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Anyone installed the Kicker KEY180.4 DSP and Amp system?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Bobulator, Mar 26, 2020.

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  1. Bobulator

    Bobulator Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2018
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    Location:
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    As titled, been looking at it at Crutchfield, looks like a pretty sweet unit.

    Reason I ask is that I'm getting a 2012 with the nav/cam head unit, and want to keep these functions as well as all the other interface functions. Looks like the KEY can go in the dash, or glovebox and adds some power via the amp, as well as having an auto DSP sound tool, kinda like Audissey on a HT reciever. Only negative I'm concerned about is if the generic DSP generated EQ is to my taste.

    Another thing is that it only costs $200! Way less than the JBL? MS8. BTW, I'm also adding a bazooka 6.5" powered sub I got on fleabay.

    I'm replacing the dash speakers with the excellent but low cost Pioneer TS-A878 (did it on my wifeys Prius a year ago, best $30 improvement you can do in a Gen 3!) Also some Focal ISC 165 6.5" coaxes for the front doors. Great sale price at Crutchfield, $79, including the 6 x 9 adapters and wiring harness adapter, with free shipping!
     
    #1 Bobulator, Mar 26, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2020
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
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    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I’ve been looking into something like that for years and ran into that unit also. My goal is to disconnect the preamp outputs going into the jbl amp under the passenger seat and wire it into a unit like that. Since the speakers in my car are JBLs, they just need a quality eq to sound better. I tested that with a 31 band eq connect in between an audio source and aux input, the difference was amazing. But there 8 speakers and they’re 2 ohms each so the kicker one your looking won’t run the system as I want it to, and there are only few amps that comes with an Audassity like eq that are 2 ohm stable. I’ll probably have to get an 8 channel amp and a separate dsp unit for the auto eq dsp processing.

    What other amp dsp setups have you considered?
     
    #2 Grit, Mar 27, 2020
  3. Bobulator

    Bobulator Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2018
    14
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    Location:
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    One other I saw was the Axxess (Metra?) AXDSPL-TY2 or 4. Looks kinda similar, but doesn't include an amp, and only listing I saw was on ebay for $350, nearly twice the Kicker Key. I'm sure there are other DSPs out there, but $200 for this unit, with help from Crunchfield is appealing to me. I guess I'd be an early adapter. I don't have the JBL system, just the standard nav/cam/HD radio on the Prius 3. BTW, I really like HD radio, just thought it was not a big deal until I got a radio with it, much better sound, and no cost like XM.

    Anyone else researched or installed a DSP amp?
     
    #3 Bobulator, Mar 31, 2020
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