kicker upgrades & DSP reccomendation

hey gang!

i have installed a subwoofer that was laying around... it is a kicker hs8 and it has scratched the itch for some better audio under my butt..

i'm looking for ease of installation & budget is ~1000 additional components.

i also am heavily considering a DSP after reading some threads about how it is a game changer.

i do not mind keeping the original head unit as it has good navigation lol and i like the stock look (Although i would like to know my elevation at times...)

i have in my cart so far:

KICKER® KS-Series Black KSS269 6x9" 2-Way Component Speaker System
Model #:

$270 48KSS269 KSS690 6x9 and 2.75" 2-Way Component System, 4ohm

48KSS269

quantity 1

Kicker® KS Series KSC650 6.5" Car Speakers
Model #: 47KSC6504

quantity 2


for the specs of these kickers, they call for 15-100 w RMS power, and speaker is at 90db/92db respectively at 1w/1m so i'd be looking out for an amp somewhere in the 100w x4 @ 4ohms range..


i have zero experience in dsp

any help is appreciated! thank you

 

Alpine 3342?

 

It just might he the greastest DSP ever made. You set the volume on the radio and dont touch it, use the Alpine control. I was just jamming to Jimi Live!!

 

If you get a head unit you won't need the DSP. I haven't had good success with DSP's.

And keep in mind your system is only as good as your weakest component, and the stock head unit is trash.

I went with a Kenwood DMX head unit and couldn't be happier.

 

I found this crusty Pro Line Driver in the garage has not been hooked up in years. If anyone could use it. It Boosts the RCA current before the amplifier with no distortion.

 

The PLD may help if you want to keep stock head unit but convert to RCA and increase power.

 

is the PLD only a 1 channel ?

would'nt i theoretically have 4 channels to hook up?

And if i were to upgrade the head unit - any remarks on this unit?

https://www.hamiltonmotorcompany.com/products/2014-2019-toyota-4runner-apple-carplay-conversion-kit

so basically -
new head unit
new amp - 4 channel x 100w rms 4 ohms
new speakers - kickers throughout bought from audio express

overall cost $2000 ? (amp is undecided)


amp maybe 6 channels as i have a spare subwoofer laying around :
stereo integrity BM mkiv

 

Not sure the output levels on that head unit or how good it is, but may work if it has low level outputs. Alpine makes a good 6 channel amp, it's been great for me.

 

$2000 is definitely a healthy budget to work with... dare I say a bit much depending on your goals. I don't have experience with the HU you linked but I had no issues with the android based Atoto HU I started with. I have since upgraded to a 10.1" HU from Joying which I absolutely love! It has digital outputs for my DSP, has a real GPS/Glonass antenna I use for offline maps, didn't need an expensive adapter for steering wheel controls, displays OBD II info from a cheap 5 dollar bluetooth adapter, etc.

My first recommendation is try to figure out what kind of sound you're trying to achieve. Luckily for me quite a few friends of mine have been doing audio mods to their 5th gens so we get to compare. Most of the group were content upgrading their front door and dash speakers to coaxials from their brand of choice, ran off of aftermarket headunit power. Those that are running an externally amped sub needed to amp their coaxes to get things loud enough to keep up with their sub(s). Bear in mind this group are only using Spotify as their main source. A few nuts in the group (me included) care about things like sound stage and imaging, in which case none of the coaxial offerings were good enough.

Side note - that SI BM MKiv you have is a thing of beauty (only needs .5 ft3 box, digs deep, and only 3ish inches in depth)! I run some SI speakers for my front stage and they are phenomenal! If you consider SI for mids/highs I'd definitely suggest using a DSP to get the most out of them. Best part, SI still has their black friday sale going on.

