Looking For Opinions

Hello all.

Looking for opinions from you guys on what you think I should do. I have a 2014 Crew Max non JBL and just want better all around sound. So far I have replaced the front door speakers with 2-way Polk Audio 6.5's and am going to put Polk tweeters in the sail panels. I bought a Kicker Key 4 channel amp and was going to install it via the ********* harness adapter, but I've never run power and ground to an amp before, so I'm a little leery on that. I bought the amp from Best Buy because I had a birthday coupon and called them for a price on install. They told me 130. What would you guys do? I'm going to leave the back doors alone for now and like I said, I don't need to win any audio competitions here, just want better all around sound. Thanks!

 

While you have everything opened up, you might as well match up the rears if you have the resources and time.

 

I'll probably do that at some point, but right now funds are a little limited.

 

Does the $130 installation include the amp wiring kit? Those are at least $50 maybe 100 for a good one. You want at least 8 gauge, 4 if you ever wanna add a sub or bigger amp.
Even if it doesn't that's not a bad price IMO. The install isnt bad, buy an amp kit, run power from battery, make sure you add a good fuse. Then find solid ground to use. You'll need to find a way to get the amp to turn on aka remote wire. And then figure out which speaker wires go where, so $130 may be worth it.

How are you getting audio to the amp? Factory head unit does not have RCA outputs so I assume you're using speaker level inputs and the ********* harness for that?

I would absolutely do the rear door speakers while your at it. Especially if paying for installation, just have it all done at once.

You could add a small sub and bridge the rear 2 channels together to run the sub at some point and just run all the door speakers off the front channels.

 

The amp install isn't terribly difficult. The hardest part about it is running the four gauge wire through the firewall. If you are going to do it make sure you have a good lubrication for the power wire.

I bought my stuff from @tech12volts and his adapter allowed me to connect to everything under the passenger seat. Definitely easier than running lines from the headunit to under the seat. All in all it took me about an hour and a half to do my amp install. That was with a few beers for good measure and taking my time.

 

If you look on the drivers side of the engine compartment there is an unused gromet in the fire wall (at least there was in my 2019). I located the it under the dash inside and pushed a longer screw driver through it and located it in the engine compartment. From there it’s just removing trim panels, seats, etc and routing the way you want from the battery. For the ground you can simply locate some bare metal near your mounting location, scrape to bare metal and screw directly into the frame. The wiring harness should have the remote connection wire for your turn on. After that it’s just matching up +\- and R/L speakers from the harness to your amp.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. So I called Best Buy to confirm the price and was told the 130 was only the labor. With the parts it was going to be something like 304!! I told them I'd let them know.

I'm now leaning towards doing it myself. I couldn't find the amp harness on tech12volt's site. Anyone have a link?

Thanks again!

 

I think it's the JBL wiring harness that's $45.

@tech12volts could you chime in when you get a chance

 

here is what I used to add an amp for my sub.
https://www.shop.tech12volts.com/product.sc?productId=521&categoryId=32

 

and something like this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Audiotek-4...958121&hash=item4b541313b0:g:k4sAAOSwvjtchqji

 

From TACO Tunes

 

Thanks guys. I spoke with a gentleman over at tech12volts yesterday and ordered the amp harness and 10 gauge wiring kit directly from him. Very helpful guy! I appreciate all the info and will keep you all posted on the progress.

 

So just to be clear, that's the driver's side?

 

Yes just up and to the left of the e-brake right above the kick panel. There is a “nipple” in that rubber gromet and you just poke through it with a screwdriver or something similar to get through to the engine compartment.

 

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

DON'T FORGET THE LUBE!

 

If I had a dollar for every time I was told that