Anyone who only upgraded the center dash speaker?

[SubZombie]

I'm curious for anyone who has just upgraded this speaker. I know the common replacement is the Kicker KSC350. Anyone who has impressions of this change? I am concerned about it being overly bright after listening to reviews of it on YouTube. I am wanting to reduce the harshness of the stock center and get a bit more clarity in the midrange but I don't want the center becoming overpowering.

After comparing I'm almost wondering if the KSC270 would be a better replacement since its a 1 way speaker and a tweeter reflecting off the windshield seems like it would amplify the treble.

I will probably try it regardless but wanted to see if anyone had impressions of it.

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[BigOleOgre]

I'm curious for anyone who has just upgraded this speaker. I know the common replacement is the Kicker KSC350. Anyone who has impressions of this change? I am concerned about it being overly bright after listening to reviews of it on YouTube. I am wanting to reduce the harshness of the stock center and get a bit more clarity in the midrange but I don't want the center becoming overpowering.

After comparing I'm almost wondering if the KSC270 would be a better replacement since its a 1 way speaker and a tweeter reflecting off the windshield seems like it would amplify the treble.

I will probably try it regardless but wanted to see if anyone had impressions of it.

I like your thought process on the single way for better midrange. I'll buy the other one from you if you end up goin that route, since they come in pairs.

 

[just a guy with a truck]

the KSC270 would work perfectly for what you are after. its a full range speaker which may just lose out on the sparkle of a tweeter but get the vocals out there and a fuller sound.

you can put a 400hz bas blocker on the (+) speaker wire to stay well within the freq range of those speakers.

one of these is also an option.
https://www.parts-express.com/Dayto...52mQ7Mq2i9m5wm_KO_EZpyHDjN1wD5PQaArgpEALw_wcB

ive ran those dayton speakers in 2 other trucks of mine and they have a natural sound to them

 

[SubZombie]

I wanted to chime back in here and say that I bought both the Kicker KSC350 and the KSC270s.

Initially I had just the 350s because I couldn't get the 270s locally. Initial impressions were not great. I literally sat there for about an hour going back and forth between the stock speaker and the KSC350 over and over with different music and testing different modes and even blocking the A-pillar tweeters at times so I could tell what I was getting from the center.

The KSC350 straight up sounds like the factory radio doesn't have enough power to run it. Going back and forth you obviously lose a lot of midrange installing it and its very obvious listening to it in isolation - but it did still sound better in some ways than the harshness of the stock speaker after dialing back the highest frequencies. It also is what I expected where the sound coming out of it is extremely bright and everything audible you get from it is very high frequency coming out of the tweeter on it which reflects on the windshield.

Interestingly, going back and forth the stock speaker, especially listening to it out of the dash, is very loud and it does sound piercingly harsh in the upper midrange at times. I think this may be from too much low end being passed to it causing distortion. You might be able to fix it just by adding a blocker like was mentioned for the 270.

The KSC270 is a much smaller speaker. I was able to make one of the brackets it comes with work just fine in the factory holes - it looked too small at first but I drilled the holes in the brackets out the slightest bit and they went in perfectly.

I'm going to give it a week or two before deciding but so far the KSC270s really feel like the best balance. The sound coming through them is clear and smooth and the factory amp has no problem driving them. They are also way less harsh sounding than the stock 3.5" speaker. So TBD on that but so far they seem like the winner.

 

[Stoogey]

If someone could point me in the right direction - after reading this thread I think I want to head down the KSC270 route myself, but all the part numbers coming up on Google are KSC2704, is that the right speaker? Thanks

 

[Redun]

I wanted to chime back in here and say that I bought both the Kicker KSC350 and the KSC270s.

Initially I had just the 350s because I couldn't get the 270s locally. Initial impressions were not great. I literally sat there for about an hour going back and forth between the stock speaker and the KSC350 over and over with different music and testing different modes and even blocking the A-pillar tweeters at times so I could tell what I was getting from the center.

The KSC350 straight up sounds like the factory radio doesn't have enough power to run it. Going back and forth you obviously lose a lot of midrange installing it and its very obvious listening to it in isolation - but it did still sound better in some ways than the harshness of the stock speaker after dialing back the highest frequencies. It also is what I expected where the sound coming out of it is extremely bright and everything audible you get from it is very high frequency coming out of the tweeter on it which reflects on the windshield.

Interestingly, going back and forth the stock speaker, especially listening to it out of the dash, is very loud and it does sound piercingly harsh in the upper midrange at times. I think this may be from too much low end being passed to it causing distortion. You might be able to fix it just by adding a blocker like was mentioned for the 270.

The KSC270 is a much smaller speaker. I was able to make one of the brackets it comes with work just fine in the factory holes - it looked too small at first but I drilled the holes in the brackets out the slightest bit and they went in perfectly.

I'm going to give it a week or two before deciding but so far the KSC270s really feel like the best balance. The sound coming through them is clear and smooth and the factory amp has no problem driving them. They are also way less harsh sounding than the stock 3.5" speaker. So TBD on that but so far they seem like the winner.

