4x Amp suggestions please

What are you using and how do you like it??
I got my speakers upgraded now I shopping for an amp.
Premium HU stock wiring with Kicker 150 watt components front and Kicker 100 watt rear.

Goal is to balance with fade
Factory Premium HU - 8"
4 speakers, no sub
Mount under front passenger, or any other options??
Kicker 46CSS694 6"x9" Component System

$100 Kicker 46CSC674 CS-Series CSC67 6.75" (165mm) Coaxial Speakers, 4-Ohm (Pair)

Kicker 46CSC674 6-3/4" 2-way


thanks

 

What’s the end goal? Getting a sub? Just the 4 speakers? Where do YOU want to mount it? Using a factory or aftermarket headunit?

 

Goal is to balance with fade
Factory Premium HU - 8"
4 speakers, no sub
Mount under front passenger, or any other options??

 

What do you mean balance with fade as a goal?

You want neutral, centered sound at the driver seat and see an amplifier with more control as a way to get there? At least that is how I read it.

 

“Balance with fade”….not with an amp. If you do, you’ll lose the fade functionality and have the same volume all around. Reason being, the factory crippled the stock H/U with 12w out up front and a max 5w on the rear. Only way to boost the rears is to go front speaker level into the amp, and have the amp split that 4 ways, but the fader won’t work anymore.

To achieve what you want, a replacement aftermarket H/U is in order.

 

So I can't bring front and rears into an amp separately? That's how I was thinking

 

You can, you just get a louder version of what you have now. Have you tried to fade all the way to the front, then switch it to the rear? That’s what you’d amplify, in proportion to each other, when you connect all 4 speaker leads to an amp. Underwhelming at best.

 

Thanks, that makes sense.

 

You’re welcome. I just don’t want you to drop $300 or more, and be less than impressed.

 

Rear speakers don't do much for the driver, so I run a Kicker Key in bi-amp mode to power the front components and just run the rears off the head unit for ambience. You keep the fade and send power to where it is useful. I had it in 4-channel mode on the rears, but it was a waste of power.

 

I've been using a kicker key 200.4 to my front and rear channels and it's disappointing. The sound isn't clear and crisp even with all new speakers. I just got the Sony xav 9500 Es head unit and will be installing soon. The stock head unit is the weak link

 

I'd like to keep the HU, I like it except for the power to the rear speakers
Crutchfield suggested this setup
LOC https://www.crutchfield.com/p_541LPAE4/PAC-LPA-E-4-LocPro-Advanced.html
With AMP https://www.crutchfield.com/p_130GMDX874/Pioneer-GM-DX874.html

 

The Kicker Key has a calibration procedure using pink noise to adjust levels for the environment and what the HU is providing. At least on my truck it does a great job of cleaning up the sound, but I did go through a few iterations before settling on the current setup.

1. Just added the Subaru Kicker tweeters. Better, but still a bit week and muddy.
2. Replaced all door speakers with JBL GT7 speakers, keeping Subaru tweeters. Better again and a bit cleaner sound, but not enough power to drive speakers efficiently.
3. Added Kicker Key amp in 4-channel mode. Now we have enough power, but way too many tweeters.
4. Replaced front door and dash speakers with Kenwood Excelon KFC-XP6903C components and put Kicker Key in bi-amp mode running just the fronts. Run the rear directly from the head unit. Bi-amp mode uses an internal crossover at 3200Hz to split frequencies between the woofer and mid/tweeter, so you don't need to use the crossovers provided with the speakers. Clean sound, good power and volume, brought the sound stage up, and much more bass than I was expecting with no sub. Took a few tries to get there, but I am happy with it.

You may be able to achieve something similar with the LOC and amp. IMHO, though, any power sent to the rear is a waste.

 

Some really good replies in here. Once the Kicker Key is back in stock I'll be looking to pair with some Focal components in the front. I'll keep watching this thread.

 

That's what I'm running at the minute. Key 200.4 amp, Focal RSE-165 Auditors in front, Kicker CS rear, Cerwin Vega 10" underseat sub bringing up the low end.

The Focals are clear as a dang bell on the highs and mids, and it is wonderfully balanced. Be careful of the frequency response curve on that set, however. They advertise their low end is 60 Hz, and they diminish well before that. But they are a)inexpensive, and b) sound great with fantastic sensitivity... so there is the tradeoff. By comparison, other components in the price class can hit as low as 30 Hz.

I love the Focals, but without even a basic sub to provide the lows, I would have been unhappy.

 

Good deal, I am looking at the Focal PS 165 FE or the FXE for the front. The Kicker amp seems attractive more so that I may not have to worry about the crossover. Frequency response as advertised is probably similar to your situation. But, hoping that the low end response is sufficient as I really don't want to go into sub territory since I am installing on my own.

 

Crap, those are some high end speakers. At 60 Hz you'll definitely be missing a few notes though. Most audio geeks say that the deciding line between bass and sub-bass is 60 Hz, and that most music will dip an occasional toe into the sub-bass department. Modern rock/jazz can reach down to 40Hz, while rap/EDM rarely strays below 30Hz. The problem with sub bass is that it needs some oomph to bring it to the stage. Me personally, I like a subwoofer even though I don't like a loud subwoofer. If it's there and it's in tune with the rest of the system, it very much adds more color to the painting.


https://www.stereophile.com/content/question-bass-bass-instruments-frequencies-page-3

 

The FXE's are amazing but you're going to want to power them with more than the Kicker Key. They're power-hungry. I'm giving mine ~80w each with my vx700/5i. If you're looking to run speakers at that power level and with the stock headunit, the FXE's will be wasted, grab their DFS instead.

 

Good to know, thanks. I'm just specin' things out at the moment and trying to balance performance and simplicity. Between you and Rock it sounds like the Kicker won't cut it though. I'm not set on keeping stock HU but my approach has been looking at speakers first to determine the path back to the source with the smallest footprint possible. I will certainly factor in dampening and other passive enhancements where it will help. W/o being able to actually listen to speakers it's a guessing game and I am trying err on the side of...quality? I listen a full range of sounds form rock to punk but have a large library of EDM in uncompressed or flac. My car audio has always been crap though and want to change that. I should start my own thread...

EDIT: Nice read Rock and, considering that, your approach seems good. I don't want to feel the kick in my chest all the time like a live venue. But it's nice to have those tones roll off in the sub range when they are put there. I have doubts I would be able to add a sub and really get the best out of it in a truck. Having a clean, warm sound with smooth mids mellow highs are my priority.

 

Wholly agree, thankful for all of information. Also drooling on some Focal headphones but that is another whole topic.