Kenwood Excelon Speakers

I've been to 2 audio shops and both have recommended Kenwood Excelons for replacements speakers...KFC-X692 (6x9) up front and KFC-X175 (6.5) for the rear. They said these should produce the best sound using the stock head unit. I found both on onlinecarstero.com for $65 a pair. They're $150 and $100 in the store.

I want to go ahead and order them, but the 2nd shop told me that half the Tacomas he sees have 6x9s up front and the other half have 6 1/2s. I want to go ahead and order for such a cheap price, but I'd hate to get one of the trucks without 6x9s. Guess I should add that I'm currently waiting on my 09 DC w/o JBL to arrive.

 

There is no 'best' speakers, only the ones you listen to and perceive as the best. The dealer is merely going to push product on what he thinks is the easiest sell. Get out and listen to different speakers. Comparitive brands are Pioneer and Alpine for that price area.

6x9, 6.5, it's a matter of choice. 2nd gen Tacomas have custom-sized holes for the stock speakers, so you need a baffle no matter what. You can visit Mr. Marv for baffles and advice. 6x9 tends to produce a better bottom end for people not wishing to add subs/amps, while component 6.5 speakers tend to be more desirable as you progress to more advanced systems.

 

Again with the correct answers. You are a bright one.

 

single cab 05+ tacomas have 6.5"s in the front


access cabs and double cab 05+ have 6x9"s in the front



mr marvs baffles are the bee's knee's i just ordered a pair this will be my second from him.

 

Aren't his baffles around $35 per pair? I think I saw that in a thread somewhere. I can get them installed at a local shop for $50 per pair. I'm assuming a quote for an install includes any parts they have to use for the install??? If so, doesn't really seem worth doing it myself to save $30. Unless Mr. Marv's baffles offer something better than what they would use for the install. Forgive me I don't have a lot of experience with this. I've replaced speakers before but luckily they dropped right in.

 

I'd read the fine print. Seems very cheap considering labor. My local shop will do free radio install if the radio costs more than $100, but there's usually an extra $40+ for harnesses and parts they don't mention beforehand.

Ask what they use, and try getting a look at the baffles. Compare.

I know I keep using this phrase, but again, 'it depends'. I have never been pleased with an install from a shop yet, and more often had to go clean up some of the messes. Consider that the shop's leading priority is to get you in and get you out - anything else is arbitrary.

If you do decide to install it yourself, please look through the stickies at the top of the audio/video forum. There's plenty of pictures illustrating the process.

 

Kenwood KFC-X692 (6x9) up front and KFC-X175 (6.5) for the rear

I had these speakers installed yesterday. Still running the factory HU and no amp. It's a definite improvement over stock, but nothing that blows me away. I just wish there was more room for a sub without having to sacrifice storage space behind the rear seats.

 

I'm looking at upgrading my speakers too and have been thinking of using Kenwood Excelons. Rod, one of the things that I noticed about the KFC-X692 is they are rated at 100W RMS. Your stock head unit will be lucky to pump out 20W continuously. Those speakers would really sing if you put an aftermarket head unit or better yet, an external amplifier behind them. I was also thinking about using KFC-X692s in the front but KFC-X172s in the back. I was going to run them off a Kenwood-KAC8404 which would put out 50W to each. Now I'm starting to wonder if the 6.5's would be best for front and back. I'll let you know what I go with and how they sound once I get them installed this summer.

 

I agree blacksand, the impression I get is that they're underpowered. I always try to keep my stock head unit b/c I think it looks cleaner, so I will eventually have to get an amp in there. I used up most of my funds getting new tires, so I only had enough leftover to do the speakers. You got any suggestions for a cheap 4 channel amp?

As far as the 6.5's in the front, every audio guy I've talked to says that if you're not going to add a sub, stick with the 6x9's b/c you'll get more bass out of them. If you're adding a sub, the 6.5's up front might be best. I will say, even being underpowered the 6x9's are putting out some bass. So much that I wish they were in the back and the 6.5's were in the front.

Look forward to hearing how your system turns out.

 

That Kenwood KAC-8404 will work great. It powers 50W x 4 at 4 ohms and is nice and small, should fit well underneath either the driver or passenger seat. SonicElectronix carries them at a good price. I think $130. Have seen some excellent reviews on it to. I would think running the same brand for your amps and speakers will provide great compatibility. I plan on going with single or dual subs in the future which is why I don't need the bass in the front with the 6 x 9's. I've always heard that round speakers produce cleaner sound that oval, but I don't know how valid that statement really is. Truthfully, the 6.5's are rated a little lower on RMS (I think 80W) which will leave less on the table than if I were to use the KAC 8404 on the 100W 6 x 9's. I just got my Kenwood DNX7140 head unit in and should be adding the rest of the system this summer. I really want to keep it all Kenwood if I can. Seems to be a really reliable brand name right now.

 

Oh my bad for some reason I thought the Kenwood KAC-8404 you mentioned in your first post was a head unit. $130 is pretty cheap for a good amp and glad it's small. I've got a 2009 and it seems like I've read that the side airbags won't allow anything under the seats. I'll have to take a look. If it won't fit under there, guess I'll be in the same boat I'm in with the sub of not wanting to lose the storage behind the seats.

How much did you pay for your head unit? Did you get it from SonicElectronix?

 

I paid exactly $1099.99 through AudioVideoDimension.com. Was kind of skeptical at first but called them a few times to get a better feel for their service. Received the head unit in like 5 or 6 business days, which was outstanding for me. I doubt you'll find it any cheaper out on the web or in a store as most sites have it listed at $1399. They were also one of the only sites that actually had it in stock. So far so good. Remind me in a week and I'll let you know how everything works