Phonics Digital PD-171

It seems that there is a growing trend among mobile audio/video accessory makers to make their products as cheaply as possible, and not even conform to the standards anymore.

Pros:
+ Actually includes the correct lengths of wire specified
+ Fuse holder is one of the best I've seen in a value kit such as this

Cons:
- Cables are not even close to correct gauge
- Patch cables, although pretty, are extremely fragile
- 80-A fuse is probably a 60A that was stamped as 80
- Why even bother including 22-gauge (or smaller) speaker wire on a kit with an 80 amp fuse? Do they want to set people's cars on fire?

This is a prime example of car audio manufacturers getting lazy, greedy, and outright insulting to the intelligence of their customers (which, unfortunately, has been going downhill since the inception of rap music into the mainstream). Before joining the IT community, I was a car audio installer/custom fabricator for several years. I KNOW what wire gauges look like, and even if I didn't, I have crimpers and strippers that do. This kit includes 6-gauge power and ground wire at best, though it is probably a little closer to 8-gauge. The remote turn-on lead is about 20-gauge, and although this doesn't really matter all that much, 18-gauge is nice because you don't have to worry about breaking it during a pull. The patch cables are pretty, but absolutely pathetic in terms of durability. I broke the plug off one side of one cable during the pull. I wasn't pulling hard, and the plug wasn't even caught on anything. It just kind of pulled itself free, leaving the wires it housed frayed and exposed.

We ended up using this kit anyway, as the system it was going in wasn't really in need of a massive power conduit. It was disappointing to have to go to Radio Shack to replace the RCA cables that fell apart during the install. It all works fine, but the overall quality and lack of adherence to technical standards is laughable.

I am infuriated by companies such as this who, to their own benefit, knowingly make poor-quality, non-compliant equipment. This is the reason people's amps catch fire, why your $3000+ system sounds like garbage, and why professionals want to kick themselves and their customers almost every time they see an install nowadays. It is one thing to have poor quality parts or insulation. It is another thing altogether to COMPLETELY IGNORE THE ACCEPTED STANDARDS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE EQUIPMENT BEING INSTALLED AS WELL AS THE CUSTOMER FROM BEING DEFRAUDED OR EVEN PHYSICALLY INJURED BY EQUIPMENT THAT MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO NONCOMPLIANCE. If you are looking for an install kit that is full of garbage, look no further. From now on though, I'm just going to have to tell my friends and customers to suck it up and buy a real quality kit. And that is NOT this one.

They may be overpriced, but for a standard-compliant kit that delivers exactly what it promises, look no further than another company that makes amp kits for things that drive on the STREET and have electronics powered by WIRES. You could also try another company, who seem to be inspired by LIGHTNING and the AUDIO presence that follows.