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Kicker Soundgate Upgrade

2014MallCrawler
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Isriam
Isriam

ok trying to get a feel here...i have the premium bose system in my denali, is this not available for that, only the base system without the sub?

krdeal
krdeal

Well, I finally got a hold of their Customer Service Supervisor. He treated me like gold and took care of everything. Shipped a second harness overnight and I installed it last night. Still playing wi

2014MallCrawler
2014MallCrawler

Funny you asked that I was just thinking the same exact thing!

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AbsolutHank Enthusiast

AbsolutHank

Posted
Posted

Just installed the full kit yesterday on my non-Bose Sierra. Really surprised with the kit. Riding with all the windows down and still hearing the radio is now an option lol

 

For people on the fence, it's a perfectly integrated, stealthy stereo. It sounds much better. The sub is plenty adaquent for more bassy stereo listening. But it's not going to replace a custom system, in terms of volume or thump.

 

I've had both style in the past, and for daily driving duties, I'd go this Kicker route 9 out of 10 times.

  • Like 2
Amiodynski Enthusiast

Amiodynski

Posted
Posted

I had the Kicker sub kit installed into the truck yesterday. It does give it more "bass", but the lack of control in optimization makes it "dirty" bass. It's not clean unless you turn the bass tone setting lower than the middle (zero) setting. Any more than that and it rattles everything, but doesn't sound clean in my opinion. Going to give it a few days before I decide what I'm going to do with it.

 

As a side note, I would consider myself and Audio guy and knew that Kicker doesn't have the best rep for clean bass. I'm comparison, I used to run a 13W7 powered by a JL Audio Slash 1000/1 and have MB Quart Qs for both my fronts and rears powered by a 450/4. All of this in a 03 4 door Explorer and the truck not only was loud as hell, but clean!

 

I think the factory Bose system sounds great, and no intention to hack it, I was just really hoping to add a little more bass to compliment the rest of the system.

AbsolutHank Enthusiast

AbsolutHank

Posted
Posted

I think that's a very accurate description, especially not "clean" bass. As long as you're trying to add some bass, and a little thump, it's perfect. Trying to make it boomy just isn't going to work.

mtbadbob Enthusiast

mtbadbob

Posted
Posted (edited)

I had the Kicker sub kit installed into the truck yesterday. It does give it more "bass", but the lack of control in optimization makes it "dirty" bass. It's not clean unless you turn the bass tone setting lower than the middle (zero) setting. Any more than that and it rattles everything, but doesn't sound clean in my opinion. Going to give it a few days before I decide what I'm going to do with it.

 

As a side note, I would consider myself and Audio guy and knew that Kicker doesn't have the best rep for clean bass. I'm comparison, I used to run a 13W7 powered by a JL Audio Slash 1000/1 and have MB Quart Qs for both my fronts and rears powered by a 450/4. All of this in a 03 4 door Explorer and the truck not only was loud as hell, but clean!

 

I think the factory Bose system sounds great, and no intention to hack it, I was just really hoping to add a little more bass to compliment the rest of the system.

 

The bass isn't clean because you have no way of dialing in the frequencies. If you are any kind of audiophile, you should know the factory Bose systems aren't anything special. Remember, sound quality starts with the "source". I've ran Kicker systems for over 25 years & love them, but always had a good amp, cross-overs & head unit to control all the frequencies. The Soundgate is a "Band-Aid" for the sub-par, mexico made, stock speaker/stereo systems.

Edited by mtbadbob
Amiodynski Enthusiast

Amiodynski

Posted
Posted

The bass isn't clean because you have no way of dialing in the frequencies. If you are any kind of audiophile, you should know the factory Bose systems aren't anything special. Remember, sound quality starts with the "source". I've ran Kicker systems for over 25 years & love them, but always had a good amp, cross-overs & head unit to control all the frequencies. The Soundgate is a "Band-Aid" for the sub-par, mexico made, stock speaker/stereo systems.

Thats pretty much what I said....
berk4422 Enthusiast

berk4422

Posted
Posted

I keep my EQ flat with the exception of a little more treble. Was listening to XM Chill through my phone/bluetooth today and was blown away by how clean it sounded. I agree with others that when the bass is up, it's not clean. But it is a major improvement over stock.

mrhonestlyinsane Enthusiast

mrhonestlyinsane

Posted
Posted

Mine just came in .I will be doing the install this weekend. I have the Non Bose system and think it sounds pretty good at moderate volume levels . So I am just looking for a little extra volume and a bit of thump. This should fit the bill and its Plug and play.

  • Like 1
Sixpack19 Enthusiast

Sixpack19

Posted
Posted

Their not easy plug and play. Remove radio amp seats etc. pita. Easier when I did a custom box and sounds better. Trust me. They suck!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mrhonestlyinsane Enthusiast

mrhonestlyinsane

Posted
Posted (edited)

Their not easy plug and play. Remove radio amp seats etc. pita. Easier when I did a custom box and sounds better. Trust me. They suck!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I put in the full system ( not just the sub ) and it did not require you to pull the seats.

I would admit that having control of the sub with a bass knob would be nice. But after listening to bass heavy, metal I would say it was worth the 867 i paid shipped.

I was looking a building something and there was no way I was building a reliable , seamless installation for that kinda money and doing it in 1 1/2 hours.

I will say there instructions sucked but the end results is good.

If you are looking to have cars next to you vibrate from the bass it is the wrong system for you. but if you are looking for good all around system that is really nice at moderate to somewhat high levels this fits the bill and I did not hack any wiring.

Edited by mrhonestlyinsane
  • Like 1
  • 2 weeks later...
CruseMissle Enthusiast

CruseMissle

Posted
Posted

Any one of you guys in the Albuquerque Area? I'd like to hear someone's truck with this in it before I buy one.

  • 1 month later...
cheetoh72 New Member

cheetoh72

Posted
Posted

I thought I would give some feedback on the Kicker PSIEXT14 product. This is the Amp and sub kit ( not the sub only ) for the 14/15 Double Cab 1500 without Bose.

 

It does make a huge improvement, no doubt. But it wasn't good enough for my ears. I don't consider myself to be an audiophile, but I can't stand harsh, flat audio inherently in factory audio systems.

 

After a couple of weeks, I installed Kicker 41KSS654 components, replacing the front door woofers and the dash 2.5 drivers with the 1" tweeter. I located the crossover in the door skin's armrest and had to run a new pair of wires from it, through the factory wiring conduit to the dash speaker location (PITA). I had to make some brackets for the tweeters in the dash (I used some plywood veneer I had kicking around).

 

Now it actually sounds pretty good. The kicker components need power and play a little quieter requiring the fader forward a fare bit. But it plays so much cleaner, I'm OK with it.

 

My multimeter shows the factory speakers are 4 ohms ( I couldn't find this info anywhere and Crutchfield didn't know either).

 

I hope this post proves useful to somebody.

 

Chris

  • 1 month later...
mtbadbob Enthusiast

mtbadbob

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hello people,

I have the Kicker sub-only for sale for the '07-'13 1500, '07-'14 HD crew cabs. I bought this used, it works fine, but it doesn't fit my '15 HD, although GM & Kicker part #'s suggest that. Anyhow, I'm looking to get $400 shipped OBO, to lower 48. Please message me, or you can call 406-439-4276, I'm in Montana.

 

P.S. I'm buying the correct sub & I'll include the new, uninstalled harness with this used unit. Hit me up or call with any ?'s, thanks!...Bob

Edited by mtbadbob

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