Love of music and a driving, booming, enthusiasm for quality sound and top customer service led by owner Ashley Burrell has turned Abtec into a automotive and home audio hit with customers.
Sounds Alive is the theme of Abtec who have been in the business for more than 20 years and know their speakers. For the past two years they have been located in their own purpose-fitted building on the corner of Hutt Road and Riddlers Crescent in Lower Hutt.
“Good music relies on quality speakers to make it come alive and everyone has a different ear for what they like, whether warm, sharp edged, or sparkling with lots of gain,” says Ashley. “We have sourced speakers with the widest range of sounds and decibel ratings from around the world.
“Our team is one of the most experienced in New Zealand – we know audio and the speakers that can deliver what the customer expects because no two speakers are the same.
“The modern push for mobile devices with tiny speakers have placed emphasis on sourcing and playing the music, but the real pleasure of music is in the speakers – that is where the quality comes from.”
And Abtec are experts at installing speakers in cars ranging from the mid-level quality range right up to 21 inch woofers pushing out a 155db sound that is louder than a 747 aircraft taking off.
“That’s a lot of sound in a small space,” says Ashley.
(From left to right, Vaughan, Darryl, Ashley, George, Lance)
Abtec have fitted out their staff cars, which are all different in shape and size,with the best audio equipment money can buy as demonstrators for customers.
“We provide a listening experience within the vehicle itself over a full range of options from the powerful to the sedate,” says Ashley, a father of four children who admits his love for music means he spends a lot of time glued to the business.
His wife Narelle works alongside him managing the accounts along with brother Darryl who has the deft touch of a maestro in installations and balancing the interior sound of the speakers.
“We are a strong team and that’s what makes it work,” he says.
A strong Eagles fan but willing to take Narelle to a Justin Timberlake concert in Auckland, Ashley has set up his building with its own sound theatre where customers can sit back and listen to the speakers they are going to buy.
“We work hard at helping customers make the right choice for audio in their car and their home,” he says.
Abtec also provides a full range of car alarm units, and various automotive systems.
A specialist function is the installation of new sound and communications units in imported cars and sensors.
“Abtec has come a long way since Darryl and I first started touting for business at home shows with a little Datsun 180b kitted out with the latest audio equipment,” he says.
Abtec also provides an online service at www.abtec.co.nz backed with a full New Zealand warranty and a speaker repair centre at the Abtec installation centre.
-Hutt News 8th July 2014