 

so i think ive got my parts list and along with all the extra deadening i have left over.. plus heaps of electrical cord!

amp - GM-DX975 (but Amazon turned out be cheapest)
fronts -

$270 kicker 48KSS269 KSS690 6x9 and 2.75" 2-way component system, 4ohm

kicker 48KSS269 (in fact.. this has been at price of 270 for the past week debating parts order.. )
rears/hatch - kicker 47KSC6504 (i might return the hatch.. probably not needed the extra thumping back there..)
sub - si bm mkiv

i opted to keep head unit and if anything may try to look for a 2020+ version so i can keep OEM style look.. wish me luck

 

I used the KSS269s up front with a Kicker Key 200.4 amp behind a Keyloc off the factory 2022 non-JBL headunit. Sound quality is massively improved. I no longer feel the need to add a sub.

Biggest issue is I now have an echo on phone call for the caller that I can't get rid of. I think the DSP functions in the loc and amp are adding enough delay to mess up the echo cancelation in the head unit. I'm tempted to try it without the Keyloc (originally got that as I was planning to add a sub) to see if that helps.

 

yeah i am gonna use the high level outputs from radio and send those to the amp. i'll update once i get everything sorted out.. stuff should be arriving next week!

time to make 10 trips to the electronics store...

 

Buy an extra amp if your going to do that, it's going to blow it. Needs a drop down/line level, Like DSP.

 

what do you mean by that?

the amp has either RCA or speaker level inputs.. time to dust off the oscilloscope and get the nephew to do some calcs

 

The stock head unit doesn't have RCI line level outputs. So you will have to tap into the high powered outputs of the head unit/OEM-amp and that can be way too much power for speaker level inputs in some amps. Good to verify.

 

doesnt our stock head unit have speaker level outputs then? its been a while since ive done this..

also considering a head unit from crutchfield at the moment.... just got a christmas bonus ohboy... for 260 + 200 for some harnesses to keep functionality of the steering wheel controls.. not a bad deal and it will have a RCA pre outs like i need... that might make things a breeze though!!

and i am still not sold on a fully touch screen unit (i really like how the new 2020+ look...) i like knobs.

my amp & speakers due to arrive this week...

 

No RCA output on the stock head unit. Trust me i tried my best to keep the stock head unit with 3 DSP's that were all crap.

A new head unit will make all the deference. Such better sound quality!

I like knobs too, but i spent your entire budget on the head unit. Not that i wanted to, but i went too far to do anything less.

 

I would upgrade but I dont want to loose my cassette player.

 

well things have been ordered and slowly arriving here's my photo of the stuff so far i have

i have opted to eliminate the hatch speakers becauseit'll be easier to maintain 4 ohms.

i also.. somehow got a shipment of 2 subwoofers which i did NOT order.. so that's a whole separate issue that i will have to mitigate somehow.. hooray for me i guess!! ( i literally checked every single website i've ordered in the past week.. i am not sure why i received 2 subwoofers!!)

my head unit is also arriving sometime wednesday - it is
JVC KW-M788BH

we will see how i like the screen versus losing the OEM look..

looks like i need another amp for the subs HEHE

 

kenwood? Display car info? You go nav or no?

 

Going to need a Box for the Subs and an amp like you said. But it looks like you are getting there, good luck with the install should go fine since you have the new head unit and it should be much better than the OEM.

I think you may be surprised at how good the front 6x9's will sound.

 

JVC KW-M788BH

this is the head unit I went with along with allthe other cables to keep steering controls and such..

awaiting some other minor parts along with deadener before i start the install... also need some 14 gauge wiring!!

contemplating if 10" subs will fit under the seats in the rear??

 

If doing properly a 10" sub needs a decent box. So unlikely.

 

sorry what i asking was whether there is enough space underneath the seats.. when i do pop open the seats like to fold them down - it exposes a "lifted" carpeted area.. i havnet been able to find a thread where one opens it up.. so my questions is .. how big of a rabbit hole am i digging if i wanna fit in 2 10s in there heheheh

 

I think it would be like digging a rabbit hole through stone. lol You would be removing part of the hardened floor...

 

How is your install going?