I recently replaced the relatively weak factory amplifiers and it was actually a lot easier than anticipated! All of the wires (documented below) were very straightforward and it was not difficult to integrate aftermarket amps in the stock locations. I also replaced the 4 door speakers while I was at it, but I re-used the factory subwoofer driver which is actually not too shabby if you give it some proper power. I do have an aftermarket 8in subwoofer on order but I wanted to see what the original one could do, and it's actually not too bad after being properly adjusted.
I used a Kicker KEY 200.4 amp for the front and rear full-range door speakers and a Kicker KEY 500.1 for the subwoofer. These are similar physical size as the factory amps so I simply put them in the original locations. I also removed the subwoofer driver and added some internal bracing and sound deadening to the plastic enclosure.
Here are my findings:
- Sound clarity and volume are massively improved
- OEM subwoofer amp is garbage
- OEM subwoofer driver is better than anticipated but still can't keep up with aftermarket door speakers at higher volumes
- Also, the OEM subwoofer is DVC 1.3ohm so I wired it in series to get a 2.6ohm load for the aftermarket amp
- Wiring up aftermarket amps to the factory headunit was much easier than anticipated
- The small Kicker KEY amplifiers are perfect replacements with lots of adjustability
- The door speakers greatly benefit with a high-pass filter in the 60-80Hz range
- The subwoofer signal already has a low-pass filter, probably around 120Hz (estimate)
Front amplifier wires (large plug):
- purple/red +12v
- gray/blue right rear speaker (+)
- white/orange right front speaker (+)
- gray/yellow left rear speaker (+)
- white/black left front speaker (+)
- black/blue chassis ground
- yellow/purple +6v switched
- gray/white right rear speaker (-)
- white/purple right front speaker (-)
- white/green left rear speaker (-)
- white left front speaker (-)
Front amplifier wires (small plug):
Note these are the exact same colors as above, but it's the low-level (RCA) signal.
- gray/blue right rear signal (+)
- white/orange right front signal (+)
- gray/yellow left rear signal (+)
- white/black left front signal (+)
- gray/white right rear signal (-)
- white/purple right front signal (-)
- white/green left rear signal (-)
- white left front signal (-)
Rear subwoofer amplifier:
- brown/red +12v
- black/blue chassis ground
- purple/red +6v switched
- purple/green low-level sub signal (+)
- green/white low-level sub signal (-)
I used a Kicker KEY 200.4 amp for the front and rear full-range door speakers and a Kicker KEY 500.1 for the subwoofer. These are similar physical size as the factory amps so I simply put them in the original locations. I also removed the subwoofer driver and added some internal bracing and sound deadening to the plastic enclosure.
Here are my findings:
- Sound clarity and volume are massively improved
- OEM subwoofer amp is garbage
- OEM subwoofer driver is better than anticipated but still can't keep up with aftermarket door speakers at higher volumes
- Also, the OEM subwoofer is DVC 1.3ohm so I wired it in series to get a 2.6ohm load for the aftermarket amp
- Wiring up aftermarket amps to the factory headunit was much easier than anticipated
- The small Kicker KEY amplifiers are perfect replacements with lots of adjustability
- The door speakers greatly benefit with a high-pass filter in the 60-80Hz range
- The subwoofer signal already has a low-pass filter, probably around 120Hz (estimate)
Front amplifier wires (large plug):
- purple/red +12v
- gray/blue right rear speaker (+)
- white/orange right front speaker (+)
- gray/yellow left rear speaker (+)
- white/black left front speaker (+)
- black/blue chassis ground
- yellow/purple +6v switched
- gray/white right rear speaker (-)
- white/purple right front speaker (-)
- white/green left rear speaker (-)
- white left front speaker (-)
Front amplifier wires (small plug):
Note these are the exact same colors as above, but it's the low-level (RCA) signal.
- gray/blue right rear signal (+)
- white/orange right front signal (+)
- gray/yellow left rear signal (+)
- white/black left front signal (+)
- gray/white right rear signal (-)
- white/purple right front signal (-)
- white/green left rear signal (-)
- white left front signal (-)
Rear subwoofer amplifier:
- brown/red +12v
- black/blue chassis ground
- purple/red +6v switched
- purple/green low-level sub signal (+)
- green/white low-level sub signal (-)