Hi-FI WORKFLOW
ROOM: CONFERENCE THEATER
FOCUSED ON SOUND QUALITY
SESSION 1
Making the Connection: Integrating with Factory-Provided Audio Systems
Friday 8:00am - 9:15am | Saturday 8:00am - 9:15am
INSTRUCTOR: KEN WARD
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Modern vehicles demand smarter integration strategies and getting it wrong can cost
sound quality, time, and profit. This session breaks down the real-world decision making
process behind successful OEM integration, from choosing the right interface to
knowing when factory processing should stay or go. Drawing from years of industry
experience, this course delivers a clear, repeatable workflow that removes guesswork
and ensures predictable, noise-free results. If you want systems that sound right the first
time and installations that bill efficiently, this is where it starts.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
-
How to evaluate factory audio architectures and choose the correct integratio strategy
-
When to retain OEM processing vs. bypassing it entirely and why it matters
-
Interface selection: pros, cons, and real-world limitations
-
Solutions for vehicles with no available integration interface
-
How proper integration decisions directly impact sound quality, noise control, and labor profitability
SESSION 2
Making Great Bass: Subwoofer Applications, Enclosures, and Locations
Friday 9:30am - 10:45am | Saturday 9:30am - 10:45am
INSTRUCTOR: ANDY WEHMEYER
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Great bass isn’t accidental and it’s definitely not just about building a box. This session
dives deep into the science and strategy behind subwoofer performance, focusing on
application selection, enclosure design, and placement within the vehicle. Building on
the proven Hi-Fi curriculum MasterTech Expo attendees have relied on for years, this
course teaches you how to predict results before cutting wood. No more guessing, no
more “try it and hope.” Just intentional design that delivers consistent, repeatable bass
performance.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
-
Understanding and selecting sealed, vented, infinite baffle, and aperiodic designs
-
How to select the right enclosure type based on vehicle, space, and performance
goals -
Why subwoofer location matters as much as enclosure design
-
Does it matter which way we point the sub? Why does the bass get louder when I
open the trunk? -
Techniques to predict real-world bass performance before fabrication begins
SESSION 3
Finishing the Job: Tuning the System
Friday 9:30am - 10:45am | Saturday 9:30am - 10:45am
INSTRUCTORS: MATT MERGENTHAL, NICHOLAS AMES, & JEFFREY HALD
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A system isn’t finished when the wiring is complete it’s finished when it sounds right. This course focuses on the final, critical step that separates average installs from great ones: tuning. Whether you’re working with a full DSP or a basic system, this session provides a clear, repeatable tuning process that removes intimidation and confusion. learn how to confidently tune any system to deliver balanced, musical, customer-pleasing results.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
-
A practical tuning workflow that applies to simple and advanced systems alike
-
Core tuning fundamentals every installer should master, DSP or not
-
How to identify and correct common frequency, level, and balance issues
-
Techniques used by top-level competitors, simplified for real-world installs
-
How consistent tuning elevates sound quality, customer satisfaction, and your
reputation
