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Kicker Speaker Upgrade for 2012 Wrangler

96K views 257 replies 72 participants last post by  AdamG8GXP 
#1 ·
So I was thinking about doing the kicker speaker upgrade. I was wondering if anybody out there has done this yet. I know some people say the sound is clearer. What about bass? Do you get much more out of these?

My other question is if I put in these new speakers (77KICK10) do they require the amp (77KICK33) to be installed? If anybody has put in the amp, does it replace an existing amp? If so, where is the existing amp?

Can the subwoofer (77KICK40) fit inside the existing box?

That's all my questions for now. I appreciate the help guys.
 
#2 ·
I have the Infinity system in my Rubi. I replaced the speakers in the sound bar with the Kickers. They are plug and play. The dash speakers and the sub are still stock Infinity.

It was worth it to replace the speakers in the sound bar. The stock speakers in there are terrible. You don't get much more bass, but it does sound clearer overall.

The Infinity system is OK at best. You would have to spend a lot more money to make a significant difference. The system uses the stock head unit. No amp.

Remember to stuff the sound bar and sub with poly fill. http://www.wranglerforum.com/f33/cannot-stress-poly-fil-in-sound-bar-enough-136035.html

:wavey:
 
#3 ·
So if you don't need the amp (77kick33) for these upgrade speakers. What do you need the amp for?

I mean I really don't want to replace the head unit. I didn't spend close to 2k for it just to get rid of it in 5 months. Plus I kinda like it. But these speakers are horse shit. And I was really expecting this sub woofer to give better bass. Since you know, that is what it's supposed to do. Lol.

So that's why I was looking at this upgrade kit. But I haven't found anything online yet that showed what you need to do if you wanted to install these kicker speakers if you wanted to keep the 730n head unit that came from the factory.

Thanks for your quick reply btw.
 
#7 ·
I am assuming you have a 2012. From what I read, that amp is specified for 07 - 10 JKs. The 77KICK10 speakers are direct plug and play replacements for the stock Infinity speakers. You don't need the amp. The head unit will drive them directly.

To really make a big difference, you would have to invest a lot of money. Tearing out a brand new $2000 730n head unit, and doing a big, high power audio upgrade along with a new nav is going to be big bucks.

I have the 130 Media Center (no Nav). Truthfully, I am disappointed in the Infinity system overall. I really expected a lot more from Infinity. It certainly doesn't play anywhere near load enough to suit me. You would think that a 368 watt, 7 speaker system in a space that size would play louder. That's just my opinion. I just have to suck it up and live with it. It's just not worth what it will cost to make a real improvement. JMO.

The 77KICK0s in the sound bar really helped. It was worth the $80+/- that they cost. Put em in. Put the money you save into other mods that will help you on and off road. The headlights are a good place to start!

:wavey:
 
#5 ·
I threw some alpines in but the factory amp didn't have enough power so there was distortion at higher volume. Wiring around the amp didn't work, so I threw a Rockford pbx4 inline to the sound bar and ice speakers. Worked surprisingly well, even with the fact amp feeding the Rockford. All in all $300 spent and the sound bar is as loud as the kick speakers and the quality is better.
 
#6 ·
themoneypit said:
I threw some alpines in but the factory amp didn't have enough power so there was distortion at higher volume. Wiring around the amp didn't work, so I threw a Rockford pbx4 inline to the sound bar and ice speakers. Worked surprisingly well, even with the fact amp feeding the Rockford. All in all $300 spent and the sound bar is as loud as the kick speakers and the quality is better.
Sorry the kick panel speakers, not ice speakers, stupid auto correct
 
#8 · (Edited)
I have the 130 radio w/sat and I replaced the stock speakers with the Kickers.
They do sound much "brighter" and clearer. With a slight increase and a cleaner bass than stock.
To really hear the bass difference is to listen to a CD with the same audio settings and volume from the back with the back door open and the front windows and doors closed.
Do this with the stock speakers first and then replace the stocks with 4 new Kickers and you will notice the diiference in sound cleanliness and improved bass.
By listening from the back of the JK, you get a better representation of the improvement in the Kickers over the stock speakers.
The difference in sound quality from sitting and listening from the drivers seat is much more "subtle" between the stocks and Kickers. But there is a definite improvement. Well worth the $158 I paid for the Kickers.
The Kickers are much better quality than stock and look as though the Kickers are made of a moisture/waterproof material than the stock paper speaker cones.
Stocks have "tiny" magnets.


