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About Us

Established 1991

Audio That Moves With You. And Lives With You.

Creative Audio started with custom car audio and grew into a regional team serving cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, powersports, homes, businesses, and online shoppers across the country.

Who We Are

From Custom Installs To Connected Living

We are enthusiasts, installers, problem solvers, and product people. The work still starts with listening: what you drive, where you ride, how you entertain, and what kind of experience you want every time you press play.

Mobile Car audio, safety, remote start, security, tint, fabrication, and integration.
Marine Boat, motorcycle, UTV, powersports, and outdoor-ready audio solutions.
Home Home theater, whole-home audio, automation, smart lighting, TVs, and more.

Vehicle Audio & Electronics

Factory integration, speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers, stereos, safety, security, remote start, and custom work.

Marine & Powersports

Audio systems for boats, motorcycles, side-by-sides, UTVs, and gear that lives outside the garage.

Home Audio & Automation

Whole-home audio, theater rooms, projectors, televisions, soundbars, smart lighting, climate control, and connected-home design.

Ecommerce & Fulfillment

Our Ozark distribution operation helps get products to online customers quickly while supporting our retail stores.

A Story Built One Install At A Time

Creative Audio has grown by staying close to the work: choosing the right product, installing it correctly, and standing behind the experience after the sale.

1991

Creative Audio begins

The first store opened in Pittsburg, Kansas with a focus on car audio customization, from simple systems to full custom fabrication.

1993

The Pittsburg store moves

The original Pittsburg operation moved to 2501 N Broadway in 1993, continuing to serve as part of Creative Audio's early retail foundation.

1994

Joplin opens on Route 66

Creative Audio opened the Joplin, Missouri location in 1994, growing into a 6,700 square foot custom car audio shop at 7th and Main.

1997

Sedalia joins the story

Creative Audio purchased the former Reference Audio in Sedalia in 1997, then built and opened a new location in the heart of Sedalia.

2001

Springfield Sunshine rebranded

The 717 W Sunshine store was purchased from Auto Air and Audio in 2001, two blocks west of Bass Pro, then expanded and renovated.

2012

Columbia opens

Creative Audio opened the Columbia, Missouri location in September 2012, adding another major retail and installation hub.

2014

First warehouse purchased

Creative Audio purchased its first warehouse in June 2014, an important step toward supporting more stores, more inventory, and faster fulfillment.

2019

Ozark warehouse and offices

The Ozark, Missouri warehouse and office facility was built to support retail stores and ecommerce customers with faster product movement.

2021

Pittsburg moves to Bentonville

The Pittsburg store moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, bringing Creative Audio to Northwest Arkansas at 1212 SE Walton Blvd #4.

Car-Fi

Rick Snelson's Car-Fi legacy

Rick Snelson founded Car-Fi in Springfield in 1986, building a respected mobile electronics business from hand-built displays and a two-car install bay into a local institution. Rick passed away in 2021, leaving a lasting mark on the mobile electronics community.

2024

Car-Fi stores become Creative Audio

After the Car-Fi acquisition, the Springfield Glenstone and Nixa stores were rebranded as Creative Audio in late 2024, bringing the histories together under one name.

2024

Nixa rebrands too

The Nixa Car-Fi store also became Creative Audio in late 2024, bringing another local team and showroom into the Creative Audio family.

Today

Mobile, marine, powersports, home, and ecommerce

Creative Audio now serves drivers, riders, boaters, homeowners, businesses, and online shoppers with products, professional installation, videos, events, and support.

Home Audio Matters Here

Better Sound For The Heart Of Your Home

Creative Audio's home category and showroom work cover the spaces where people actually live: living rooms, theaters, kitchens, patios, offices, and whole-house systems. The same installation mindset that built the car audio business now applies to speakers, receivers, automation, lighting, displays, networking, and control.

Whole-home audio Home theater Smart lighting TVs & projectors Outdoor speakers Automation

Local Stores, National Reach

Where To Find Us

Creative Audio serves customers through Missouri and Arkansas retail stores, an Ozark distribution center, and a national ecommerce store.

All Locations

Springfield, MO

Two Springfield locations: Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue.

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Nixa, Joplin, Columbia, Sedalia

Retail teams across Missouri for installs, consultations, and service.

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Ozark, MO

Distribution and ecommerce support built to get products moving quickly.

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Certified Craft

MECP certification and continued training keep the install work professional and current.

Community Energy

Events, shows, tent sales, and local stores keep Creative Audio connected to the communities it serves.

Real Enthusiasts

The team lives with the products it sells and installs, from vehicles and boats to theater rooms and connected homes.

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