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Kicker hideaway- final upgrade to the $250(+) 3rd gen premium upgrade (+Kicker Key 180.4 amp)

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by Exracer2, Mar 29, 2018.

  1. Oct 24, 2018 at 3:47 PM
    #241
    blittlej

    blittlej Member

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    On the kicker key 180.4, I have a 2018 tacoma Double cab. Has anyone installed one in the dash behind the radio or there abouts? I just do not want to have to install it under the drivers seat if I do not have too. Also, will I have to run a direct 12+ line to the battery? Or can the amps to the stock Entune 2 head handle it? Thxs :)
     
  2. Oct 24, 2018 at 5:14 PM
    #242
    destin_meeks

    destin_meeks I used to fix people's crappy stereos

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    Most are running it off the radio’s power, and leaving it either in the dash behind the AC controls or reaching it over behind/above the glove box
     
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  3. Nov 11, 2018 at 5:32 PM
    #243
    Taco813

    Taco813 New Member

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    The wiring harnesses mentioned in post 1 allows plug and play from the factory head unit to the amp input and output to the speaker?
     
  4. Nov 11, 2018 at 6:44 PM
    #244
    Exracer2

    Exracer2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    BRO grille, KICKER speakers, Key amp, Hideaway sub
    Plug and play - sorta........


    The two halves of the harness need to be soldered or crimped. But yes once joined to the amp harness input and output they are plug and play into the Tacoma factory harness. So head unit plugs into one metra harness to the amp input harness and the amp output harness to the other metra harness and that plugs back to the Tacoma OEM harness.
     
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  5. Nov 21, 2018 at 12:16 PM
    #245
    skierd

    skierd Well-Known Member

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  6. Nov 21, 2018 at 4:37 PM
    #246
    destin_meeks

    destin_meeks I used to fix people's crappy stereos

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    Keep what you’ve got. The key doesn’t need a LOC
     
  7. Nov 23, 2018 at 3:44 PM
    #247
    skierd

    skierd Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Nov 26, 2018
  8. Nov 26, 2018 at 8:56 AM
    #248
    ArmandHammer83

    ArmandHammer83 This truck is AMAZING

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    damnit TW my wallet hates me enough as it is LMAO...so i've read this whole thread...i just got a hideaway ( not yet mounted) and have done the kicker door swaps and tweeter swap sound great but leave me wanting more... i've read about the hideaway paired with the Key 180.4 and using the Metra harnesses....but electronics always end up taking way longer than it should when it comes to DIY..hopefully i can read and reread and maybe understand what i'm doing...thanks for all the hints and many posts on the the subject
     
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  9. Dec 1, 2018 at 7:19 AM
    #249
    Bach88

    Bach88 Well-Known Member

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    Did you guys run your key amps using the stock speaker wires with the Subaru tweeters and the cs 6x9s? I know that the front are wired parallel so that would drop the ohms down to 2. The key manual says 4ohms minimum. I’m scared I’ll fry the key if I run it at 2ohms.
     
  10. Dec 3, 2018 at 9:46 PM
    #250
    Bach88

    Bach88 Well-Known Member

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    So I installed the key amp without the tweeters for now. My dad who is an av guy (not car audio mostly broadcasting and concert/stadium stuff) is telling me if I run the amp at 2 ohms 4 things could likely happen. 1-the amp goes up in smoke. 2-the amp melts through my dash. 3-the amp will just run hotter than it should. And after he read the thermal protection part in the manual he said it may cut the volume if it’s overheating. Any input you guys could give me on using your key amps with the factory wiring would be greatly appreciated.

    Also there is a hiss when the volume is all the way down. If I adjust the gain to 0 it almost goes away but then there is not enough volume. I have to turn it up to 57 to rock out.
     
  11. Dec 4, 2018 at 6:42 AM
    #251
    ArmandHammer83

    ArmandHammer83 This truck is AMAZING

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    well. this is going to interesting, i know nothing about car audio so hopefully someone can chime in and i can learn some stuff too...i also have the Key but just have not installed it yet..
     
  12. Dec 4, 2018 at 7:04 AM
    #252
    destin_meeks

    destin_meeks I used to fix people's crappy stereos

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    Sounds like some setting might not be right. I would double check all the dip switches to be sure nothing got bumped by accident or set wrong.
     
  13. Dec 4, 2018 at 7:27 AM
    #253
    Bach88

    Bach88 Well-Known Member

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    All the switches are up accept for the fader ( just using fronts for inputs) and the auto turn on.

    Also what’s your experience/opinion on running all six speakers with the fronts wired in parallel? I’m just trying not to end up with a $200 paper weight.
     
  14. Dec 4, 2018 at 7:32 AM
    #254
    destin_meeks

    destin_meeks I used to fix people's crappy stereos

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    I would run a remote turn on and flip that switch to 12v and see how that goes. I’ve seen lots of amps (not just Kicker) create a ground loop when the auto turn on is used. Not sure if that’s the case here, but worth a shot.

