SR-5 upgrade sound system. Speaker done. Now amp or sub?

[BlancoTaco]

Upgraded my Base sound system (non JBL) with all new Kicker Speakers a year ago. KSC 650 in the doors are capable of handling 200 watts max, 100 amp RMS. The speakers were a huge improvement over stock! Now I want to upgrade further. Reached out to Crutchfield because I love their customer service. Prices were very competitive a year ago when I bought the speakers, a screaming deal when you included the brackets and wires. One advisor recommended a

• Kicker 51HS10 Hideaway™ compact powered subwoofer with 10" sub and 180-watt amp Powered SUB
• another advisor said to add a 4*65 watt amplifier. Kicker AMP
• another option is the Beat-Sonic ENA-2T3 Plug and Play Amplifier Kit for 2018+ Toyota Models Beat sonic amp

Any one of these options is $300-$400 more or less depending on the wiring and harness.

Advantages and disadvantages to each one. Beat-sonic amp is much quicker than a stand alone amp. Has less power.

Where would you throw the next $400 if this was your truck?

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[MT-Taco]

Kicker amp bridged to the front channel. Don’t wast your $$ on the rear channel.

 

[The Dude]

DON’T … DO NOT buy the hideaway sub. Those things are trash. Minimal output, buzzing, piles of disappointment.

You’re happy with the sound as is, right? Save some more and go the next step right. 5-channel amp, sub and proper box. It’s more money, sure, but you don’t want to be replacing pieces as you upgrade. It’s a good start with the KS series speakers, do them justice.

edit - just looked at the Crutchfield site and this Audio Control amp is perfect. Fits the budget, and leaves room to grow the system.


https://www.crutchfield.com/p_161EPICFIV/AudioControl-EPICFIVE.html?tp=35808

 

[Scott]

I've got an SR5 with base system and upgraded it with new speakers and the kicker 47Key200.4 amp. and a powered sub. I'm very happy with the sound however the sub really was overkill.

 

[BlancoTaco]

kicker 47Key200.4 amp.

Where did you install it? How complicated was the installation? Is it like a normal amp where you run power ,ground, input and then run separate wire to each speaker. Or is it a quicky install like the beat-sonic.

 

[Scott]

I ran power and ground wires to the battery and frame then cut the output from the head unit to feed the amps input and ran the amp output into the other side of the cut output wires. There's space behind the head unit to place the amp. it's relatively small.

 

[THensler]

DON’T … DO NOT buy the hideaway sub. Those things are trash. Minimal output, buzzing, piles of disappointment.

You’re happy with the sound as is, right? Save some more and go the next step right. 5-channel amp, sub and proper box. It’s more money, sure, but you don’t want to be replacing pieces as you upgrade. It’s a good start with the KS series speakers, do them justice.

edit - just looked at the Crutchfield site and this Audio Control amp is perfect. Fits the budget, and leaves room to grow the system.


https://www.crutchfield.com/p_161EPICFIV/AudioControl-EPICFIVE.html?tp=35808

I have been doing research on this solution and have found nothing but positive reviews for what it is and what it is ment for. Its not going to compete with what you outlined, but that would be overkill for what I really want.

 

[maxx075]

At some point I'm planning on making a custom fiberglass box for an 8" sub I have that seems to fit perfectly under the rear seat.

 

[PNWkip]

I did the Rockford fosgate 8" powered sub and it's much better than the 8" kicker hideaway I had in my last truck. Night and day difference.

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