SQOLOGY Car Audio Podcast

Latest Episodes:

93: feat. Gary Bell: From Installer to Director of Audio + WCA Venue of the Year Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Gary Bell, Director of Audio at Stinger / AudioControl, joins Klifton Keplinger and Mike Myers for a wide-ranging conversation covering more than three decades in car audio.

Gary traces his path from building systems as a teenager, working on celebrity vehicles and some of the industry’s most recognizable show cars, through Alpine, product development, and eventually his current role helping shape the future of AudioControl.

The conversation also looks back at the 2026 WCA Finals hosted at Stinger / AudioControl, recently recognized as Venue of the Year, including what went into creating the event, what worked, and how manufacturers can help make sound quality competition more accessible, engaging, and relevant.

Plus, the group gets into competition tuning, judging, listening levels, regional trends, and what separates a great demo car from a car built to perform on the score sheet.

Brought to you by Resonix Sound Solutions. Learn more about Resonix sound treatments, resources, and products at ResonixSoundSolutions.com.

92: Events and the Future of Sound Quality Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the SQOLOGY Podcast, Klifton and Michael Myers dig into one of the biggest underlying tensions in today’s sound quality world: the difference between events built to sell and events built to serve competitors.

Using Steel Valley Regional as a starting point, the conversation expands into sponsorship, industry support, retailer involvement, grassroots event culture, and what actually sustains car audio over time. Klifton reflects on lessons from Hybrid Audio Technologies, Soundz, and years of event promotion, while Mike brings the installer, tuner, judge, and competitor perspective to the discussion.

This is a deeper conversation about what grows the hobby, what preserves it, and why those are not always the same thing. They also explore how brands, retailers, event directors, judges, and competitors each play different roles in keeping the community alive, and why people, not products, remain the center of it all.

Sponsored by Resonix Sound Solutions. Learn more about Resonix at resonixsoundsolutions.com.

This episode also highlights Steel Valley Regional, one of the premier sound quality events in the country, made possible through strong industry support and the continued effort of Larry Chijner and the SVR team.

91: Jeffrey Hald on Total Tuning, Iteration Over Gear, and Growing the Next Generation of Competitors Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the SQOLOGY Podcast, Klifton Keplinger and Michael Myers are joined by Jeffrey Hald of Total Tuning. The conversation digs into the realities of remote tuning at scale, microphone strategy, physical optimization versus DSP-first thinking, and what actually separates consistent competitors from one-hit results. Jeffrey shares lessons from rebuilding after failure, tuning under real-world constraints, and why iteration, fundamentals, and community matter more than chasing equipment or shortcuts.

They also explore the future of sound quality competition, the difference between sales-driven events and competitor-driven events, and how the industry can better cultivate new participants without losing depth or integrity.

This episode is sponsored by ResoNix Sound Solutions, providing engineered sound treatment designed to reduce noise and resonance and create a stable foundation for serious sound quality systems. Learn more at ⁠resonixsoundsolutions.com.⁠

This episode is also supported by SVR XV (Steel Valley Regional 15), taking place July 17-19, 2026 at the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. Registration for the Top 48 competitor field is currently full. For more information, contact Larry Chijner or Richard Papasin, and follow the Steel Valley Regional Facebook group for updates on organization registration, announcements, and availability.

SQOLOGY exists to document the pursuit of better sound, preserve the culture of sound quality competition, and keep meaningful conversations alive across seasons, regions, and generations.

90: feat. Mark Bruno Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the SQOLOGY Podcast, Klifton Keplinger and Michael Myers are joined by special guest Mark Bruno. Mark shares his origin story in car audio, his time at Eclipse during its peak years, and the real-world lessons that shaped how he builds and tunes today. The conversation covers competition mindset, “run what you brung” versus last-minute changes, what separates top money-round cars, and why consistency is harder than people think when conditions, judges, and formats vary.

This episode is sponsored by ResoNix Sound Solutions, providing engineered sound treatment designed to reduce noise and resonance and create a stable foundation for serious sound quality systems. Learn more at resonixsoundsolutions.com.

This episode is also supported by SVR XV (Steel Valley Regional 15), taking place July 17-19, 2026 at the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. Registration for the Top 48 competitor field is currently full. For more information, contact Larry Chijner or Richard Papasin, and follow the Steel Valley Regional Facebook group for updates on organization registration, announcements, and availability.

SQOLOGY exists to document the pursuit of better sound, preserve the culture of sound quality competition, and keep meaningful conversations alive across seasons, regions, and generations.

89: Winter Check-In and the State of the Season: SVR, Judging Reality, and What's Next Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Klifton Keplinger and Michael Myers catch up after a busy season and break down what they saw at Steel Valley Regional, including judging flow, multi-org complexity, and why score variation happens in the real world. They cover common event pitfalls like last-minute preset changes, competitors adjusting settings between judges, and the "middle seat" debate. They also touch on regional finals momentum, how conditions and fatigue affect judging consistency, and the ongoing push toward better formats, better data, and better competitor feedback.

