Premium Audio Upgrade for less than $250

So the subaru tweeters will work just fine with the new speakers and won’t need to be spliced like crutchfield says?

 

Correct

 

I agree with a statement about too much highs with the Subaru tweeters and the kicker tri-axles. I have my treble turned almost all the way down.

 

IIRC the factory wiring routes to the dash tweeters and then run down to the front doors. If you disconnect the dash tweeters you lose the fronts altogether unless you rewire them. Do the door speakers and then let your ears decide if you need the tweeters.

 

Below, if the tweeter is removed the front door speaker is disconnected from the head unit. The tweeter has 4 pin connector plug.

 

Unless you use the Subaru Kicker tweeters. They leave the factory wiring intact, so the front door speakers work fine afterwards

 

[QUOTE="
On SR model upgrades: Based on reviews and experiences it would seem the stock HU on the SR models is not sufficient enough in terms of power output to give you the same level of "wow" that many experience on the Entune head units. For these trucks an amp might be required to achieve similar or better output. Still unsure about SR5s so please post up your experiences. Overwhelmingly folks are extremely happy with and enjoying this upgrade for Entune head units (standard 6" and Premium 7") and some good response on various 2nd gen trim models as well. For 2nd gens, the door speakers should fit, but the TWEETERS do not fit the 2nd gen but are plug n' play for 3rd gens.

/[/QUOTE]

Any experience with SR5's yet?

 

I have a 2020 SR5, Double Cab with 8" Etune head unit. I just did the Tweeters. Great improvement over stock (non-JBL). I am doing the front and rear speakers next. Cant decide between the Kicker DS or CS series. Anyone know what wattage the stock etune unit puts out?

 

When I updgraded the tweeters...I noticed the right one had an "extra plug". It was disconnected. Anyone know what this is used for?

 

I think I read it was around 5? I did the DS and it was a big improvement but you could certainly tell the stock HU didnt have enough juice to make them as impressive as they could be. Then I installed a Kenwood.

 

Kicker are not the only type that work in the Tacoma. I installed Infinity all around. Although it took a few weeks for them to work in the improvement was exceptional compared to the stock crap speakers.

 

Less than 10w to the fronts, less than 5w to the rears

 

Did you use Reference or Kappa's? I got Kappa coaxials and they're awesome, even if a little Tweety. Gonna get an amp (kicker key), a Basslink SM or SM2 and some sound deadening eventually to round out the sound.

But for a stock SR headunit, I enjoy the audio quality and I don't get the same issues it sounds like some got with the Kickers on the same HU

 

I bought 3-way Kappas for the front and 2-way in the rear. I have Reference series in my 2017 Forte5 with a 200 watt Alpine amp powering a 10" Infinity sub. Another line of excellent speakers. I too am building an amplified system with a 4 channel Alpine and an Alpine mono amp to power 2x 6.5" subs under the jump seats. Wiring harness is built, just have to pull centre console out to start connecting everything up.

 

I ran the kicker KEY500.1-Gain-Match--0dB file to gain match the system. I have the Kicker CS, Subaru speakers (no sub) and the Key amp. Not that happy with the tone. It seems all lows and mids, can't hear the tweeters. I listen to a variety of music.

Does anyone have a recommend gain match file they used?

I also noticed the rear channel needs much more gain than the front. Guessing this is because the rear gets much lower voltage as was found in the thread. Has anyone set the key up using front input only? Think that is fader disabled.

Glenn

 

Does anyone have a recommend gain match file they used? I also noticed the rear channel needs much more gain than the front. Guessing this is because the rear gets much lower voltage as was found in the thread. Has anyone set the key up using front input only? Think that is fader disabled.

I can confirm the output to the rear speakers is considerably less than the front with the factory HU. I plan on compensating for this issue by using the front output only into a 4 channel Alpine amp. That way I have maximum input and can control output with adjustments on the amp.

 

The Kicker Key uses one input when set to fader off. The rear speakers have never contributed much before the amp. I will try it only using the front inputs. Not sure if I need to disconnect the rear inputs or if I can just use the switch. My amp is above the glove box and requires a little work to reach. I left the mic connected so thats not an issue need to see if I can reach the switches.

 

I had bought a amp wiring kit for a different amp but am looking at a kicker key 180.4 or 200.4 now

Can I run a 4 gauge OFC power wire with the kicker key amps? Wiring kit I bought is the

$73 KOL-AK4 KnuKonceptz Kolossus 4 Gauge OFC Amplifier Installation Kit

KOL-AK4.

 

Yes, you’ll probably just want some type of distribution block because splicing 4awg to the Key’s 12awg will prove to be very difficult

 

I need help. I upgraded my 2017 TRD Sport audio and now the right tweeter/speaker are louder then the left. The front signals from the headunit are off based on JL Audio TuN. Do you have the same issue that I’m having and how did you correct it?

I have OEM head unit + JL Audio FiX 86 Digital Sound Processor + JL Audio RD900/5 amp

Thanks.