Premium Audio Upgrade for less than $250

Hey everyone, sorry if this has been listed already but Best Buy is now selling the popular 6x9 and 6 3/4” speakers for 60 and 40 dollars respectively. I purchased them when they were a little more and was able to twist some arms at Best Buy to include the adapters, but was just able to get them to price adjust to their new lower price. Just an FYI out there for those looking to get these speakers while they’re still available! I have them amped with an alpine power pack and Subaru tweeters, nice upgrade from stock but I am going to need to deaden the doors now.

 

does anyone know if i can just swap the woofer with another woofer in the door? like say just only use the woofer out of this?

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_13699046/JL-Audio-C1-690.html?tp=106&avf=Y

 

I think you could you would just wire up the crossover to the woofer and not install the tweeter. Seems like a bummer to not use the tweeter but peoples install needs will differ.

 

hey destin... how do you like the ks speakers? i have the cs line and was thinking about swapping the fronts with the ks 3-way. do i lose anything compared to the cs?

 

The KS need power to sound their best. If you’re not adding an amp, you’ll lose volume because they’re less sensitive. You’ll also lose some bass response. I love my KS though. Much smoother, and way softer highs. The CS tweeters kill my ears after a few minutes.

 

i have that JL amp. that is 70x4.

will it still sound fine mixed with the subaru tweets?

 

also, would i need to adjust the filter frequency on the amp if i change to the KS line? The front and back have separate HP filters.

I think i have the fronts set at 92 and the rear set at like 105 because of the sub back there. but what about input sensitivity? The HU isn't changing so i shouldn't have to change in gain, right?

 

Alright so I might be going crazy, but I just installed the CS front speakers and I actually think the stock speakers sounded better. It seems like I lost a lot of bass and the highs seem too harsh. I understand that an amp is needed for them to sound the best, but I am not looking for super crazy high quality. Just a bit of an upgrade over the stock system.

When I did the tweeters, those were a huuuuge upgrade and they were really easy to do.

The front speakers were a pain in the ass. Have to take apart a lot of stuff and the mounting holes for the speakers and bracket didn't even line up properly (only 3 were lined up). Had to drill some pilot holes for the 4th screw on each one.

I really want to add an amp given the time and money I've spent so far, but if I had to do it over again I would have just did the tweeters and called it good.

It is late and I am tired and kind of irritated. Maybe they will sound better in the morning?

 

The Subaru tweeters are actually the kicker KS line. They will sound great together (because they’re the same)

That is really high for those filters. I normally go between 60-80 for 6.5” and not more than 60 for 6x9.

The gains on the amp won’t change, provided they were set properly in the first place.

 

I'm somewhat of an audiophile when it comes to headphones, but don't know much about car audio. My last car had a pioneer head unit and it had way more settings available than are in my '19 OR, I was able to put on high and low pass filters and a few other advanced settings and had the audio in my '05 CRV sounding better than it does in the Tacoma. Although, what made a huge difference for me, was turning down the highs and lows one notch and turning up the mids one notch on the audio settings, then moving the focus point of the audio back to the very front of the rear seat, keeping it centered in my double cab. I then switched from bluetooth input to AUX input and streamed Spotify with music streaming quality at "Extreme" or "Very High" (available with premium only).

This made the biggest difference in the world and almost negates the need for speaker replacement. I still think I'll replace my tweeters at the very least though. No mods can really replace proper audio software settings, the entune premium audio has very limited audio settings, so if anyone knows of a way to access settings like low pass filters, high pass filters, Hertz filters, etc then please let me know. It almost seems pointless to buy more expensive speakers if I can't even configure them properly.

 

Like Pfly12 said, tweaking the EQ helped quite a bit. I actually turned the high and mids down a notch, and the bass up 2 notches. The new Kicker speakers give more detail but loose a bit of bass, so dialing down the high/mid and bumping up the bass made a huge difference for me. I couldn't really tell a difference moving the position around, so I just left right square in the middle.

I put the rear speakers in this morning and that did make the overall sound a bit better. After that and some EQ tweaking, I am somewhat happy with the results. They sound much better than when I initially tested them out with just the front speakers and old EQ setup.

Overall I still don't think the door speakers were really worth it. The tweeters however make a massive difference.

The biggest thing is probably getting the EQ set right. The old speakers lacked detail so I had the high up a notch. IMO you absolutely need to bring the highs down a notch or two after installing the Kicker speakers or else they are way too bright.