This episode is sponsored by Resonix Sound Solutions, providing engineered sound treatment designed to reduce noise and resonance and improve system performance. Learn more at resonixsoundsolutions.com.

This episode is also supported by SVR XV (Steel Valley Regional), taking place July 17-19, 2026, at the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. Details and registration information are available through the Steel Valley Regional Facebook group or by contacting Larry Chijner. Registration opens Friday, January 16, 2026.

88: feat. Paul Adams Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the SQOLOGY Podcast, we sit down with Paul Adams to talk about the early days of car audio, what competition really teaches you over time, and why community and honest feedback matter more than trophies. Paul shares stories from finals past, lessons learned from winning and losing, and a grounded perspective on installers, tuning, and keeping sound quality relevant in a changing industry.

This episode is sponsored by Resonix Sound Solutions, providing engineered sound treatment solutions designed to reduce noise and resonance and improve system performance. Learn more at resonixsoundsolutions.com

Get ready for SVR XV (Steel Valley Regional), taking place July 17-19, 2026, at the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. SVR is a cornerstone sound quality event known for a competitive field, experienced judging, and a strong focus on craft and community. Many thanks to Larry Chijner for SVR’s support of The SQOLOGY Car Audio Podcast.

SQOLOGY exists to document the pursuit of better sound, preserve the culture of sound quality competition, and keep meaningful conversations alive across seasons, regions, and generations.

87: Garmin Bought JL Audio—What Happens Now? Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

From garage installs to global retail, JL Audio’s legacy runs deep—but what happens when a brand built on culture joins forces with a tech giant?

It’s been nearly two years since Garmin acquired JL Audio—but until now, almost nothing has been said directly from the source.

In this exclusive interview, Garmin’s Dave Dunn (Senior Director of Marine & RV Sales) joins SQOLOGY co-hosts Klifton Keplinger (Soundz / Hybrid Audio Technologies) and Michael Myers (The Sound Factory) to address the questions still circulating throughout the car audio, marine, and enthusiast communities:

What’s really happening inside JL Audio under Garmin?
What’s changing—and what’s not?
What’s the future of tools like the MAX?
And what hasn’t been said… until now?

Key Topics Covered:

Why Garmin acquired JL Audio
Preserving vs evolving JL’s identity
Tools, tuning, and the MAX system
Car, marine, and home audio development
Dealer trust and industry transparency
Long-term product strategy and innovation

🧡 Sponsored by ResoNix Sound Solutions —your source for uncompromising automotive sound treatment and clarity.

86: feat. Vin Quach May 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the SQOLOGY Podcast, we sit down with Vin Quach—a relentless builder, passionate demo enthusiast, and long-haul competitor with a deep love for loud, well-tuned sound. From his earliest experiments with clock radios and gutted speaker enclosures to competing with multi-car fleets at Finals, Vin takes us through decades of misadventures, moldy interiors, blown tweeters, and breakthrough bass. His stories are raw, entertaining, and deeply human—and they show what it really means to build for the love of the craft and the people who listen.

Whether you’ve met Vin at a show or just heard whispers of “that BMW with the front sub,” this is the full story behind one of the most dedicated (and entertaining) figures on the scene.

Brought to you by ResoNix Sound Solutions — makers of premium acoustic treatment products for your vehicle. Learn more at resonixsoundsolutions.com.

85: Aggieland XI Recap: Winners, Industry Shifts, and Event Evolution Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the SQOLOGY Podcast, Klifton Keplinger and Mike Myers break down Aggieland XI — covering event highlights, judging insights, competitor feedback, and the razor-thin battle between top competitors like Mark Bruno and Brian Gill. They reveal the winners of both the Tuner Challenge and the Demologist award, and reflect on what made this year's event one of the most dynamic yet.

The conversation also dives into the JL Audio/Garmin transition and its ripple effects across the industry, along with forward-thinking changes for future Aggieland events to keep the spirit alive and thriving.

This episode is proudly brought to you by Resonix Sound Solutions. Learn more about their world-class sound treatments and products at ResonixSoundSolutions.com.

84: feat. Dean & Fernando Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

This episode, sponsored by ⁠Resonix Sound Solutions⁠, features hosts Mike Myers and Klifton Keplinger with guests Dean and Fernando of Five Star Car Stereo.

In this conversation, Dean and Fernando talk about what they're currently focused on—from running a high-volume install shop to creating educational content for a global audience. They also share their impressions from the recent Unified SQ Finals event in Birmingham, Alabama, offering a fresh perspective on the sound quality scene and what it means for the broader car audio community.

The discussion explores how different corners of the industry—retail, competition, content creation—can better connect and collaborate. Dean and Fernando bring their signature honesty and insight to a conversation about where car audio is headed, how to break down silos, and why shared experiences are key to keeping the culture alive and growing.

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