Premium Audio Upgrade for less than $250

Yep, they are low budget speakers for sure, but with high sensitivity. Aftermarket speakers come with a range of sensitivities. I've seen as low as 85dB up to 93 or 94 on the high end. That's a difference of roughly double the volume at the same power output. If you're using a high power amp, you can use less efficient speakers and vice versa. My JBLs are rated at 92 or 93 I think. I'm in the process of installing my amp for the fronts, but the backs will be off the Pioneer HU. Should be plenty enough power from the Pioneer to match as rear fill for the fronts, which will be getting a ~60watt RMS amp (speakers are 3 ohms, and its a 50x4 amp @ 4 ohms). I will never play them at their full potential. I still want to be able to hear music when I'm 60 and 70 and 80. I work around jet engines, and always wear ear-pro, but damage is bound to accumulate over the years, no sense making it worse with music. I'm going to be working on making the truck a better listening environment as well. I have vibration dampening sheets, and will be using MLV at some point.

 

Well just finished the install, did all 6 speakers from OP post. As everyone has said, it is so worth it. Sounds so much better. I don't need a sub or amp. I am done, the truck sounds awesome.. Thanks OP and others for the help.

Also words can't describe how the factory oem door speakers feel in your hands. I can't believe it is a electronic device, so light.

This may help some, my biggest issue was getting the 6x9 Kickers attached to the plastic mount included. Using the long #8 black screws Crutchfield sent, does not secure the speaker well and they are too long and stick out past the mount. Had to take those back out.

I went to Lowes, bought a single pack of #10 3/4" Metal Sheet Screws (pack of 8). The extra thickness of these screws and the shorter length are perfect for locking down the 6x9s to the plastic bracket.

 

Great feedback, my Kicker Hideaway showed up today but the other 6 speakers won’t be here til Tuesday. I’ll go ahead and pick up some of those shorter screws before hand.

 

Is the 6x9 really preferable to 2 ways, especially if you might add an amp and subwoofer later?

 

Do you mean 6.5 components instead of 6x9 coaxials?

In general, seperate components usually sound better than comparable coaxials. They can produce better lows because the woofer has more cone area.

They are not as common, but there are 6x9 components which would ideally be your best bet. Second best is 6.5 components. Although a 6.5 may not produce as much bass as a 6x9, it's not going to produce a lot more (meaning, my wife would never notice the difference). And if you're adding a subwoofer, then it's negligible once everything is tuned and the crossovers are adjusted properly.

Coaxials are good due to their simplicity. It's less to install, they save space, or for when you don't want to deal with adding a tweeter to somewhere it didn't exist before (such as our rear doors).

 

No, I am upgrading all my speakers but referring to the 6x9 speakers's everyone seems to refer to for the front door.

 

Oh, so you're asking if the 6x9 3-way Kicker coaxials are better than the 2-way 6.5 Kicker coaxials that go in the rear? If so, then yes they are preferable. 3 ways should reproduce the mids a little more clearly, but I can't comment on these speakers specifically so maybe someone else can fill you in on the sound differences...

 

I think some people said the three ways can be a little over the top on highs when paired with the Subaru tweeters.

 

Yep that is the answer I was looking for. I ordered the Kicker 44KSC6704 component set as well as the same for my back doors. I wanted a bit higher end speakers since I will probably put in an amp and subwoofer. Not looking to spend a fortune but don't want to be disappointed with only a slight improvement. Seriously considering added the amplifier setup from from *********, mainly since they have what essentially is a plug and play system for my 2014 head unit. Did a search on Crutchfield and could not find similar harnesses for my truck and especially ones that have been specifically integrated into the amp system.

 

Unless you know how to make a harness or can get ahold of Mr Marv, the ********* harness is really your only option. Good on you for picking components from the beginning, I had to learn the hard way after this post created "tweeter city," inside my truck.

 

I went with these ... they are in transit now so should get them Tuesday and next nice weather day, installed.

I bought the Noico stuff for the doors and the more expensive Dynamat speaker kits for behind the speakers.

I figured since they are the KS series they are supposed to be a little better than the CS series.... was only $20 more so not really an issue.

Man I spent more coin on fog lights than this complete 6 speaker upgrade! I hope it's a good as everyone says! Anyone install the KS 6x9s... I'm putting the CS 6.5s in the rear doors.

 

Nay-sayer?? Piece of shit speakers don't sound better because they are more sensitive.

Minimal power means NOTHING... I have sensitive speakers at home in my listening room that are the size of a washing machine... woofers weight about 20#s each and are extremely sensitive. I run them with an amp that puts out 25 watts per channel (on a good day) turn it up to 10 o'clock and my ears will bleed. Maybe use 1watt/channel at normal listening levels.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE for quality. They put cheap ass speakers in these trucks... that's all you need to know.

If better sound required, replace with something better. That's what's happening here.
Very simple.

 

Let me know how it turns out, if you feel you have sufficient mids, and if the bass is better, same, or worse than stock

 

And just like that, I am all done.

 

Just curious, which box is this? Did

 

@Mr Marv made it.

 

Is that a TW-1 or TW-3? How much power? How's it sound?

 

Tw1. It's an Arc Audio 850.5 pushing everything. Sounds great. This is the same one I had in the Tundra. Sounds better in the smaller cab.

 

I know old post... but but ... hey yer about 5 miles from me and ummmmm that scale?? I recognize those ... we use them for w33d!

 

I have removed the Kicker KS and installed the CS series and can confirm that run off of the SR5 Entune Plus deck both sound worse than the factory speakers. This deck does not have enough juice to get any bass out of them. This means a $$ amp and i am now wondering how bad it will sound once the amp is added if i don't get an EQ like the ********* or the JL Fix one to fix the frequencies. This is turning out to be a nightmare project as I will probably have to put the factory ones back in until i can afford the amp and eq. The Subaru tweeters were still a big improvement though so they can stay in, but i probably would have gone with component speakers if i knew i would have to get an amp and go all the way down the rabbit hole.