Stage3 kicker KS Series kit issues/gripes

[Guardian_Actual]

Howdy!

Bought it. Installed it. Hate it. Anyone else have this experience/a different experience?

The stockies blow these "premium 2-ways" out of the water. I used 100% of their kit (which was spot on btw) and it all meshed perfectly. I have played every single genre known to man under every possible generic equalizer and setting and its embarrassing bad! Loud & bad.

It's almost as if the polarity is reversed by using these adapters provided.

I'm 48 hours in and contemplating a return.

Is there another, better, direction here? TYIA ?

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[Dr3wDrop]

Interesting. Have you tried reversing the wiring just to check?

 

[Squatchranger]

Howdy!

Bought it. Installed it. Hate it. Anyone else have this experience/a different experience?

The stockies blow these "premium 2-ways" out of the water. I used 100% of their kit (which was spot on btw) and it all meshed perfectly. I have played every single genre known to man under every possible generic equalizer and setting and its embarrassing bad! Loud & bad.

It's almost as if the polarity is reversed by using these adapters provided.

I'm 48 hours in and contemplating a return.

Is there another, better, direction here? TYIA ?

I would double check the wiring and reverse it just in case. I've personally never considered doing speaker "upgrades" because I am quite happy with the b&o system, as are all the passengers I have had but I did do it on my jeep and based on my experience with that and what you describe it sounds like the wiring is incorrect.

 

[Jason B]

These guys have the same complaints:
(5) Kicker speaker kit review/ slight rant | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com

(5) speaker upgrade | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com

 

[Guardian_Actual]

These guys have the same complaints:
(5) Kicker speaker kit review/ slight rant | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com

(5) speaker upgrade | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com

Still getting the hang of the forum search/navigation.

Seems I'm not alone here with my negative experience ??

 

[Guardian_Actual]

Interesting. Have you tried reversing the wiring just to check?

Next off day I'll quickly wire up some alligator clips double ended leads and do a little trouble shooting and see where it gets me.

 

[Guardian_Actual]

I would double check the wiring and reverse it just in case. I've personally never considered doing speaker "upgrades" because I am quite happy with the b&o system, as are all the passengers I have had but I did do it on my jeep and based on my experience with that and what you describe it sounds like the wiring is incorrect.

Definitely going to try and cross the leads and see if it's a polarity issue.

Low volume it sounds fine. A bit tinny but fine. Above 20 volume the bass response doesn't boom but rather "thunks" sort of like a subwoofer clipping

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Definitely going to try and cross the leads and see if it's a polarity issue.

Low volume it sounds fine. A bit tinny but fine. Above 20 volume the bass response doesn't boom but rather "thunks" sort of like a subwoofer clipping

I think the OEM B&O system does roll off the bass above 14. Not sure about XLT.

 

[Paul K]

The easiest way to see if a speaker is "out of phase" is to put on some music with a decent amount of bass at a moderate volume. Then start shifting the balance from left to right. If you hear a noticeable increase in the bass output then you know a speaker is wired backwards. You can do the same with the fader, front to back. You can actually determine which speaker is backwards by using the balance and fader in your head unit.

 

[Joeiconic]

Definitely going to try and cross the leads and see if it's a polarity issue.

Low volume it sounds fine. A bit tinny but fine. Above 20 volume the bass response doesn't boom but rather "thunks" sort of like a subwoofer clipping

Wow, I’ve never had my volume anywhere close to 20. I dont see how anything could sound good at that volume.

 

[Guardian_Actual]

Wow, I’ve never had my volume anywhere close to 20. I dont see how anything could sound good at that volume.

*Casually rolls around at 24/25 daily*

???

 

[Guardian_Actual]

***UPDATE***

Mainly typing this out for others who may find this thread useful and not have the time and troubleshooting tools Im lucky to have ?

Issue is not polarity. Used some test leads and miniature alligator clips to try a few different setups and it was noticably worse at any significant volume. Stage3's harness recommendation from Metra is spot on, the metra ring adapters function great on the rear doors, use the Kicker rings on the front (or else the door won't sit flush *window will clear just fine*).

After reading other posts, here and elsewhere, over the past two days I've derived that the solution could infact be more powwaaa baby.

The "thunk" is making me feel like the cone is attempting to percuss and move enough air to make a "boom" but falls short and ergo at low volume there isn't a noticeable difference but as the volume rises it's very apparent. This same increased volume is further undermined by Ford factory settings inside forscan.

Two take aways:

1. Disable in forscan the factory DSP settings. (yet to do myself) and this will eliminate bass roll off that would have saved factory speakers from damage but inhibits aftermarket ones. See link/photo for forscan info. I cannot 100% verify but @pocket_geek seems like he knows his stuff ????

2. A small inline 4 channel amplifier may be just the ticket to get much more powerful speakers to actually move like they should.

Will report back because I really want to like this kit and the price point and honestly Stage 3 at that...but currently this is marketed as install and let'er'rip but frankly it just isn't and I feel this deserves an answer.

(https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/audio-upgrade-shenanigans-picture-heavy.8837/)

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