 

On sale now at best buy, tweeters on Amazon only.. Got it done for same price as OP!!

 

I'm trying to get on this upgrade! I really want better quality, is the link from the original op still the same? If that what i need to order?

 

Use the links below under "Products Discussed in Thread: Premium Audio Upgrade..." (Easier to see on a computer) I've posted links anyways below.

But yes, the same afaik. Best Buy had them on sale when I walked in, I grabbed the last in stock, I imagine they're on sale on their website as well. Tweeters are same from OPs link and are not on sale. Just buy tweeters, four 72-8104 speaker wire connectors, the kicker cs, or kicker ks speakers, ks are supposedly better quality, but the evidence is anecdotal, plus the ks are not on sale at best buy and are only marginally better. Then you will just need the pair of 82-8146 6" x 9" mount adapters and the pair of 82-8148 6" to 6-3/4" speaker mound adapters.
Looks like Amazon has the kicker door speakers on sale to match best buy.. amazon is pretty good about that.

Needed:
Door speakers 1 -

Kicker CSC69 CS Series 6 x 9 3-Way Coaxial Speakers 4 Ohms 450 Watts (150 Watts RMS) (2 Speakers)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7MVBJO
Door speakers 2 -

Kicker 43CSC674 CSC67 6.75" Coaxial Speakers, 4-Ohm

https://www.amazon.com/Kicker-43CSC...r&qid=1552956615&s=automotive&sr=1-2-fkmrnull
Tweeters -

$87 Subaru Genuine Tweeter Kit Kicker WRX STi Forester Crosstrek Impreza H631SFJ101

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PV6F8I2
Wire adapters pack of 4 -

$17 (2) Pair of Metra 72-8104 Speaker Wire Adapters for Select Toyota Vehicles - 4 Total Adapters

https://www.amazon.com/Metra-72-810...=B01GEIP7RW&psc=1&refRID=BH1NK8RWXZ72WBTPJBWA
Door mount adapter 1 -

$17 Metra Electronics 82-8148 6" to 6-3/4" Speaker Adapter for Select Toyota/Lexus/Scion 1998-Up Vehicles, Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IIC63P8
Door mount adapter 2 -

$18 Metra 82-8146 6" x 9" Front Speaker Adapter for Select Lexus and Toyota Vehicles, Black, Apple

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IIC6CPE

Optional:
tools -

BlingKingdom 12 pcs Auto Pry Tools Kit Door Trim Panel Dash Stereo Radio Interior Light Removal

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I0SUZOY
sound dampening -

Noico 80 mil 18 sqft car Sound deadening mat, Butyl Automotive Sound Deadener, Audio Noise Insulation and dampening

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012B5EMGO

Upgrade:
Amp adapter for all lines -

$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/dp/B00CQUL240
Hideaway subwoofer (fits behind back seat) -

$240 Kicker 11HS8 8” 150 Watt Hideaway Compact Car Audio Powered Subwoofer Sub HS8

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007LQWSYC
Amp - Not exactly sure on this

Also was reading something about a kicker "key" and some other extras, but didn't really get into it, hopefully I have condensed most of this thread though.

 

My suggestion: definitely get the tools. They're technically an option, but if you want to do it right and not gouge the heck out of your truck definitely get the plastic tools. For 10ish bucks, you'll be glad you did. Also definitely optional, but consider the sound deadening heavily when pulling your doors apart. I've got a pretty good rattle developed on my drivers side door and i'm going to need to pull it apart again to deaden in the future to remove it. Better to do it all at once then multiple times. Otherwise, you'll be breaking tabs and replacing them as well.

 

I believe you're referring to this! Tweeters done last night, doors going in this weekend. This stuff should do fine as a sound dampened, it's lists campers and automobile as some of its uses.

 

Did tweeters last night, I should edit and put the tools as a requirement. Lol.

 

Well that's just not true... The KS blow the CS out of the water. They are less sensitive than the CS so when you only feed them 5 watts of power from the factory radio, the CS will be louder (that and the extremely harsh tweeters) But loud does not equal quality. Plus, the front components blow must of this threads budget. However, the subaru tweeters are KS tweeters.

 

I scored the OP front and rear door kicker sets on sale at Best Buy for $76.48 + tax. Seems like this will be your last chance to grab these on clearance.

 

Yep. That’s the stuff