Just wondering, did you stick with the 270? I'm looking at that or the 350 to pair with the focal upgrade.

Thanks

 

[Redun]

270s coming this week, will post up feedback once installed

 

[Watchdog62]

I have an extra kcs350 if anyone is interested.

 

[stemplar]

I wanted to chime back in here and say that I bought both the Kicker KSC350 and the KSC270s.

Initially I had just the 350s because I couldn't get the 270s locally. Initial impressions were not great. I literally sat there for about an hour going back and forth between the stock speaker and the KSC350 over and over with different music and testing different modes and even blocking the A-pillar tweeters at times so I could tell what I was getting from the center.

The KSC350 straight up sounds like the factory radio doesn't have enough power to run it. Going back and forth you obviously lose a lot of midrange installing it and its very obvious listening to it in isolation - but it did still sound better in some ways than the harshness of the stock speaker after dialing back the highest frequencies. It also is what I expected where the sound coming out of it is extremely bright and everything audible you get from it is very high frequency coming out of the tweeter on it which reflects on the windshield.

Interestingly, going back and forth the stock speaker, especially listening to it out of the dash, is very loud and it does sound piercingly harsh in the upper midrange at times. I think this may be from too much low end being passed to it causing distortion. You might be able to fix it just by adding a blocker like was mentioned for the 270.

The KSC270 is a much smaller speaker. I was able to make one of the brackets it comes with work just fine in the factory holes - it looked too small at first but I drilled the holes in the brackets out the slightest bit and they went in perfectly.

I'm going to give it a week or two before deciding but so far the KSC270s really feel like the best balance. The sound coming through them is clear and smooth and the factory amp has no problem driving them. They are also way less harsh sounding than the stock 3.5" speaker. So TBD on that but so far they seem like the winner.

What other speakers did you use when trying the 350? I have vocals in the door and tweeters and the kicker balances well with them, imho. I definitely didn’t get the impression you did, especially around there not being enough power from the head unit.

 

[SubZombie]

Been busy with work so I haven't logged in in quite some time.

Sorry to burst any bubbles, but I actually ended up reinstalling the stock speaker. I tried the 350 first and then the 270s. My initial impressions with the 270 was based on comparing it to having just had the 350s installed. The 350s were awful imo with the tweeter firing directly into the windshield sounding uncomfortable. I could see someone older with hearing loss thinking it sounds clearer, but...ehhh.

After having the 270s installed for a few weeks I noticed that mid range frequencies just didn't sound right and it seemed like sound was getting lost at some frequencies. I felt the stock system had a weak mid range, and I eventually found the smaller Kicker 270 center speaker actually made that even worse after I took off my rose tinted glasses.

When I went back to the stock speaker after having the 270s in for a while, the mid range was immediately louder and the center is noticeably louder and clearer with the stock speaker - I think it is just much more sensitive than the Kickers. I was literally plugging one in then the other back to back playing the same music. I also did some measurements with a pink noise filter and the Kickers were both losing midrange and amplifying the highest frequencies (which explains why the sound was piercing at times), but it wasn't something I could correct with an EQ without screwing up all the other speakers. The overall volume from the center also measured significantly lower with both kicker speakers than with the stock speaker. This was EXTREMELY obvious after I unplugged the tweeters in the A-pillars. The stock center would sound twice as loud in the mid range changing the speakers back to back.

Ultimately I decided that if I replace that speaker it just isn't going to work well without having the entire system tuned.

I'm not saying that some people couldn't perceive a subjective improvement but I will stand by that changing the center speaker without buying a DSP and having a professional tune the entire system is going to objectively fuck up the balance and accuracy of the sound.

 

[CaptAngry]

I installed an Infinity Reference REF-3032CFX in the center, along with sound deadening and surround foam. My busted-ass hearing can't tell much difference, except it is maybe less harsh?

Terrible picture because it was 10pm by the time I got it buttoned up...

Once I get my Focals and door sound deadener installed this weekend () I'll be able to actually see if I notice a difference or if I wasted my money

 

[SubZombie]

^^^ I will definitely agree that the center doesn't make a large perceptible difference during casual listening. I think the main reason is because the tweeters are incredibly loud (which I realized when I unhooked them to test the center) to the point that it overwhelms the center and most of what you get from the center is some midrange that fills out below what the tweeters can produce - which is really the point of it. My issue with the Kickers was they reduced that and added to the top end that was already too pronounced.

 

[CaptAngry]

One thing I also noticed was the magnet/driver difference between the stock center speaker and the Infinity was massive. Almost comically so

 

[RaptorDJD]

I know this may not be the answer you are looking for but I disconnected the center speaker and I honesty think the whole system sound much better with it disconnected. Of course, you have to play with the treble, bass, and faders sliders.

 

[pablo94sc]

I know this may not be the answer you are looking for but I disconnected the center speaker and I honesty think the whole system sound much better with it disconnected. Of course, you have to play with the treble, bass, and faders sliders.

I did the same. With the center I do have better mids, but I felt it made the entire front stage sound cluttered and one dimensional, almost like it's converting both channels into a mono mid-range. It's honestly terrible.

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