Anyone use the Kicker downfiring sub enclosures?

[JL724]

Finishing swapping out the 4" speakers and the last area of improvement is the sub. I'd rather not try and make something work with the stock enclosure and end up with a rattle trap, so I think the easier solution is remove the stock sub, hook up to the factory harness, mount a Kicker Key 500.1 behind the panel and then run speaker wires into the trunk on a quick disconnect to a down firing enclosure. This won't take up a lot of room, the down firing enclosure will let me stack things on top of it, should provide more bass than any option using the factory sub enclosure and if need be, can be removed quickly with only the speaker wires running out from behind the side panel. Anyone use on of these? Happy with the performance?

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20648CF102/Kicker-48CVTDF102.html?tp=112

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[mikey_photo]

I’ll be hooking mine up this weekend, but did do a test fitment. Mine is a larger version (compared to what you posted) with a 12” sub and 12” resonator. One thing I like is that it doesn’t really take up a ton of cubic space and the cabs are built strong enough that you can put things on top of them.

for reference this is the one I purchased:

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20648TP122/Kicker-48TRTP122.html?omnews=17606497

They seem to get excellent reviews and an installer I trust also recommends them for the price point.

 

[DJ1]

I also have the 12" version with the passive radiator. Not installed yet, but I like the performance profile of that one when paired with the amp I am going to use. (Audio Control D-5.1300). Good performance at a reasonable price and saves me the trouble of building a box.

 

[JL724]

Curious what you both think after getting them hooked up. 12" is tempting, but I don't want something to overwhelm the rest of the stereo.

 

[DJ1]

Curious what you both think after getting them hooked up. 12" is tempting, but I don't want something to overwhelm the rest of the stereo.

Once I get the whole system installed, I will do a complete write up. I was looking at it from the other direction - if I am pushing lots of power to the mids and highs, will a single 12" have enough punch? Part of why I went with the passive radiator version.

 

[JL724]

Once I get the whole system installed, I will do a complete write up. I was looking at it from the other direction - if I am pushing lots of power to the mids and highs, will a single 12" have enough punch? Part of why I went with the passive radiator version.

I'm using the factory B&O amp to power focal ACX speakers, so I worry that a 12" sub powered by a real amp would be a little much for the rest of it. Also, saving a little space doesn't hurt.

 

[mikey_photo]

Once I get the whole system installed, I will do a complete write up. I was looking at it from the other direction - if I am pushing lots of power to the mids and highs, will a single 12" have enough punch? Part of why I went with the passive radiator version.

That’s my thought as well. Also, with an open air vehicle you’ll lose quite a bit of bass with the top off/soft top.

 

[DJ1]

That’s my thought as well. Also, with an open air vehicle you’ll lose quite a bit with the top off/soft top.

Exactly. In an open vehicle you lose a lot of the resonance from a side or up firing sub that you usually get from a trunk or roof. Down fire has a lot of sound benefit for open-top vehicles. Stacking stuff on top of the box is another plus that I liked about this setup.

 

[JL724]

Assume you guys already know this but the 12" version is about an inch deeper than the hinge to access the storage compartment. Not a huge deal, but I was hoping to fasten this down in the trunk and it would make accessing that a little more difficult. Guess my decision is the 10" with or without the radiator.

 

[mikey_photo]

Assume you guys already know this but the 12" version is about an inch deeper than the hinge to access the storage compartment. Not a huge deal, but I was hoping to fasten this down in the trunk and it would make accessing that a little more difficult. Guess my decision is the 10" with or without the radiator.

Thats correct (at least on my 2dr) but I actually won’t be fastening it down. It’s substantial enough that it hasn’t moved at all in the back of the bronco. I’ll also do quick disconnects on the speaker wire to make it easily (or even easier) removable for when I need the space. I don’t think in day to day driving you have to worry about it moving around too much, but I could see it move/shift off road.

 

[mike8675309]

JC Offroad has this interior cargo shelf they built. That has me thinking, particularly for the 2d folks, that building a shelf to place your sub might be nicer to free up the floor and access to the area under the floor. It might also make it possible to mount an amp on top of the speaker without things getting in the way.
https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/BR6-BSK.html

 

[Scotteasymoney]

Did anyone mount the 12" kicker yet? LOOKING FOR REVIEWS
This is what I am leaning towards. I just don't know if I want the comp series with the passive radior or the l7 square.
As for as 12" sub sound goes,I have a barrowed 12 street gear made by Memphis Audio(15 year old 50$ Walmart sub) on the kicker cxa 800.1 and that thing freaking pounds.(actually way more then I need). The front dash is Rockford Fosgate Prime series 4" ,the kick panel is 6.75 Rockford Fosgate power series and the rear pods are stock awaiting tower pod replacement all run on the plug and play key 200.4

 

[plugnplaykits]

If anyone needs any kicker products including the downfiring boxes amplifiers , speakers and I also offer plug-and-play harnesses for this vehicle go to my website www.Plugnplaykits.com .

 

[dangerfoot]

JC Offroad has this interior cargo shelf they built. That has me thinking, particularly for the 2d folks, that building a shelf to place your sub might be nicer to free up the floor and access to the area under the floor. It might also make it possible to mount an amp on top of the speaker without things getting in the way.
https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/BR6-BSK.html

Man, all I know is if you're going to put something that heavy that high up, you better make sure it won't come loose in a crash. I knew a kid in HS that died that way.

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