Kicker pics:












"No Brainer" if you leave your top off in the rain by accident.
 
#13 ·
By listening from the back of the JK, you get a better representation of the improvement in the Kickers over the stock speakers.
The difference in sound quality from sitting and listening from the drivers seat is much more "subtle" between the stocks and Kickers. But there is a definite improvement.
Yeah, but I drive from the front seat. On a scale of 1 -10 how much better does it sound from the front seat?
 
#9 ·
yup
Replacing the speakers in the sound bar is a super easy mod, especially when you use a kit like Kicker makes or when you order from a place like Crutchfield that provides you with all the stuff you need.

As I recall, soundbar speaker replacement was like my first or second mod.
I kept the stock grills when I installed my Polks to keep it stealthy.

Good luck with the project!
 
#10 ·
Also I believe the Stock speakers are one-way/single cone speakers.
Since the Kickers are 2 way/dual cone speakers.
You are adding 4 more speakers when you upgrade.
Hence the improvement in sound quality.

Someone may confirm since I tossed them before I had a chance to tear off the cloth cover over the stock speaker.
I am sure they are single speaker cones.
 
#11 ·
71K5 said:
I have the 130 radio w/sat and I replaced the stock speakers with the Kickers.
They do sound much "brighter" and clearer. With a slight increase and a cleaner bass than stock.
To really hear the bass difference is to listen to a CD with the same audio settings and volume from the back with the back door open and the front windows and doors closed.
Do this with the stock speakers first and then replace the stocks with 4 new Kickers and you will notice the diiference in sound cleanliness and improved bass.
By listening from the back of the JK, you get a better representation of the improvement in the Kickers over the stock speakers.
The difference in sound quality from sitting and listening from the drivers seat is much more "subtle" between the stocks and Kickers. But there is a definite improvement. Well worth the $158 I paid for the Kickers.
The Kickers are much better quality than stock and look as though the Kickers are made of a moisture/waterproof material than the stock paper speaker cones.
Stocks have "tiny" magnets.

Kicker pics:

"No Brainer" if you leave your top off in the rain by accident.
Ya I just played with the equalizer and moved the balance so everything played to the sound bar. No wonder this sounds like crap. It's like half the power is going to the rare speakers than the front. So it's much quieter. I think I read somewhere that it's done on purpose. I was hoping if I put the amp in with the new speakers, it would solve that problem. But it sounds like it won't. Hopefully just putting in the new speakers will be sufficient. I think Chrysler screwed the pooch with this head unit.
 
#12 ·
Glad to hear I'm not the only one that thinks those speakers on the sound bar sound like crap. I was beginning to wonder if they even worked! I have the infinity sound upgrade too. I think it is decent- but not worth what I paid for it.
 
#17 ·
Kicker Kicks...

Howdee!
I am fortunate enough to have family that works with Kicker so my new Kicker JK system is already on its way. My father in-law and the hubby are serious audio-philes. The moment it gets here it will be installed. We told Kicker we'd post detailed photos/instructions on the forums so that other Wrangler owners could view. I hope to get the system this week and will post the install.
Hoping to even show it at SEMA !:punk:
Even though the "fam" is in the business I really didn't think I cared about the sound bar- until I heard it. Kicker makes great equipment (I know; we have Kicker in mulitple vehicles) but more importantly they are genuinely a great group of people.
If you can be patient I should have pics/review in a couple of weeks. I haven't figured out how to post the audio comparison but I am working on it.
:)
 
#18 ·
Howdee!
I am fortunate enough to have family that works with Kicker so my new Kicker JK system is already on its way. My father in-law and the hubby are serious audio-philes. The moment it gets here it will be installed. We told Kicker we'd post detailed photos/instructions on the forums so that other Wrangler owners could view. I hope to get the system this week and will post the install.
Hoping to even show it at SEMA !:punk:
Even though the "fam" is in the business I really didn't think I cared about the sound bar- until I heard it. Kicker makes great equipment (I know; we have Kicker in mulitple vehicles) but more importantly they are genuinely a great group of people.
If you can be patient I should have pics/review in a couple of weeks. I haven't figured out how to post the audio comparison but I am working on it.
:)
I agree that the Infinity system blows big fat donkey %*&#, even with the Garmin 430 Navi system.