    As for running the fronts parallel, I think you’d be fine.
    No matter what, the amp won’t burn up. Kicker amps go into protect mode way before damage occurs.
    I’ve had many of their subwoofer amps wired at 1ohm when the manual says miniumim 2ohm. No issues years down the road.
    Worst case, it will go into protect at higher volumes if it’s getting exhausted. But it definitely won’t burn up.
     
  15. Dec 4, 2018 at 9:12 AM
    #255
    Bach88

    Bach88 Well-Known Member

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    That’s what I figured. Just needed a push. Will wire it all up and report back. Thanks so much.
     
  16. Dec 5, 2018 at 9:39 AM
    #256
    Exracer2

    Exracer2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Since I have recieved a few PM’s regarding wiring I am going to respectfully ask that you read the original post in its entirety. Many of your answers are right there if you take the time to read. If you can’t read a wiring diagram you NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE.

    When I did each stage of this install I did receive help from others on this forum. But I only asked for help when I couldn’t figure it out on my own. Once I recieved my metra harnesses I read their colour coding for each pairing. I googled Toyota wiring colours. I then matched up the colours and double checked and then started soldering. Guys this really isn’t that hard. And no I am not going to rip apart my dash and figure out which colour goes to where just so I can do the work the rest of you are capable of. I know this is harsh but I created this thread to help others. Some people think it is so I can do all of the work for them. I am willing to help but not when I have to answer every single question including those which have been answered in the original thread or have been answered somewhere later on in the thread.

    Thanks for understanding and ask away after you have done everything to try it yourself. So once again the metra harness’s have colour coding on the packaging. The Hideaway and Key come with wiring diagrams referencing each colour. It is pretty easy after that.
     
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  17. Dec 5, 2018 at 10:02 AM
    #257
    Exracer2

    Exracer2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    REMOTE TURN ON WIRE

    Since there have been a few hiccups by more than one person (myself included) I will strongly suggest you connect the remote turn on wire. I went back through the whole thread and a shit ton of pm’s knowing this was talked about before.

    I had issues with the DC offset setting on the KEY and I am not sure if I also did on the Hideaway. With the Key I believe the signal went to the amp from the head unit but because there was no input from the remote turn on wire (wired incorrectly) I believe I got the zero output line through the music symbol which I have seen posted before. Destin mentioned that when you use DC offset the remote turn on wire becomes an output not an input and when wired incorrectly it effectively shuts the head unit output down if I remember the conversations correctly.

    My reasoning for using the remote turn in is simple. It is the professionally accepted way of turning on an amp. DC offset is something that was created to simplify wiring for those looking for quick and easy installs which make as few connections as possible. Remote turn on is the most reliable way to signal an amp to turn on.

    For the sake of sanity let’s agree that everyone do remote turn on. It really doesn’t take any more time. One extra connection which with the Metra harnesses takes tops 2 extra minutes.
     
  18. Dec 5, 2018 at 10:53 AM
    #258
    destin_meeks

    destin_meeks I used to fix people's crappy stereos

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    Agree! Everyone please just use the remote turn on and be done with it!

    Heck, you don't even have to run an extra wire! It's already built in to the harness! Just be sure to run it to the BLUE wire in the metra harness and not the red!

    The reason for this is two fold
    1) If DC offset does happen to get turned on, the Key's remote wire DOES become a 12v output, and if this is tied to the metra accy wire, this WILL prevent the radio from turning off with the truck (as stated in the post above)
    2) The blue wire in the metra harness turns on and off with the actual radio, and not with the key'd accessory power. This means that if you just want to turn off the radio (like, actually press the power button to turn it off) the Key will also turn off. For those of you reporting hiss if the gain is too high, this will make sure the amp turns off when the audio turns off to prevent any possible noise coming through the system if you don't want the radio on.
     
  19. Dec 7, 2018 at 9:02 AM
    #259
    Bach88

    Bach88 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the tip on the blue wire. I still have the hiss but it’s inaudible with the music on even if I hold my ear to the speaker. The blue wire does the trick when you turn the radio off hiss goes away. I also installed one of these.
    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dual-Ele...MIvfny2peO3wIVTeDICh3L2AWsEAMYASAAEgIFmfD_BwE

    It’s not big booming bass but it sounds pretty good with this setup. I am actually impressed how it sounds for being only $50
     
    destin_meeks[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Dec 7, 2018 at 11:37 AM
    #260
    Exracer2

    Exracer2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Do you have a hideaway? It adds just the right amount of bass to fill things in at least in my AC it did. I can make the sound bass heavy if I wanted and thump a serious amount if that’s all I am going for. I’m not going for that myself but it really ties everything else in.
     

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