Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Friday March 29, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Car Audio, Video & Security

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-04-2019, 12:59 AM   #1
Nomotive
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 32659
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: East Los Angeles
Vehicle:
2017 Forester XT
Silver

Default Kicker subwoofer not available for 2019-2020 WRX/STI

I noticed that the kicker subwoofer is not available on the 2019-2020 STIs... is there a compatibility issue with the headunit?

https://parts.subaru.com/accessories...udioMedia.html
https://parts.subaru.com/accessories...udioMedia.html
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Nomotive is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 10-06-2019, 11:36 AM   #2
gunz4me
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 305130
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: LFT
Vehicle:
2019 WRX
Dark Gray

Default

One of my installer friends told me that the volume control from the factory head unit was switched to the CAN Bus for 2019 with their updated Starlink. I was somewhat confused, because I thought they did this beginning with the 2018 model year, but that may be why there is nothing for the 2019+ models.

Going further, I'm somewhat screwed for replacing the buggy as all get out HK system in my 2019 WRX UNLESS I want to cut wires. I'd rather NOT do that and I'm hoping the iDatlink Maestro RR2 allows me to do what I want to do.
gunz4me is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2020, 06:24 PM   #3
joostin420
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 1046
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: New England, United States
Vehicle:
2020 WRX Limited
Ice silver metallic

Default

i currently have an MY16 wrx limited with the kicker sub and also want to know if it is compatible with my upcoming purchase of an MY20 limited. I see some places where they say it is compatible.

Even Subaru Canada it is listed as an option for MY20
https://m.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?Web...&colourID=4452


https://subaruonlineparts.com/mobile...er-p-4091.html
joostin420 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2020, 08:46 AM   #4
ag13
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 133630
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central Florida
Vehicle:
2019 WRX

Default

I placed an order for one about 3 weeks ago at the dealer for my 19 wrx premium. They called me a week later telling me Subaru would not ship it because it was not compatible with 2019’s. I have the non HK system.
ag13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2020, 02:08 PM   #5
joostin420
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 1046
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: New England, United States
Vehicle:
2020 WRX Limited
Ice silver metallic

Default

I actually really liked the simplicity of the factory 10" kicker powered subwoofer. it wasn't the greatest in the world, but it was just enough thump for me. it fit perfectly in the location and has a built in amp.

so what are some options to keep the factory fit/form/convenience? I have no problem running wiring; I just don't want to mount an external amp anywhere or take up precious trunk cargo space since there is no 5 door hatchback again. could I just take the current factory kicker sub, remove the proprietary wired 100w amp and install a standard amp in its place in the same spot on the enclosure? going to be installing a kenwood dnx996xr.
joostin420 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2020, 07:13 AM   #6
Joff
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 505819
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Adelaide - South Australia
Vehicle:
MY17 Subaru XV
Crystal White Pearl

Default

I tried to source the Kicker speakers and that Sub unit endorsed by Subaru but gave up due to high cost and also postage from the USA. so I decided to go Kicker from an online shop that still fit the Subaru factory positions. I did all six speakers and the Tweeters up on the top dash area are actually 3.5 inch speakers and tweeters all wrapped into one and they kick arse. I opted for an under seat Kicker sub. compared to the crap factory speakers, Im a happy man. I also then applied Sound deadening to all four door cavities hooked up to my factory Starlink/Nav system in my MY17 XV

BEST THING i ever did and all out cost AU was around $650 including the Sub install, I did the rest myself.

https://www.kicker.com/hideaway
https://www.kicker.com/2016-ds-series
Joff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2020, 03:20 PM   #7
joostin420
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 1046
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: New England, United States
Vehicle:
2020 WRX Limited
Ice silver metallic

Default

So I am guessing I could just cut the harness off; use/run power, ground, remote turn-on and convert the existing signal wires +/- to rca and use the preamp outputs from the aftermarket head unit.
joostin420 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2020, 03:25 PM   #8
Smunczen
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 501315
Join Date: May 2019
Default

I have the Subaru accessory sub in my 19 Sti non HK. it works fine.
Smunczen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2020, 08:31 AM   #9
murrdogg24
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 50586
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Chiraq
Vehicle:
64 Impala

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smunczen View Post
I have the Subaru accessory sub in my 19 Sti non HK. it works fine.
Good to know. Do you need the bass limiter harness adapter thing to plug in ?

