Upgraded the door speakers (Non-HK)

[Rx9790]

For any other audio people out there, here is some pics of the door speakers. I have the base system in an EX.HK and Base use the same speakers. Replaced them with Kicker 6.75". Very, very easy to get them out, moderately difficult to modify existing speakers to use new ones (or just get adapters). Sounds much better all around. Getting ready to add amps and sub. Dynamat the doors while you are in there. Pics of the door. The doors pop out from the edges and have 1 screw in the handle from the top (remove little rubber mat). Door handle cables just unclip very easy. You can find adapters but I just modified the existing speakers by removing the guts, cutting off the plastic basket, pull the top ring off with pliers and break off the ring around the edge. Sounds hard but takes about 5 minutes. Pics are what the old speaker should look like when you are done. Solder the wire from the Kickers to the existing connection and it is all factory like again.

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[ucinn]

Great write up with pics..thank you very much.

 

[Rx9790]

Great write up with pics..thank you very much.

Thanks, writeup could be better. It makes more sense when you get your speakers out and look at them. Will be posting updates as i go. Adding 2 amps and a 12" sub.

 

[ATL3630]

Any idea about which adapters will work?

Been wanting to do this, this is the encouragement I needed.

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[G-284095]

Any idea about which adapters will work?

Been wanting to do this, this is the encouragement I needed.

No. I bought metra adapters and they do not fit. Thats why i got creative with the factory ones.

 

[Buckeye-TRide]

Very nice! I’ve been contemplating having mine replaced and going with an under-seat powered sub. Where are you planning on installing you sub/amp?

 

[Rx9790]

Update: All parts installed and sounds unbelievable. Alpine 4x40 watts running the doors filtered at 100 hz. Alpine 1x1000 watt amp running a 12 JBL. Discovered the floor is nice and flat between the second and third rows ( I will never use the third row, seats are always down) which is where the amps were mounted. Bad news is the gas tank is right there so I was concerned about puncturing it as I could not tell how much clearance there was between the tank and the floor. Ended up cutting a 1/4" piece of birch the same shape as the floormat and making the floor mat an amp rack, worked really well and allowed me to run wires underneath it to hide them. To get the signal to feed the amp I cut the wires behind the kick panels and extended that to the amps speaker level inputs. Then ran the amp output back to the other side of the cut to feed the speaker. This enabled me to not have to run wires in the doors as that looks tacky. I did the same for the rear doors but the wires are in the pillar beside the front seats. One problem in the Telluride is that the back speakers are run at a lower volume for some reason so I used the front to feed both the front and rear inputs on the amp to get it balanced. You lose fader and Driver Talk but I can tell you how to get it back if you want it. Our kids are grown so I don't need those features. Use of the amp rack and existing wiring meant almost no modifications to the vehicle and I can simply splice the old wires back together and pull the system if needed. Will get pics after detail work is done, looks tacky right now since it was just quick wired to test.

 

[Rx9790]

Very nice! I’ve been contemplating having mine replaced and going with an under-seat powered sub. Where are you planning on installing you sub/amp?

Sub is in a box in back. Amps are on floor between 2nd and 3rd row seats.

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[gmneil]

Update: All parts installed and sounds unbelievable. Alpine 4x40 watts running the doors filtered at 100 hz. Alpine 1x1000 watt amp running a 12 JBL. Discovered the floor is nice and flat between the second and third rows ( I will never use the third row, seats are always down) which is where the amps were mounted. Bad news is the gas tank is right there so I was concerned about puncturing it as I could not tell how much clearance there was between the tank and the floor. Ended up cutting a 1/4" piece of birch the same shape as the floormat and making the floor mat an amp rack, worked really well and allowed me to run wires underneath it to hide them. To get the signal to feed the amp I cut the wires behind the kick panels and extended that to the amps speaker level inputs. Then ran the amp output back to the other side of the cut to feed the speaker. This enabled me to not have to run wires in the doors as that looks tacky. I did the same for the rear doors but the wires are in the pillar beside the front seats. One problem in the Telluride is that the back speakers are run at a lower volume for some reason so I used the front to feed both the front and rear inputs on the amp to get it balanced. You lose fader and Driver Talk but I can tell you how to get it back if you want it. Our kids are grown so I don't need those features. Use of the amp rack and existing wiring meant almost no modifications to the vehicle and I can simply splice the old wires back together and pull the system if needed. Will get pics after detail work is done, looks tacky right now since it was just quick wired to test.

i definitely want to se epics, I want to install my jl's and my 1000 w jl amp and was wondering how to get the signal to the amp for the best sound.

 

[Rx9790]

Some almost finished pics. Have some wire detail work to do but all functional. Hits fairly hard but not comp level of course.

 

[nickson]

I jumped in purchased some door speakers. Focal 6.5 for front and back from Crutchfield. Hoping that the wiring harness works since Crutchfield didn't have specs.

 

[Rx9790]

If you use the factory speaker frames as a mount then no need for a harness. Just jumper from speaker to factory connection. Best to solder it. Otherwise you may have to cut some wires. Connector may be the same one used in other kias hopefully.

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[nickson]

If you use the factory speaker frames as a mount then no need for a harness. Just jumper from speaker to factory connection. Best to solder it. Otherwise you may have to cut some wires. Connector may be the same one used in other kias hopefully.

I asked crutchfield to send me the Kia Sorento harness. We'll see if it fits. If not, I'll buy a soldering kit from Amazon and do as you suggest.

 

[Rx9790]

I asked crutchfield to send me the Kia Sorento harness. We'll see if it fits. If not, I'll buy a soldering kit from Amazon and do as you suggest.

 

[nickson]

@Rx9790 You mentioned above that the screw is on the top under the rubber mat. Is that the case for both front and rear doors? Just 1 screw per door?

 

[Rx9790]

Yes, all doors exactly the same

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[nickson]

Upgrade done. Thanks for your help.

 

[Chchoe78]

Well done. Do you have pics of door panel removal for those who also want to upgrade their systems?

 

[nickson]

Here are some pictures. 4 screws and they pop right out.

 

[Chchoe78]

Was the door panel that easy as well.