Kicker Subaru Tweeter Upgrade for 4runner?

[anomalous]

Anyone successfully do the Kicker tweeter upgrade for a 5th gen 4Runner? Someone on FB mentioned it was direct plug and play swap, had not heard of anyone doing it on a 4runner. Curious if so what your thoughts are on sound difference?

Interesting find, I like it!

Installing a 3.5" 2 way speaker in place of the tweeter fills in the frequency gap between the 6x9 in the door and the tweeter in the dash. More full and clean sound.

I totally agree about the frequency gap. I recently upgraded all my doors and dash speakers using the Focal upgrades, and although overall it was a huge improvement, I think it would have been even better if Focal had gone with a 3.5inch coaxil in the dash rather than just tweeters

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

Interesting find, I like it!



I totally agree about the frequency gap. I recently upgraded all my doors and dash speakers using the Focal upgrades, and although overall it was a huge improvement, I think it would have been even better if Focal had gone with a 3.5inch coaxil in the dash rather than just tweeters

Swap out the Focal tweeter with a 3.5" speaker, no big deal. Unfortunately Focal doesn't make a 3.5" speaker that I'm aware of but there are plenty of other options out there.

 

[Soccer13]

Just got them this morning and first impressions is it is for sure worth $92, got a $15 credit for amazon not delivering same day. The key is to mess with the EQ settings (treble/mids/bass) to get it returned to your liking. It’s almost like it reveals some of the songs flaws without proper tuning (but this was also something I constantly messed with when I had the OEM Audio plus system in my previous 4runner) it brings clarity to the vocals and music everything just sounds cleaner. Don’t expect a huge change to bass as you are not swapping door speakers, adding an amp or sub. Overall satisfied for the cost and will hold me over till I take the plunge and spend $2k on audio

 

[Boyds4Runner]

I hate this forum!
Always getting me to buy things I didn't think I would want. :violin:
Just ordered a set.
I like plug-and-play solutions as I don't get lots of free time to have the vehicle in pieces for long.
Haven't touched the audio system at all yet and haven't planned to but started looking into at least improving the speakers a bit where possible.
I'll know after Tuesday how much they help.
Thank you for the research and posting OP! [MENTION=146257]Soccer13[/MENTION]

 

[SBCam]

I was shocked when I saw the pics that the mounts looked the same between the 4runner and the subaru kickers. I originally had a 2017 tacoma and knew of the mod, hoping it would work. I'm glad it worked out! It makes a big difference for virtually little cost. I've gone and replaced the door speakers as well with kickers and the sound is dynamically different, for under 350 bucks!

 

[VT4RunnerSR5]

[MENTION=260796]SBCam[/MENTION] what speakers did you use in the doors? Need to spend some more money I don't have.

 

[FamousAv8er]

Swap out the Focal tweeter with a 3.5" speaker, no big deal. Unfortunately Focal doesn't make a 3.5" speaker that I'm aware of but there are plenty of other options out there.

got any links to write ups for 3.5" dash install?

 

[MSU_Spartan]

does this produce a comparable result to the IS 690TOY?

Similar question... how does the Subaru tweeter compare to the Focals? I’m considering the Focal tweeter/front door upgrade in the near future, but may decide to go another way if these are better.

 

[JKLNHYD]

Any pictures of the modification to the grill to make the Kickers fit? Just as mentioned, these seem like a great interim alternative to a pricey system.

 

[TeeDub21]

Any pictures of the modification to the grill to make the Kickers fit? Just as mentioned, these seem like a great interim alternative to a pricey system.

The tweeters fit with no modification. If you want to upgrade to a 3.5" midrange tweeter combo you'd have to do some trimming to the backside of the speaker grill.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

got any links to write ups for 3.5" dash install?

There are a bunch here. Pretty much drop in besides needing a small metal bracket which can be made from the OEM tweeter mount. I removed the plugs from the OEM tweeters and used them as adaptors for my new speakers so no cutting into the OEM harness.

 

[SlickTRD]

For those that want to try this upgrade - eBay is running a site wide 15% off promo that starts tomorrow August 28th at 8AM PST. Code is - PREGAME15. Some sellers are about 92 bucks at the moment. So after discount it should be around 78 bucks. At this price, you can't go wrong.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

These kicker tweeters are a huge waste of money. Buy a pair of kicker 3.5" speakers that have built in tweeters for $50 and get much better sound for half the price. Or go with another brand if you like but either way much more can be had for less money. My JBL speakers were something like $55 and offer a significant upgrade over just a replacement tweeter.

 

[PatSloan]

These kicker tweeters are a huge waste of money. Buy a pair of kicker 3.5" speakers that have built in tweeters for $50 and get much better sound for half the price. Or go with another brand if you like but either way much more can be had for less money. My JBL speakers were something like $55 and offer a significant upgrade over just a replacement tweeter.

I tried this. the 3.5 kickers I bought at Fry's (for 31$) were too deep. I would have to cut into what ever is below the speaker mounting hole. They would not fit in the stock mounting bracket either. The speaker holes were just a bit to wide. Found this out after making my own wire harness by salvaging the wiring plug from the old speakers.

Anyway, Amazon is delivering the subaru tweaters today. Giving that a shot.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

My JBL speakers fit just fine, no depth issues. The plastic ring around the surround did have to be shaved since it stands up to high to put the OEM grill back in. Had I known that in advance, I would have went with the Infinity Reference 3.5" speaker which has no clearance issues. You have to cut the factory tweeter bracket, it's not bolt in. I personally just used a piece of car stereo back strap and made a small bracket to position the speaker where it needs to be.

 

[17KT4R]

I hate this forum!
Always getting me to buy things I didn't think I would want. :violin:
Just ordered a set.
I like plug-and-play solutions as I don't get lots of free time to have the vehicle in pieces for long.
Haven't touched the audio system at all yet and haven't planned to but started looking into at least improving the speakers a bit where possible.
I'll know after Tuesday how much they help.
Thank you for the research and posting OP! [MENTION=146257]Soccer13[/MENTION]

Agree on all fronts there, quick and easy sounded good to me so I made use of an Amazon gift card I had and just finished the install, literally 10 mins. I was surprised at the weight difference between the OEM and the Kickers - I suppose that there was little to no magnet on the OEM and certainly those cones were like paper. Anyway - I can attest after testing via XM, FM and CD that I'm hearing a fairly good improvement, Metallica / Pink Floyd, much crisper from the upper dash now I'm hearing some highs that didn't sound great before. I have the balancing turned off on the deck (the high / mid / low setting) and just adjust each source individually.

So all in all, what spurned me was the gift card of course but I probably would have spent the $ anyway just to have the OEM install ease, I wish I could swap out the rest of them in the same manner ! But I will be going to a shop next to price out speaker replacements for the doors and hatch, that is about as far as I need to go...

Anyway - much thx to the OP :guitar3:

 

[PatSloan]

Installed. Sounds great.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Tempting, I had 3.5's in my 08 as my tweeters, but had to hack the brackets up on the doors and do a bunch of extra customization. I have the 3.5's and extra tweeter brackets for my 17, but haven't put them in because of all the extra work. These definitely are a nice plug and play option for those who want something easy

 

[SlickTRD]

Tempting, I had 3.5's in my 08 as my tweeters, but had to hack the brackets up on the doors and do a bunch of extra customization. I have the 3.5's and extra tweeter brackets for my 17, but haven't put them in because of all the extra work. These definitely are a nice plug and play option for those who want something easy

Ebay discount is active (PREGAME15). You can have it for about 78 bucks.