8.4 6 speaker (non alpine) Kicker/Alpine 900 watt Upgrade Custom Build

[Ecofx86]

Finally The Build is complete!! I call it the Kicker/Alpine 900 watt up Build. Total cost is roughly 1100 dollars for 900 watts. Below is the list of items involved in this build. You can crank it wide open no distortion! Its budget build that Rocks for Sure!!


*Head Unit 8.4 Stock*
WIREHARNESS TO GIVE SIGNAL FOR AMPS
https://www.netaudiowf.com/product/2013-18-dodge-ram-amplifier-ready-t-harness-with-load-resistors/

AMP KIT 4 GAUGE
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050I6KII/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

DISTRIBUTION BLOCK
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D1JLN8N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


*Dash Speakers*
KICKER 3.5 KS
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_206KSC3504/Kicker-44KSC3504.html

BASS BLOCKERS
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_007BB600/Crutchfield-Bass-Blockers-600-Hz-cut-off.html

* Front Doors*
KICKER 6.5 DS
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_206DSC6504/Kicker-43DSC6504.html

MOUNTING BRACKET
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_142SA69/Scosche-SA-69-Speaker-Mounting-Brackets.

* Rear Doors*
KICKER 6X9 DS
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_206DSC6904/Kicker-43DSC69304.html

*SUBWOOFER*
KICKER COMP R (500 WATT RMS)
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_206CWR124/Kicker-43CWR124.html

FOX ACCOUSTIC 12" VENTED PASS SIDE
https://www.foxacoustics.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DQC-112-V-P

*AMPLIFIERS*

ALPINE S-A32F 4 CHANNEL
https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-S-A32...refix=alpine+4+channe;,electronics,174&sr=1-5

SPEAKER WIRE TO RCA ( DIDNT HAVE HIGH INPUT HARNESS)
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_136XDCLR2S/JL-Audio-XD-CLRAIC2-SW.html

ALPINE MRV-M500 MONO BLOCK
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BMR7UPS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ALPINE RUX-KNOB2.0 BASS CONTROL
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500RUXKNO2/Alpine-RUX-KNOB-2.html




I'm pretty sure u can save money on the harness, but I was being lazy and just wanted something to plug n play with no worries. I wanna Thank everyone on this forum that help me out with all the information!! I'm sure if I did it all over I would have went with the KS 6.5 and 6.9 instead of the DS. At first I just wanted to do stock replacement than the bug hit me! lol I wanted more soo yeah amps n sub came into the picture. I also originally had the DS 3.5 but I got lucky n sold them to my buddy with a 2019 Ram! The DS doesn't sound nearly as good as the KS 3.5 on the amp. I have the frequencies set around 85 90hz for the mids n highs. The sub amp around 80 hz. If u not running a sub u can easily let the 6x9 run at 70hz to get some bass. The system with no amp sounded a lot better than stock but just not quite loud enough for me. Those DS speakers really sound damn good with 50 watts on them. For being low end speaker they get loud n clear! I mounted my amps on the back wall with some heavy duty Velcro! As long as u remove the insulation and directly mount the Velcro on the metal, you will have no problems of it coming off the wall. Power wire is ran on driver side and netaudio harness is ran on passenger side of truck. I get no engine noise and my amps come on when I turn the key so no need for remote wire! Easy Install and very pleased with this set up!

 

[78Staff]

Looks good, I am doing a similar setup - I originally was going with the same Alpine amps as they are popular suggestions for our trucks, but have decided to just run a singe JL Audio 900/5 powering a 12w3v3-2, in the same Fox Box. Door speakers were already upgraded previously with Pioneer 6966's which I've been happy with, but if they don't make the grade after the amp install I'll look at moving to something else. I have the same Kickers in the dash as well with blockers. Ram and their stupid speaker setup. Door speakers are limited to due to front depth requirement. .

For the harness I looked at NetAudio as well (and haven't ruled them out) but I am leaning towards the Axxess AX-DSP and appropriate harness. It cost about 2x but you tap into the speaker outs behind the radio in one spot and you get 6 channels of RCA outputs, individual crossover controls, 31band eq, chime control, clipping control, delay, etc plus once it's all in you can control/adjust with bluetooth on phone or tablet.

