My Audio Setup - Technical Opinions

I am installing an audio system in my 14 DC Tacoma (no JBL) and want to get technical feedback on whether everything looks good as far as pairing the components together goes. I know it can get complicated matching components so want to get some confirmation that it should work well together before I go ahead and order. Here is what is on my list:

Head Unit: Kenwood - 7" - Android Auto/Apple® CarPlay™ - Built-in Bluetooth - In-Dash Digital Media Receiver - Black

JL Front Door Speakers/Tweeters: https://www.crutchfield.com/p_136C2650/JL-Audio-C2650.html

JL Rear Door Speakers: https://www.crutchfield.com/p_136C2650X/JL-Audio-C2-650X.html

10" Kicker subs (2): https://www.bestbuy.com/site/kicker...-ohms-subwoofer-black/5190204.p?skuId=5190204

Front/Rear Speaker Amp: KICKER - PXA-Series 300W Class D Amplifier with Selectable Electronic Crossover - Black

Sub Amp: KICKER - CX 1200W Class D Digital Mono Amplifier with Variable Low-Pass Crossover - Black

Sub Box: https://www.ctsounds.com/products/b...ble-cab-2005-2019?_pos=9&_sid=a2fe4dc4b&_ss=r

Any feedback or concerns is appreciated!

 

All that should work. I'd personally ditch the rears, put that money toward something twice as nice in the front and bridge that 4 channel amp. But, if you want rear speakers, that should get you there. Maybe watch the gain on the sub amp too - that's a good bit more power than those subs are rated for assuming you're going for a 2 ohm final load.

Just add OFC wiring, perhaps a sound deadening treatment if you care, and you should be good to go.

 

Thanks, appreciate the feedback. I figured the amp was overpowered for the subs but it was the closest I could get to a match without being under. I will consider the speaker suggestion, although I do have passengers in the back sometimes and don't want them to drown in bass with no mid/high. I thought C2s were considered to be pretty great sounding for a second tier set of speakers (probably one the best)? I already ordered 72 sq ft of dynamat for doors and rear panel as well (will probably double up on rear panel if possible).

 

Nothing wrong with C2s. They're good and since you have folks riding in the back a lot, you're probably on the right track.

On the Dynamat, you don't need to double up - in fact that's a waste of material. You won't see any benefits from it and it might even take away from a single layer's ability to do its job. And you don't even need 100% coverage with Dynamat. Strategic placement of ~50% coverage will get you similar results. You only need 100% coverage with barrier layers (MLV, etc).

 

Thanks again! I learn something new everyday and will definitely not double up lol. Common sense led me to thinking double thickness would be better.

 

One more question, do you think the subs would be underpowered by this amp? I have a hard time figuring out the exact numbers but I think they would be pretty underpowered by it. If it is, what would be the amp (any brand) you would pick to power the subs (no more than $350)?

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/kicker...-pass-crossover-black/6333358.p?skuId=6333358

 

OK I think I am going with this amp for the subs. It looks like a perfect match at 800wx1 at 2 ohms, each sub is 400w at 2 ohms.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_206KXA8001/Kicker-44KXA800-1.html?tp=35834

 

I wouldn’t do rears. At the end of the day your paying for the sound system and not them. And they probably wouldn’t even notice a difference

 

I wouldn’t be paying 500 dollars for a kicker amp

 

If that’s your budget I’d do one of these
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_107619_JL-Audio-Class-D-Monoblock-RD1000-1.html
And I’ve used the 600w version of this one on 2 Image Dynamic IDQ12’s and it’s a solid amp
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_151423_Kenwood-eXcelon-XR1001-1.html

 

Yeah I am going to be doing rears, just wanted to get advice on pairing amps with speakers/subs. Doing some research it all depends on what kind of sound you want. It isn't necessarily better or worse to do either, it just depends on what you are trying to achieve. I don't want max decibels with maximum amount of watts going to one set of speakers, I want a more even surround experience:

From Clear Vibrations:
"You may enjoy a system that makes you feel as if you are in the middle of the sound. An equal amount of sound will come from in front of you as behind you. In a system like this, using similar or even identical speakers in the front and back can help produce great results."

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I will take a look at em.

 

Anyone whos done a legit audio system will tell you that you are never supposed to be able to hear your rear fill. And surround isn’t really a thing as nothing is recorded in surround sound. I’m telling you cause I’ve had both and I learned that rear fill is a waste as all high end audio builds are designed so it makes it sound as if the sound is coming from the front. Spend that money in your front set as all entry level speakers are gonna be around the same as stock speakers

 

Yeah, that one's gonna come up a little short

Good amp for under $350? You certainly have some choices. Don't get too hung up on matching power ratings - you just don't want to go too far under. A bit over is OK. I'd personally go to the used market for that, but I need tiny amps so I'm going to pay more and I've had great luck with used amps from reputable folks. That's exactly what I paid for an Alpine PDX-M12 in perfect shape.

New though? I'd want a subsonic filter - those subs are mostly going to miss the bottom octave and you'll be able to play them a lot louder and more comfortably if you can shave some off the low end there. Probably something like this:

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KAC9106/Kenwood-KAC-9106D.html?tp=35834

Or this

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_575R21200X/Rockford-Fosgate-R2-1200X1.html?tp=35834

 

If you're going to spend $500 on the sub amp, may I make other recommendations?

 

If it's better sound you want, the rears aren't going to help. Car stuff doesn't process surround sound. Music is stereo - left and right. 2.0. No surround signal. If you're looking to please a car full of people, then rear speakers are the way to go. If you're looking to make the driver & passenger happy, rear isn't necessary and might even detract from an ideal listening experience.

 

Absolutely! All suggestions are welcome, I do want new and am willing to go around $500 for the sub amp.

 

Edited, you convinced me. Disregard anything I typed before, nothing to see here move below.

 

Ok you guys convinced me, 2 speakers it is. If you were to get a component set for the front for no more than $500, what would they be and what amp for no more than $300 would you use to power them? Or, if you had $800 for the combo what would you get? Damn you guys, now I have to start over for the speakers!

 

I really like that Kenwood though, it could save me some money with plenty of power. That money can go to the speakers/amp we are now discussing because you convinced me to go with a nicer setup with 2 speakers. Would still like to land around $1,500 total for components, including head unit. I think I am around $1,700 if I allocate $800 for the front speakers/amp. As far as the subs, when you say they will miss the bottom octave is that because they aren’t very good (sorry new to all of this)? I wanted a shallow mount sub in the $200 range and the kicker subs got great article and user reviews.