Last edited by murrdogg24; 02-18-2020 at 08:41 AM.
murrdogg24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2020, 09:45 PM   #10
joostin420
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 1046
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: New England, United States
Vehicle:
2020 WRX Limited
Ice silver metallic

Default

the kicker amp is expecting speaker level inputs. So decided to go an alternative route with a Rockford Fosgate pbr300x1 instead. If anyone is interested I have the brand-new kicker amp and wiring harness available.

joostin420 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2020, 07:53 PM   #11
joostin420
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 1046
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: New England, United States
Vehicle:
2020 WRX Limited
Ice silver metallic

Default

If anyone is interested this worked out great.
joostin420 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2020, 04:45 PM   #12
Laborchet
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 519226
Join Date: Oct 2020
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by joostin420 View Post
If anyone is interested this worked out great.
Hello Joostin420 (blazeit)

I recently picked up a used 2018 Sti and i am VERY VERY interested in what you did here with the kicker subwoofer, if you have time, do you mind if i pick your brain a little and ask a few questions about what and how you did it?

A bit of background info, my STI came with some audio work but it sounded like absolute **** compared to my previous car with a custom audio system so i feel like some background is warranted.

This is a base STI, non navigation (i believe) the previous owner installed a Seicane android head unit, all 6 kicker speakers upgrade, and the powered kicker subwoofer in the trunk. The audio sounds HORRIBLE from the door speakers, but the subwoofer hits pretty clean and way overpowers the doors. These android head units (from previous experience) are not very well amplified internally, so i found that you must install an amp to power the door speakers if you want good sound (similar head unit in previous car, had to install an amp to get good sound)

Ok, so on top of that, previous owner ran his own speaker wire to the front doors (probably thought he was going to get better sound that way ) and i have already undone that, so now all speakers are using factory wiring as original.

I purchased a mini amp (soundstream ST4.1000D) and will use that to power the door speakers using the pre-amp output from the radio, ok no problem there.

The problem began when i pulled out the head unit to reveal the massive crossover block and wiring harness of the Kicker Subwoofer and it lead me to analyze whether i can just send pre-amp output from head unit directly to the Kicker subwoofer and power it like that, basically completely eliminating the kicker harness and just using power, ground, and RCA output from my head unit. But i see you already investigated that route and found that the kicker sub IS expecting speaker level inputs, so that leads me to the next idea.

Can i just totally eliminate that odd crossover block thing in the kicker harness and wire the kicker sub using power, ground, and amped outputs from my android headunit, and pre-amp output from the HU to the soundstream amp to send sound to the doors.

-So; pre-amp outputs from HU, to amplifier to the doors

-and; amped output from head unit to the kicker sub harness directly (omitting the T-harness and crossover block)

Also, what is that crossover block there for? I noticed whatever it does, it does it to the signal going to the door speakers too. What is going on there???

Thanks in advance, and sorry for long writeup.
Laborchet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2020, 06:49 PM   #13
joostin420
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 1046
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: New England, United States
Vehicle:
2020 WRX Limited
Ice silver metallic

Default

I have an MY20 limited with harman kardon and I really liked the oem form fitment of the kicker sub in my MY16 limited (no hk).

the subs kicker amp is expecting speaker level inputs. So decided to go an alternative route with a Rockford Fosgate pbr300x1 instead. Made things much more simple this way by just running cabling as normal for the amp and removing t-harness and built-in crossover cabling and kicker amp from the equation which would not have worked in my situation anyway.

" Can i just totally eliminate that odd crossover block thing in the kicker harness and wire the kicker sub using power, ground, and amped outputs from my android headunit, and pre-amp output from the HU to the soundstream amp to send sound to the doors.

-So; pre-amp outputs from HU, to amplifier to the doors

-and; amped output from head unit to the kicker sub harness directly (omitting the T-harness and crossover block)"

This should work.
joostin420 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2021, 12:58 PM   #14
Paul_E_D
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 510500
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Western Massachusetts
Vehicle:
2018 STI
Dark grey

Default

Has anyone used Kicker shallow mount 6 3/4 subs in the doors? I don't have the factory sub in my 18 STI and need some bass. Crutchfield is saying they fit the front doors, but not the rear. Are the rear doors super shallow?

I did replace the head unit and added a small form factor amp behind it that can power the subs
Paul_E_D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2021, 03:28 PM   #15
gunz4me
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 305130
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: LFT
Vehicle:
2019 WRX
Dark Gray

Default

I wouldn't recommend subwoofers in the doors, but that is just me....
gunz4me is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2021, 09:34 PM   #16
THX0849
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 507139
Join Date: Oct 2019
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gunz4me View Post
I wouldn't recommend subwoofers in the doors, but that is just me....
I'd agree, doors are hard enough to stop from rattling etc with a midbass let alone sub frequencies!
THX0849 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2021, 10:48 PM   #17
GoFrogs
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 507317
Join Date: Oct 2019
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: SW Ohio
Vehicle:
2019 WRX
Pure Red

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_E_D View Post
Has anyone used Kicker shallow mount 6 3/4 subs in the doors? I don't have the factory sub in my 18 STI and need some bass. Crutchfield is saying they fit the front doors, but not the rear. Are the rear doors super shallow?
Are the rear doors the same size as the fronts? I thought the rear doors ran a smaller "mid-woofer" in the door. I can't remember all of the photos and what-not, but I'm sure a quick youtube search may answer that question...