Where did you get the grill, did it come with the sub? I need find one of those also.

EDIT - Found the grill, it's from Fox.

Also, minor change, looks like I am going with a RD 400/4 and RD 500/1 - the 900/5 isn't readily available apparently. It's essentially the same setup but with two amps instead of one. It does give me a bit of flexibility if at some point I wanted to say add another 12 and move to a larger mono amp - although I don't see that happening anytime soon lol.

 

[Midnight Storm]

Thanks for the detailed report of what you pulled off. You are motivating me to get a similar system done and you’ve done it with quality and for a reasonable price.
NICE JOB!

 

[Ecofx86]

1 sub pushing 500 watts is loud enough, I don't think u cant sit in my back seat with it turn up for a long time. IT hits pretty damn hard when u sitting on top that box. I listen to Country, Rap, rock and pop! It plays all them very well! One of the best boxes I've ever owned!

Reason I went with the Netaudio harness instead of a Dsp is because I didn't need or want to have mess with 32 EQ thru my phone. I just wanted to set amp EQ and be done with it. I Guess if u running Components and separate tweeters you should get the DPS to adjust everything individually. I just didn't want to mess with it. With the harness i'm using I get everything factory sound including Bluetooth thru the front speakers. Didn't loose any factory features. Steering wheel controls still operate, nothing lost.

The setup I did also was made with budget mindset. I wanted 50 watts rms for mids n highs 500 watt rms subs. I just ordered a set of Kicker Cs tweeters I'ma mount them where the center dash speaker is located. I'ma flush mount them onto the grill. See if I can produce lil more highs in my front stage. Once I do that ill have 8 speakers n 1 Sub lol

 

[78Staff]

1 sub pushing 500 watts is loud enough, I don't think u cant sit in my back seat with it turn up for a long time. IT hits pretty damn hard when u sitting on top that box. I listen to Country, Rap, rock and pop! It plays all them very well! One of the best boxes I've ever owned!

Reason I went with the Netaudio harness instead of a Dsp is because I didn't need or want to have mess with 32 EQ thru my phone. I just wanted to set amp EQ and be done with it. I Guess if u running Components and separate tweeters you should get the DPS to adjust everything individually. I just didn't want to mess with it. With the harness i'm using I get everything factory sound including Bluetooth thru the front speakers. Didn't loose any factory features. Steering wheel controls still operate, nothing lost.

The setup I did also was made with budget mindset. I wanted 50 watts rms for mids n highs 500 watt rms subs. I just ordered a set of Kicker Cs tweeters I'ma mount them where the center dash speaker is located. I'ma flush mount them onto the grill. See if I can produce lil more highs in my front stage. Once I do that ill have 8 speakers n 1 Sub lol

yeah we talked about this a bit today - the amps have individual crossovers and gains of course, so I could adjust them there - but would loose the EQ. I also really don't have the need for 31 bands, but would like to have more than the 3 offered by the 8.4 HU. It's a bit overkill but definitely makes install simpler with the T-harness and not having to do resistors on the speaker wires and not having to splice in LOC's etc. Plus if the Pioneers aren't up to ***** after the install I see some JL Audio components going in in there place .

But for now 3.5 Kicker's will run off the HU amp, the doors off the 400/4, and the single 12" off the 500/1.

 

[Ecofx86]

The resistors are on the signal input side not the speaker side. The harness was plug n play and had enough wire to reach the back of the truck. Alll I had to do was connect speakers wire to my amp and solider my Jl rca to speaker wires and high input harness to the Netaudio harness. Real simple! I run my stock unit at 0 for bass mid highs. Only time I have to bump up the bass to 4 is if I'm listing to country or rock. That's just to get my sub tab bit more kick. Rest of the music is set at 0.

 

[Ecofx86]

Update!!!

