KickerCS Upgrade with Kicker Key amp Install Assistance

I agree. So many helpful members!! This site is great. I don't think I would've attempted this amp install myself without the help and contributions from folks here. Special thanks to destin_meeks, mblume7 and grubburg.

 

Couldn't agree more. This is my first Tacoma and reading through the threads its amazing the amount of information that is here.

 

Yeah, I depinned the looped blue wire where it attaches to the larger female connector and pinned it into the female of the smaller connector. I snipped it close to where it comes from the long blue wire and shrink tubed it. It's not used. You maybe able to see it on my pics I posted. I hadn't shrink tubed it at the time the pic was taken but I did after. Not that it would or could make contact with anything but better to be safe than sorry.

 

Congrats on your first Tacoma! You will love it! I'm on my third Tacoma and 5th Toyota truck. Had an old 1991 Pick up before it was called Tacoma and also had a 2007 Tundra. My wife drives a 4Runner. Yeah...You could say I'm a Toyota Fan Boy. haha.

 

Thank you for the clarification. I'm super glad to hear you really like how the system sounds!

 

A Toyota fella for sure - that's awesome! I was sold on them before the purchase and am even more now. Fun times ahead.

 

Anytime man! I'm happy to return the favor of helping others if I can. No doubt you'll be happy with this Kicker amp. What speakers do you have? The Kicker KSC really kick ass with this amp!

 

I ordered KSS6704/KSC6504. After reading destin_meeks reply that the 6.75 will fit the rear doors I ordered the KSC6704. I also ordered Noico sound deadening and Road Kill foam kits. Figured I may as well put the extra time in while I'm in there. Did you drop the amp behind the radio?

Hopefully one day when I've got some experience under my belt I can contribute as well

 

Yeah I placed it to the left and vertical so in goes down toward the floor. Kind of hard to place horizontal directly in back of the radio. I tested the fit before wiring it up. It'll fit just play around with it.
Good call with the 6.75 KSC. Wish I knew they fit before buying the DSW 6.75s. I fade the sound 3/4 to the front because the DSW rears can't handle the bass like the KSC in the fronts can. But the KSC fronts are 6x9s so a 6.75 won't handle quite as well. The KSC packs a punch! Like I said earlier, I didn't put sound deadening in the rears either. I will now when I put the KSC rears in. Getting to be a pro taking the panels off now. Lol.
Are you thinking of putting a sub-woofer in? I was but after hearing this kicker today I don't think I will. One thing I may try too is to set the crossover on the amp to maybe 60Hz. With the crossover off it sends all frequencies to the 4 speakers. I may want to limit the real lows going to the fronts and rears.

 

Sounds like that's the place for the amp to go. I debated going with a 5 channel amp in case the base wasn't to my liking so I would have the option. I honestly don't think the base will be a deal and if it is I will go with a powered sub. I need to do some serious reading on the amp settings. I have been so focused on which components to purchase and the installation that I have only glanced at the configuration options. Have you messed with the auto eq feature?

 

Yeah just follow the instructions on the amp. Really simple. I did Auto EQ and time setting. I have compression on whatever that is. Lol. Kicker recommended so I put it on. Let the amp do all the work. It has the DSP built in and has a 40 band EQ it sets using the test tones. You can still adjust the Bass, Mid and treble using the stock radio controls to tune to your preference. It really is a simple amp to use. For the money it's great. I like good clean sounding music but I'm not that much of an audiophile. Trust me, You'll be amazed at the difference over stock! Night and day and frigging loud!!! Stock I could turn it up to max volume and it wasn't painfully loud just sounded like ass. Now, depending on source of music 35 vol setting will hurt my ears! CDs sound the best and a lot louder than say the radio at same vol setting.

 

Sounds like there are plenty of options and one can certainly dial the system in. I'm there with ya...enjoy listening to good clean music but am a far cry from having the ear of an audiophile. My previous car had the premium Infinity system and sounded really nice so listening to the Tacomas system has been a bit painful lol. Can't wait!

 

Alright here is my mocked up harness. The shrink tubing are just place holders. If you guys can take a look and let me know if you see any issues I would appreciate it.

 

Looks exactly how mine is wired.

 

Great! I will begin soldering and shrink tubing the connections. I bought tape as well to keep it clean like yours.

 

Looks great! Just like mine is wired up too. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the difference this makes once you get it installed

 

Looks great! Happy that my pic helped. @destin_meeks was a huge help for me during my wiring and install, and gave me the confidence to do it myself. Great learning experience and now I feel more comfortable doing projects like this in the future. Feel that just the speaker upgrade with the kicker key is perfect for my taste. Really enhances the car driving experience

 

I’m right there with you! The help that forums provide is huge and only happens because of their members. This thread is yet another shining example of that.

I wouldn’t be this far if it were not for the pics of the harnesses and all of the Q&A the thread provided.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to finish this project and listen to the end result of it.

 

I can't wait to hear how you like it. I'm excited for you!

 

Thanks! Hopefully I will be able to wrap things up next weekend.