See if you can get them to root around the Wrangler and see how the factory system is set up. Then have kicker design and release a replacement for the factory amp that fits in the same space - they will sell more than enough to make it a profitable venture. They could also do a replacement sub if a drop in can be designed to sound better in the plastic enclosure.
 
#19 ·
Kicker has already rooted. The new system is designed to replace all the factory equipment in the existing space. Including the amp and the sub. The idea is that it will look factory so it will have less of a chance of getting ripped out. (someone once broke into my Ranger with a crowbar to take out a sub my father-in law custom built for me. I am a little paranoid now). The wiring harnesses should connect right up to the existing ones.
Will post pics once we get it.
 
#21 ·
Kicker System

Received my system today. :) I have the sub & amp, the speakers and the amp for those, along with wiring harnesses. No tweeters- which I don't really care about. I'd also almost rather have those stock so no one gets suspicious. I hope to get everything installed in the next couple of weeks. They did a great job on the sub surround- very thick/solid enclosure. Not your average car sub box. Pic included. I won't post speaker pics since someone has already done so.
 
#23 · (Edited)
Kicker

184 watts RMS on one (46 X 4) for front and rear channels. The sub amp is 2oo watts RMS. All cross-overs are built in to the amps. Nothing fancy looking on the amps- they come with custom brackets and wiring harnesses for mounting behind the dash. Plug N Play so to speak. One photo won't load- I'll re-post later.
I'll post some better pics once we get to the install. If you want to see somthing specific on them let me know.
 
#25 ·
184 watts RMS on one (46 X 4) for front and rear channels. The sub amp is 2oo watts RMS. All cross-overs are built in to the amps. Nothing fancy looking on the amps- they come with custom brackets and wiring harnesses for mounting behind the dash. Plug N Play so to speak. One photo won't load- I'll re-post later.
I'll post some better pics once we get to the install. If you want to see somthing specific on them let me know.
Is this supposed to be plug and play for the Infinity setups or non-Infinity or both? I am interested in seeing the wiring and where the sub will go and basically the entire process, :rofl:
 
#24 ·
Kicker replacement stuff looks intreresting. Even with replacement of speakers and the small amp, you are going to be limited by the head unit. The base HU on mine sounded OK with the Infinity stuff, but once you got to a certain volume, it just didn't sound good.

I always have replaced factory systems with aftermarket. Since the jeep is my only vehicle, I did the same and went all new HU, speakers, new amp and sub. Plus all new wiring. Completely aftermarket. But I can see how just plopping in new sound bar speakers for a non-daily driver would make sense.
 
This post has been deleted
#27 ·
Does the amp include the factory "feature" of limiting volume on the sound bar?
 
#28 ·
Yeah can the amp plug into the stock non-infinity HU? That wiring harness on the amp where does it plug into? I'd love to have a plug and play amp for my stock non-infinity HU.
 
#29 ·
Kicker rocks

Hello everyone.
If you could see my face you'd see a big a$$ grin. The hubby Just finished installing my Kicker Stage iii system. It absolutely obliterates the stock system. I'll be posting a new thread with pics in the next day or so. It includes 2 amps, replacement speakers and a sub. Ah....the sub. Let me put it this way- I video recorded the sound in stages. But once I got to the finish the bass totally distorted the recording on the crappy camera mike. I'll have to re -record without the sub so you can hear the speakers. Obviously you don't have to crank the bass but we wanted to test distortion.
This is a pricey system- but I am happy to report that just replacing the factory amp with the Kicker amp makes a big difference. kicker tested the factory head unit/amp at 4 watts per channel. Pathetic. The Kicker amp is 40. So even the standard jeep speakers sound much better with the amp alone. I was really surprised by that. I'd get distortion at volume 20 stock. With just replacing the amp you could turn up to 25 or 28 with none and the sound was much better. I'd actually invest in an amp before speakers.
With the entire system I was cranked at volume 30 with clear sound, a ton of bass- and no distortion, clipping or chirping. Probably overkill for a Jeep (unless i want to park it in a bar or club.) Really, really pleased. Can you tell? :thumb:
 
