My budget is less than 2k for front 5.25" component speakers + rear 9" x 6" co-axial speakers.

Waja's rear speakers are at the rear board, not the door. I was told that Waja has 2 versions of rear speakers, which are:
1) 6" x 9"
2) 6.5"

Today I went to Elegance Audio for window shopping. The tauke checked my car and said my rear speakers is actually 6.5". All this time I mistakenly thought that my speakers was 6" x 9".

The tauke at Elegance Audio claimed that there is no need to drill new holes and trim the body panel if I switched from 5.25" to 6.5" speakers. He said I only have to put an adapter/spacer (Will be given free by the shop). In addition, I have to replace the speaker grill because the original grill won't fit the 6.5" speakers (no drilling is needed for the new 6.5" grill).

If I still want to install the 5.25" speakers on my front door, co-incidentally at this moment Elegance Auto have the last stocks of HSK 130 (Hi Energy 5.25" component speakers) and HCX 130 (Hi Energy 5.25 co-axial speakers). Tauke said Hi Energy is an old series and the production had been stopped. However, the original rear speakers for my car is 6.5" - this means I have to HCX 130 (Hi Energy 5.25" co-axial speakers) with a 5.25" to 6.5" adapter. The tauke said he doesn't have the stock for HCX 165 (Hi Energy 6.5" co-axial speakers). I will survey if other shops has the stocks of (Hi Energy 5.25" component speakers) combined with HCX 165 (Hi Energy 6.5" co-axial speakers).

One of the youtube video that I watched advised us to installed the speakers with the same series on our car. For an example, if I installed the Hi Energy series in front, it is advised for me to also install the Hi Energy series on the rear. This means that if I want to install a subwoofer, I should also purchase the Hi Energy series. Since the tauke said the production for Hi Energy has already stopped, I have to check whether the sub woofer for Hi Energy series is still available in Malaysia or not.

If I still want to have a combination of 5.25" components for front speakers and 6.5" co-axial for rear speakers, the tauke recommended me to go for German Maestro because co-incidentally Elegance Auto have the stocks for CS5008 (Concept 5.25" component speakers) and CC6508 (Concept 6.5" co-axial speakers)


Co-incidentally, there is also a shop beside Elegance Audio named In Car Audio that sells JBL. I also stop by at In Car Audio for window shopping after visiting Elegance Audio. In Car Audio has stocks for JBL 5.25" component speakers and 6.5" co-axial speakers. I do agree with you that JBL targets different type of customers because the most expensive JBL speakers that I saw at In Car Audio is RM700++. I saw some German Maestro and Hertz in Elegance Audio that is around RM2500++ and I believe that are not the most expensive speakers German Maestro and Hertz in Elegance Audio.

I will also visit Vozaudio and Xciteaudio for window shopping before making decision. Vozaudio also sells Hertz and German Maestro while Xciteaudio sells Focal and JBL.

I messaged Xciteaudio asking whether they have the stocks for 5.25" components speakers or not. They replied saying that they only have the stocks for 6.5" speakers. They also said that there is no need to drill new holes if I want to replace my 5.25" speakers with 6.5" speakers.

This post has been edited by foxfaisal: Jun 12 2017, 03:05 AM

Btw, I think I need to do soundproof mu car because I can hear clearly the noise from my own engine, other vehicles around, and also the sound of the wind when I'm speeding. Another youtube video that I watched says that cheap speakers with soundproof is better that expensive speakers without soundproof. May I know how much is the usual cost for soundproofing?

Understood. Btw, I have 1 more question. If another shops wants to sell their HSK 130 (Hi Energy 5.25" component speakers) and HCX 130 (Hi Energy 5.25 co-axial speakers) at the same price of ESK 165 (Energy 6.5" component speakers) and HCX 130 (Energy 6.5 co-axial speakers) because that other shops wants to clear their old stocks, should I grab it? That other shop os also trustworthy seller, plus 1 year warranty will be given, just like other products.