The First Ten Years of Sweet Sounds (1993–2003)

What an amazing journey it’s been! I was digging through tens of thousands of photos and videos from the last 32 years and realized a lot of this needs to be shared. So… here begins a long trip down memory lane: the first ten years of Sweet Sounds.

How It Started (1993)

August 2, 1993: Sweet Sounds became a legally organized business. Before that, I’d already dove headfirst into car audio—helping friends and building cool stuff. I ran the business part-time while attending MSU and, after graduation, chose to keep going with Sweet Sounds instead of Computer Info Sciences (hmmm… probably a good call).

Word Spreads (Mid-1990s)

By the mid-1990s we were known for high-quality work, building competition-level cars and hitting events around the upper Midwest. That’s when most of these photos start—some are even Polaroids. A few years later our first employee came on board and things really took off. Alongside daily client installs, we jumped into SPL competition and started building world-class systems—winning multiple world championships, setting records, and traveling the country to compete. You’ll see plenty of shots from those shows in the video. Amazing times. We were even among the first to put a full-blown PC in a car, with a touchscreen in the dash and a keyboard in the visor!

Our Home Base (2001)

September 10, 2001: We purchased our current location on Riverfront Dr. None of us knew the next day the world would change forever. From there on, we continued to build cool vehicles, compete nationally in dB Drag Racing events and participate in many local events.

The Chameleon Suburban (2002)

In 2002 we built the first version of the color-changing Chameleon Suburban. It became our unofficial landmark on Riverfront for years. We didn’t even give out the address—just “look for the color-changing Suburban.” Between parades and community events, it turned into one of Mankato’s most recognizable vehicles.

The Best Part: People

The very best part of those first ten years? The relationships that still last today—employees, customers, and friends whose stories and success make it all worthwhile. So many went on to become doctors, bankers, business owners, manufacturers, teachers, parents—you name it. It’s been awesome to watch.

We also lost some friends from those days. Their faces live on in these photos. They deserve to be remembered. May they rest in peace.

Brands We Rocked Back Then

Cerwin Vega!, Digital Designs, Zapco, HiFonics, Clarion, Image Dynamics, Black Magic, Memphis, Sony, Alpine, Pyle, Audiobahn, Boston Acoustics, Stinger, Rockford Fosgate, JBL, MMats, Kenwood, JVC, Panasonic, Pioneer, Profile… and many many more.

About the Video

The edit isn’t strict chronology—the builds are grouped by vehicle, with show/event shots sprinkled in to keep it fun. No slideshow timer will be perfect for everyone, so feel free to hit pause as much as you like. Remember, these photos are 1990s tech. VCRs, pagers and fax machines ruled the day. We didn’t have $1,000 cameras on an iPhone.

And with that, may I present The First Ten Years video

Visit Sweet Sounds

Sweet Sounds
1418 N Riverfront Dr
Mankato, MN 56001
SweetSounds.com

After you’ve finished with The First Ten Years, check out our latest slideshow mashup page here: (coming soon!)