Kicker KS6.2 & CVT65-4 speaker install pix & review (along with Alpine CDE-102)

Wanted to share my recent small audio upgrade. I wanted to use the factory speaker locations with factory wiring and just wanted to increase the sound quality a little bit, all on a budget (since after all, the stock cam and Borla exhaust is the real audio system on this car). I also installed an older model Alpine CDE-102 headunit try to keep a simple "factory look", while at the same time still having 2 sets of RCA outs to match the amp (it seems all of Alpine's newer units only have 1 or 3 sets of outputs). The 2nd set of outs is switchable to a non-fading subwoofer out. I also wanted a 3.5mm input so I could plug in my Ipod and hide the connector in the cigarette tray.

I went with Kicker KS6.2 components up front and CVT65-4's in the rear for speakers. Overall, the front components are a nice upgrade; sound quality is definitely improved. The rear CVT's sound good as well, but unfortunately are limited in the amount of bass they produce. They sound closer to mid-bass speakers rather than subs; they can't reproduce low frequencies very well and they get punchy as you turn up the volume. At the same time let's not forget that the rear speakers are limited by the stock amp as well; it probably has internal crossovers that are playing an effect on the sound. It's not like the Viper is the best setup for sound quality anyway. The lack of low and deep bass does bug me a bit, but I'm honestly not in the mood to install a 10 or 12" sub, especially with the lack of trunk space. So I think I may just have to live with it. We'll see how far that train of thought gets me.

With the install I added some polyfill into the speaker areas and screwed the front crossovers into the "thick" part of the door where the carpet meets the armrest; I wasn't able to hold the crossovers any other way since there seems to be some mold release agent from the original injection molding of the door years ago that didn't allow anything to stick, even if you scrubbed it. And lastly and most importantly, I picked these speakers and sizes specifically with one goal in mind: that they would fit into the factory locations with ZERO modification. And sure enough I can confirm for you guys that the front speakers at 6.0" fit into the stock location diameter wise and depth wise and pre-drilled hole locations PERFECTLY, even WITH the stock grills. The tweeters need one of the ring bases from the speaker kit to be cut to use as a pressure spacer so they wouldn't drop down all the way into the door. Nothing a little dremel can't handle. Also, the 6.5" mini-subs fit PERFECTLY into the rear locations depth wise and diamater wise as well.

For the DIN connector I did purchase a female end from ebay/china and cut up some RCA's to go with it. The RCA wires were SUPER thin (possibly 28 gauge if not higher!) so they were difficult to work with, as well as solder onto the tiny connector. I did have to revise it three times though (pretty pissed at that) since I assumed the blue and black RCA colors meant positive and ground, all to find out that the blue wire was actually the ground. Then I had a single strand of copper wire from the 12v remote soldered wire that got loose in the connector that was barely touching one of the RCA's and throwing both the headunit and amp into safe mode. Frustrating day indeed.... Lastly the headunit did fit nicely into the stock location with the stock brackets, except when all said and done the unit sat back about 1/2" too deep, so I redrilled some holes in the bracket to bring it back forward (instead of using spacers and longer dash screws).

I don't know why I typed all this because it's probably boring to most, but I figured somebody would hopefully use it as a reference for a future simple upgrade.

Nice write up. And great pics. These write ups realy do help people out and are a good read.
Nice job on the pin connection. I wanted to try that but just ran all new wires. And I like that you modded the radio out more. I have yet to fix mine. So you did use the factory grills? Would the Kicker grills have fit? This is my next sterio upgrade. Reason for asking.

Jeebs I did use the stock grills for the stock look, but it does look like the diameter of the Kicker grills will fit in the recess of the door. They are quite a bit thicker than the stock ones though so I'm not sure if it'll look like they are popping out too much; it looks like they'll barely clear the dash if you went that route.

I have/had used that same Alpine head. While it worked fine, the menu and using it was a real PITA. Press this, hold that, count to 3, release this, bark at the moon, etc. etc. etc.

Hope you have a better time with it than I did.

Got fed up with it real quick and bought a Kenwood. Does all the Alpine did and much more. Also a ton easier to use.

You know, I can kinda agree on that. I figured maybe it was just me that I haven't used an aftermarket radio like this in long time, but if I rationalize yes my kenwoods menu system was better