*Alpine mrv 500 is complete junk. I had one die and burn up my kicker comp R. Second one had voltage issues which cause the amp to cut n and out.
I ended up buying my buddies Rockford fosgate 500.1 bd !
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_575P500X1B/Rockford-Fosgate-Punch-P500X1bd.html?tp=35834
This amp was very easy to set up and runs absolutely perfect!

**I changed out the burn up kicker comp R to NVX VSw dual 2 ohm 600 watt rms Sub. I have it wired down to 1 ohm! This sub cost half the price of the kicker and sounds much better! Sound Quality is awesome! hits every note pretty darn good!
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_105465_NVX-VSW122v2-VSW122-v2.html

***I added the mighty LC7I !!! Folks if u running a subwoofer amp with high level inputs you doing it wrong!! lc7I added much needed increase in volume! Amazon had the best price by far!
https://www.amazon.com/AudioControl...0463621&s=gateway&sprefix=lc7i,aps,178&sr=8-1


**** 3.5 inch kicker KS have been removed and Replace with
Kicker 43CST204 3/4" Titanium Dome Cs-Series Car Tweeters

Do not amp the 3.5 they will way too loud n harsh!! Tweeters sound much better as u can see in the pic below i set them up in the where the center speaker grill.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MDJIBMG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

***** Lastly I Replace all the kicker DS for Kicker CS! 6.5 coax fronts and 6x9 3 ways rear. Let me tell u, if u not running an amp the DS sound great but with an amp u must go with CS. Im running around 55 watts RMS. Ds sound like u killing them while at the same volume the CS are crystal clear! I have all my amps set with test tones and i don't turn my radio pass volume 27!.

 

[jackal98]

Ecofx86 -- Do you have pictures of your LC7i setup as well as the Net Audio harness connection in the rear of your truck?

I am waiting for the delivery of those two items and my build will be complete.

 

[78Staff]

Nice, I wound up replacing my Pioneer doors with Alpine Type R2 6x9's, I originally thought I would go with JL Audio CS2's but they weren't rated high enough (although most say JL Audio's will take extra power). Anyway have been happy with Alpine speakers so far. Still have Kicker KS 3.5's in the dash - dash and front doors are inline so running at 100w, rears doors 75w and 12w3 at 500 . Still waiting on a 12w3 grill they are on some national backorder I think. If it doesn't show up soon I guess I'll order the Fox one, but the JL Audio will be free if it ever shows up.

 

[kp4243]

Nice, I wound up replacing my Pioneer doors with Alpine Type R2 6x9's, I originally thought I would go with JL Audio CS2's but they weren't rated high enough (although most say JL Audio's will take extra power). Anyway have been happy with Alpine speakers so far. Still have Kicker KS 3.5's in the dash - dash and front doors are inline so running at 100w, rears doors 75w and 12w3 at 500 . Still waiting on a 12w3 grill they are on some national backorder I think. If it doesn't show up soon I guess I'll order the Fox one, but the JL Audio will be free if it ever shows up.

How does the Apline R2’s fit in the front door, any issues with clearing the window track mount? Did you need the use of a spacer? Those are the Hi-Def with indium magnets correct? Do they meet up with the factory mounting holes or push out on the door panel when it’s installed?

 

[78Staff]

No issues, they have that new neodymium magnet or whatever that's like 1/3 of the size so no spacers or anything needed. They are rated for 100w RMS

https://www.alpine-usa.com/product/r-s69.2-car-speakers

The JL Audio C2's are rated to 70, and would have required a spacer. Our trucks are weird, the last spacer I bought wouldn't fit due to the "tabs" or whatever that protrude around the mounting area - not sure if there is a specific spacer needed, or if those need to be trimmed, but I didn't want to mess with it.

 

[Ecofx86]

Ecofx86 -- Do you have pictures of your LC7i setup as well as the Net Audio harness connection in the rear of your truck?

I am waiting for the delivery of those two items and my build will be complete.

I dont have pics atm, but i ran the net audio on the passenger side door. I have lc7i power( 2amp in line fuse) and ground ran off my sub amp. Lc7 turns on with the signal from the speaker inputs. I ran remote out from lc7i to both my amps.