Kicker Key Amp 200.4 Install DIY Video - Do this first!

[Altitude]

Where is eveyone grounding their amps on the Bronco? I have a PlugnPlay kit with the AudioControl ACM 4.300 and I have it grounded to a metal support beam under the dash, to the left of the glovebox. There were several factory ground wires there and I just put it under one of the factory ground wire bolts. My amp shuts off / re-boots at high volumes and pops on turn on and turn off. Its not getting hot at all, so that is not the problem. I am using the GTO signal sense and plan on changing that to a straight remote wire, but think I might want to change the ground point as well while I'm in there.

Sponsored

 

[dangerfoot]

Hey all:

So I have my 200.4 setup without the power adapter and the gains are all the way down. Does anyone here have their gains up without the power adapter? After Vol. "17" mine clips pretty hard.

How far up can you go on the volume before it starts to clip with the power adapter?

This could be the game changer I've been looking for as initially I was disappointed I couldn't get the gain higher on the 200.4.

Thanks!

My gains are at the minimum. Before adding power adapter direct to battery, clipped around 16-19 depending on the music, after power adapter clips around 20-23.

Thanks @Bearcat1 - I have the kit now and will be installing soon - have the same thing. Clips 17ish, which is just a hair quieter than I'd like with the top off at speed.

 

[Dads_bronze_bronco]

@67BroncoG1 Hard to tell from your video but it looks like you set:
Auto Turn On to DC Offset
Compression to On

Are you happy with the Compression setting?

Also, did you push in Radio Detect or leave it out?

 

[67BroncoG1]

@67BroncoG1 Hard to tell from your video but it looks like you set:
Auto Turn On to DC Offset
Compression to On

Are you happy with the Compression setting?

Also, did you push in Radio Detect or leave it out?

To be honest, I don’t remember anymore. I’ll look next time I’m back in the same city as my bronco.

 

[71to21-2DR]

Cool! I’ll think I got everything for the switch?
I cant wait to try it out! Have time off between Christmas and new years.
I am curious to
First try it with the stock speakers to hear the difference.
And then add the Kicker speakers and dash Bass blockers!

 

[plugnplaykits]

The one thing that everyone needs to understand is that gains on an amplifier are to increase the input sensitivity when using the speaker outputs from the factory radio you are using what’s called high-level input which already is a strong signal gains on an amp or not a volume knob the amp puts out the same amount of power whether the gains are off or all the way Maxout the gains on this amplifier because it’s getting signal from the factory radio should be practically off raising them is just gonna freak out the amplifier and cause clipping distortion and will not get you any more power

 

[da_jokker]

Maybe someone answered this in the 65 pages but....

Does adding just the 200.4 resolve the lack of lower frequencies? From my understanding 6.5 speakers (kick panels) can have a Frequency Response: 65-20,000 Hz.

That should be plenty low enough to hit those lower frequencies. Yet when I put on a song that vibrates the Jeep, the Bronco just falls off as if it's not even there.

I don't need anything necessarily louder than stock, but I miss hearing the lower base frequencies so I'm trying to decide whether amplifying the factory speakers (Even if I have to replace the actual speakers with better ones), are going the key 500.1 route with some sort of sub.

 

[Ft. Worth Rob]

6.5” speakers don’t have the surface area to move that much air. The amp will help a little but you’re not going to be rolling down the street blasting Posse on Broadway. A subwoofer will fill in the low end, a little of which probably dips below 65Hz.

 

[B stands for Bronco...]

Love the "Posse on Broadway" shout out! Will definitely be blasting that in mine

 

[nwGTS]

This seems important but I can’t decipher what you said about gain

The one thing that everyone needs to understand is that gains on an amplifier are to increase the input sensitivity when using the speaker outputs from the factory radio you are using what’s called high-level input which already is a strong signal gains on an amp or not a volume knob the amp puts out the same amount of power whether the gains are off or all the way Maxout the gains on this amplifier because it’s getting signal from the factory radio should be practically off raising them is just gonna freak out the amplifier and cause clipping distortion and will not get you any more power

This seems important but I can’t decipher what you said about gain limitations. Can you restate that a little more coherently or can someone translate?
Many thanks.

 

[jgjh151]

Hes saying you don't need to turn up the gains on the amp, I think.

 

[greatlakes]

This seems important but I can’t decipher what you said about gain limitations. Can you restate that a little more coherently or can someone translate?
Many thanks.

Amplifiers take a source signal (the radio) and amplify it. Different radios have different levels of signal, so amplifier manufacturers include the amplifier gain knob to try to match that signal level.

Ideally, the output voltage of the radio will match the input signal of the amplifier. That will give you the most volume while still remaining a nice, clean sound.

If you turn the amplifier gain beyond the input, it will be louder, but will also add hiss and distortion.

 

[Ft. Worth Rob]

My goal is to have distortion-free sound at the radio’s highest volume setting. This may help, an excerpt from this link is below. https://www.crutchfield.com/S-lyvdhSf8gWs/learn/setting-amplifier-gain.html#:~:text=Instructions for setting amp gain using test tones,until you hear it buzz. ... More items

“Most manufacturers recommend playing familiar music with the amp gain low, raising the receiver's volume until the music distorts, then backing it off until the music sounds clean again. Next, you turn up the amp's gain until you hear the distortion again, then back it off slightly, and you're done.”

 

[da_jokker]

6.5” speakers don’t have the surface area to move that much air. The amp will help a little but you’re not going to be rolling down the street blasting Posse on Broadway. A subwoofer will fill in the low end, a little of which probably dips below 65Hz.

Yeah I went on a drive yesterday, and it was the first long drive I've been able to do since I picked up the Bronco. I played around with tone settings and came to that same conclusion. I just don't think they have what it takes.

So now I have to decide whether to go with a key 500 or just get one of those mini 8-in self-contained subs that I would have to unplug and move if I wanted to lay the rear seats down.

I will not compromise my cargo area.

 

[da_jokker]

6.5” speakers don’t have the surface area to move that much air. The amp will help a little but you’re not going to be rolling down the street blasting Posse on Broadway. A subwoofer will fill in the low end, a little of which probably dips below 65Hz.

Man that song brings back some sweet high school memories!

Sponsored