Crutchfield is usually pretty spot on; however, they work with/list exact, direct factory fitments. If it requires the slightest bit of custom install, they list the item as "does not fit".

Sometimes, something as simple as a 1/4" (6mm) spacer that is needed to make a speaker work in a location (and still fit under the factory grill) will get a no-go from Crutchfield. Adapters are not necessarily the same thing as spacers.

Doesn't Subaru use a 3-point mounting method (think Mazda rotor from the rotary engine...or Dorito chip). At least they don't rivet the speakers into the doors like VW does.

Subs in doors don't do well. Shoot, even Mazda's 8"-9" door sub with the Bose Audio is only meh...but it really throws a wrench into the equation when people go to replace it...not only because of size, but because its BOSE too

Curse you Bose...curse you.
GoFrogs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2021, 08:00 AM   #18
Paul_E_D
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 510500
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Western Massachusetts
Vehicle:
2018 STI
Dark grey

Default

Ha! The Bose door subs in my girlfriend's speed3 are why I asked this. The sound in that car was not stellar, but still light years ahead of the STi. I've added a sony head unit and an audiopipe micro amp. I guess I will go with regular 6.5 mids in all four doors and consider a compact sub under the seat.
Paul_E_D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2021, 12:02 AM   #19
GoFrogs
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 507317
Join Date: Oct 2019
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: SW Ohio
Vehicle:
2019 WRX
Pure Red

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_E_D View Post
Ha! The Bose door subs in my girlfriend's speed3 are why I asked this. The sound in that car was not stellar, but still light years ahead of the STi. I've added a sony head unit and an audiopipe micro amp. I guess I will go with regular 6.5 mids in all four doors and consider a compact sub under the seat.
There are companies that make a 8" sub that fits in the CX-5 door...but it isn't a BOSE component and therefore does not have those funky impedances. It was also a shallow mount/inverted magnet setup to make for a very shallow mount location; like inside a door.

I'm not going to try and find what woofer those with the BOSE system went with, but I think it's mounting depth was also adjustable; basically a threaded ring concept.
GoFrogs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2021, 11:30 AM   #20
jonoc4
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 387455
Join Date: Apr 2014
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: Ottawa
Vehicle:
2010 STI Hatch
Satin White Pearl

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smunczen View Post
I have the Subaru accessory sub in my 19 Sti non HK. it works fine.
MOST but not all of the places i see it for sale doo say it fits 15-20. Did you install it yourself?

I dont really want to replace the head unit i feel that would be the most expensive option. I'm not crazy about it but.. if i get a kicker key amp to power the front doors and tweeters, then leave the rears powered by the HU and get this OEM kicker sub i feel it would be pretty well balanced. Just want to know if its plug and play with the 2020.

Edit: oh also, i assume the kicker amp on the sub is fed by the rear speaker signal?

Last edited by jonoc4; 07-17-2021 at 12:12 PM.
jonoc4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2021, 11:30 PM   #21
Kaivik
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 519999
Join Date: Nov 2020
Default

Did anyone manage to get one on their 2019-2020 STI? Someone in my area is selling theirs (H630SFJ302) for cheap but of course he didn't tear out the harnesses so I was looking to see if I could get the harness, but I can't seem to find the right one.
Kaivik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2021, 12:57 PM   #22
Laborchet
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 519226
Join Date: Oct 2020
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by joostin420 View Post
I have an MY20 limited with harman kardon and I really liked the oem form fitment of the kicker sub in my MY16 limited (no hk).

the subs kicker amp is expecting speaker level inputs. So decided to go an alternative route with a Rockford Fosgate pbr300x1 instead. Made things much more simple this way by just running cabling as normal for the amp and removing t-harness and built-in crossover cabling and kicker amp from the equation which would not have worked in my situation anyway.

“ Can i just totally eliminate that odd crossover block thing in the kicker harness and wire the kicker sub using power, ground, and amped outputs from my android headunit, and pre-amp output from the HU to the soundstream amp to send sound to the doors.

-So; pre-amp outputs from HU, to amplifier to the doors

-and; amped output from head unit to the kicker sub harness directly (omitting the T-harness and crossover block)”

This should work.
How does the subwoofer sound with the fosgate amp? Are you still using the original kicker speaker or did you swap that out too?

I find this unit to be kind of weak and doesnt really hit very well. I am considering swapping the speaker with a 300w RMS subwoofer and an amp to match it, basically only using the kicker box and mounting location but removing all the electronics for better stuff.
Laborchet is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:23 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.