#51 ·
Hello everyone.
If you could see my face you'd see a big a$$ grin. The hubby Just finished installing my Kicker Stage iii system. It absolutely obliterates the stock system. I'll be posting a new thread with pics in the next day or so. It includes 2 amps, replacement speakers and a sub. Ah....the sub. Let me put it this way- I video recorded the sound in stages. But once I got to the finish the bass totally distorted the recording on the crappy camera mike. I'll have to re -record without the sub so you can hear the speakers. Obviously you don't have to crank the bass but we wanted to test distortion.
This is a pricey system- but I am happy to report that just replacing the factory amp with the Kicker amp makes a big difference. kicker tested the factory head unit/amp at 4 watts per channel. Pathetic. The Kicker amp is 40. So even the standard jeep speakers sound much better with the amp alone. I was really surprised by that. I'd get distortion at volume 20 stock. With just replacing the amp you could turn up to 25 or 28 with none and the sound was much better. I'd actually invest in an amp before speakers.
With the entire system I was cranked at volume 30 with clear sound, a ton of bass- and no distortion, clipping or chirping. Probably overkill for a Jeep (unless i want to park it in a bar or club.) Really, really pleased. Can you tell? :thumb:

Jeeeeze....so here is something else I wasn't giving that much thought to until I read this.

I just have the base system so it looks like I would need 77KPK311 but I assume it is still the same sub that you installed. Do you know if the sub has any weather resistance to it? I roll around with my 3 rear windows out 99% of the time rain or no rain and it does get wet back there. And now that I'm saying that I'm also wondering if I'd still be able to still use my Qtech cargo tray I have back there with the sub.

Thx!
 
#31 ·
JeepHerz said:
Hello everyone.
If you could see my face you'd see a big a$$ grin. The hubby Just finished installing my Kicker Stage iii system. It absolutely obliterates the stock system. I'll be posting a new thread with pics in the next day or so. It includes 2 amps, replacement speakers and a sub. Ah....the sub. Let me put it this way- I video recorded the sound in stages. But once I got to the finish the bass totally distorted the recording on the crappy camera mike. I'll have to re -record without the sub so you can hear the speakers. Obviously you don't have to crank the bass but we wanted to test distortion.
This is a pricey system- but I am happy to report that just replacing the factory amp with the Kicker amp makes a big difference. kicker tested the factory head unit/amp at 4 watts per channel. Pathetic. The Kicker amp is 40. So even the standard jeep speakers sound much better with the amp alone. I was really surprised by that. I'd get distortion at volume 20 stock. With just replacing the amp you could turn up to 25 or 28 with none and the sound was much better. I'd actually invest in an amp before speakers.
With the entire system I was cranked at volume 30 with clear sound, a ton of bass- and no distortion, clipping or chirping. Probably overkill for a Jeep (unless i want to park it in a bar or club.) Really, really pleased. Can you tell? :thumb:
Where did you guys put the sub? Did you replace the entire stock box with a new one? How much more space does it take up if at all?
 
#32 ·
Kicker replacement for 2012 Stock radio

Please we need part numbers and any extra installation part/numbers

Speakers---
As i understand Kickers 6 1/2 dual cone speakers direct replacement for stock speakers.. Except which ones ??? 50 - 100 bucks each

Amplifier----
Some unknown kicker model fits in behind the dash somewhere and lets us keep the unconnect and the steering wheel volume channel changer
Around 250 - 400 bucks

Cost---
all told around --- 400(amplifier) + 400(4 * 100ea speakers) + sweat and solder < $1000.00 :dance:
I wanted the stock radio. I have uconnect with a Droid bionic with the unlimited data package . Spotify and pandora to my head explodes...
 
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