Powering a sub and all door speakers without replacing the stock entune head unit?

I know I am asking for a lot of information, and I have looked through multiple threads and can’t seem to grasp the details I need for this. So any information that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.


I’m looking to power a sub and all door speakers without replacing the stock entune head unit in my 2019 off-road. Unfortunately I’m not very audio savvy. https://www.crutchfield.com/S-QEIZPQjbafx/p_113KAC9105/Kenwood-KAC-9105D.html I have a kenwood 9105 amp that I had in a previous vehicle. 500 watts RMS x1 at 4 ohms. 900 at 2 ohms. I realize this is overkill for what I’m wanting to do. But, why pay for another amp if I already have one? I don’t want to shake the windows or anything, just wanting a good present bump from the bass.


I just ordered the kicker door speakers and Subaru tweeter upgrade. Am currently looking for a 8/10 inch single sub and box that would fit behind one of the back seats without breaking the bank. (Suggestions are welcome)

I will update this post if I happen to think of any other questions I may have.

I suppose some of my questions would be:

• Is this even possible?
• How would I go about installing this without being able to connect to the head unit?
• Would I be able to control this amp without the head unit?
• If I use the door speakers for the sp level input (to turn on) would I be able to amplify those speakers as well?

 

You are still going to either need a line out converter to feed signal to the sub... unless the amp has speaker level inputs. The stock head unit is capable of driving the speakers.. Don't expect any huge increase in overall volume, but you will pick up some clarity. At some point you will either need to tap into the wire harness by some means.

 

So I purchase a line converter and install it to power and control the sub with a remote dial. Then I can just tap into my door speakers to amp them. Correct?

 

To begin with.. If the amps you have are 1 channel.. they can only be used for a subwoofer. they typically don't focus on the full musical spectrum. If you are talking about a multi channel amp, that is a completely different thing. It really comes down to how much work you are willing to do.

Take a look at the following threads
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-2020-trd-sport-factory-speaker-upgrade-non-jbl.669826/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2020-speaker-harness-help.643898/page-2#post-23581475

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2020-tacoma-sr5-non-jbl-wiring-diagram.656554/#post-23022438

 

Can I use the “line out” on my mono amp to feed another smaller amp just for the speakers?

 

provided the signal is full spectrum it could be passed to another amp,

 

this is the back of my amp. If that helps. I am audio illiterate lol.

 

That amplifier has what they call pass through inputs.. So the short answer is yes. The next question is what is the other amplifier you are going to use for the door speakers? Are you doing just the front doors or are you going to do all 4. If you are planning on doing all doors you will need a total of 5 channels of amplification. So the amp you showed the picture of drives the subwoofer.. then the signal goes through the line out's to feed amplifier number 2 which will provide power to the door speakers.

 

I running a factory deck with . Rockford 360.3 processor , 4 channel amp for mids and 2 channel amp for subs . I have had no problems with it , sounds great

 

@FishnTx How do you like that processor? I've been a T tunes recurve user for about 5 or 6 years. Does the rockford integrate with the head unit to display the adjustments? I presume through the USB port?

 

This is my first processor , an honestly I haven’t even messed with the tune the shop did , I do have the software for via usb , I’m just too lazy to play with it

 

I've had the T tunes one for a while.. When I did my first truck a 2015 access cab the kit made the whole thing very easy.

 

Yes, it's possible.
You can use this exact adapter for remote turn on and RCA signal (it just taps into the front speakers to get the signal).

$41 Add An Amp Amplifier Adapter Interface to Factory OEM Car Stereo Radio System for select Toyota Scion Subaru Vehicles- Add Subwoofer Bass Amp etc.- No Factory Premium Amp- Vehicles listed below

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQUL240/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Use your existing amp to run the sub

For the door speakers\tweeters run a kicker key amp, or something similar, the stock head unit doesn't put out enough wattage to drive aftermarket speakers.

You can run a 10 behind the seat, but make sure you pay attention to the minimum volume\size of the box that's recommended for the sub. I forced a 10 in a box that's a bit under the minimum and I've never been 100% satisfied with the sound, I should have went with an 8.

 

I believe everything is beginning to make more sense now. I had never installed an audio system without an aftermarket head unit. So after installing what I have currently, I will be able to come out of the existing amp to feed the audio to a kicker key to power the door speakers?

 

This was my first time without an aftermarket head unit as well.

They kicker key amp will be powered by the same 12v power source as the headunit, with a harness > See this thread : https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tpp4s-no-nonsense-guide-to-kicker-key-t-harness-16-19.642415/

The key amp will be isolated from your sub amp, the key amp has its own gains for the door\tweeters.

So, Entune Headunit > Kicker key amp Harness > Kicker amp
Entune Headunit > RCA's adapter\harness > RCA \ remote cable > Sub Amp

Hopefully that makes sense

 

Would the key amp harness and amp adapter be plugged together at any time?

 

Yes - I was going to include that but didn't want to cause confusion.

The amp adapter plugs directly into the headunit, the key harness will plug into the other end of that. Headunit > Amp Adapter > Kicker key harness

 

Awesome. Thanks a lot for the help. I’ve never had to put this much thought in making music sound good lol. For the time being I’m going to focus on getting my door speakers in and a sub installed. Then shortly after I will purchase the key amp to complete this rabbit hole.

 

So if I understand. I'm not great at audio but I ain't terrible at it either.

I also have the stock unit and currently the key to power the doors.

If I wanted to add a sub. I would plug the LOC (the one mentioned in post #13) into the head unit and the key into the LOC? From here rca from LOC to amp to power the sub?

 

The line out converter basically transfers audio signal from a wire format to RCA. what you do with after that is up to you.