TKEUofM

I just picked up the Kicker SSMB8's to replace the factory 8" Shaker door subs. They have a really shallow magnet which should work well, it's only about 2-1/2" deep. They are technically listed as a Mid-Bass speaker instead of a sub but they handle 350 watts.

I will be installing them tomorrow, so I'll post results them. They are regular $299/pair but Car Tunes had a big sale going on and I got them for $145.

Stoenr

yeah, let us know how it sounds! Id be interested

Mxyzptlk

Are they dual voice coil over? I couldn't tell but pics on cardomain didn't look like it. I would be very curious if those will work with stock wiring.

bryman

I'm looking forward to hearing about these as well. I upgraded the other speakers and love it, but the bass from the factory speakers still in the doors could be a little less muddy. Please take pics if you can!

TKEUofM

[attachmentid=43921][attachmentid=43922]Ok, here are the updates, got the speakers installed today.

The Kicker SSMB8's are 4 ohm single voice coil speakers. Rated at 350 watts max power.

Install was easy, fit was almost perfect, I didn't have to heat up or cut the inside of the door panel, I wanted to avoid that at all costs. I just cut the stock wiring and there are 4 wires to the stock speaker, a set of Pos and Neg to each voice coil.

Since the stock speaker is dual voice coice and there are two sets of wire, the guy at Car Tunes suggested a Pos wire from one set and Neg wire from the other set to run speakers. Has to do with the ohms and all that stuff, I'm no expert on all that stuff so I took his word for it. He said it might be a little off but should be close enough.

They sound pretty good, less distortion than the stock speakers when the volume and bass is cranked up. And all the speakers sound better as a group since I have Kenwood eXcelon speakers in the 5x7 locations. I would say that they are better than the stock speakers using the stock amps. I think that the true quality of the Kicker speakers would come out if you were to run a different amp and head unit combination.

But if your looking for an 8" speaker that you don't have to cut the door up for, then this is a really good choice.

Hopefully nothing blows up or melts.

TKEUofM

[attachmentid=43923]

One more picture.

bryman

Cool, thanks for posting these! Gives us all another option.

bpmurr

Do you have to use the funky grill or does the stock one work?

TKEUofM

You could probably use the stock grill, but you would have to pry it apart from the stock speaker and mount it to the new speaker. Some people on here have done it. I may give it a try. Just put them in like that today. Not sure if I like the Kicker grill, it's kinda growing on me though.

CANES fan

It would be cool if you could get the kicker grill in your choice of color. Of course the blue works fine for me

TacoBill

Nice install!

I probably would change out the grill, but that's me. Doesn't seem to protect the speaker too well, especially in that area.

Or maybe paint the grill? Not sure how that'll turn out.

Mxyzptlk

Awesome. So one (+) from one coil and a (-) from the other? I will definitely have to try installing my 8" Rockford Fosgate Punch HE's!

Sonic Thunder

You know that the amp that controls the door woofers is under the dash on the driver side and you can tap into the stock wires from there. This will achieve two things. 1. Allow you to use only the two wires you need to push the speakers and have correct impedance. 2. Put a real amp behind those speakers and push them so they really sound great!

TKEUofM

I'm actually looking at a new head unit and amp to run all of the speakers. I found the 6 Channel Infinity amp on Crutchfield for $399. Four channels to run the 5x7 Kenwood's and 2 sub channels to run the Kicker SSMB 8's.

And MTX now makes a custom fit box with 1 12" sub that fits in the passenger side of the trunk.

Sonic Thunder

I own the MTX Box and it sounds great. I use the stock wires going to the speaker (which are aftermarket). My amp ties directly into the stock wiring so I can power my door subs and door speakers without messing with any seals.