Audio Systems: sound quality, high efficiency speakers, jeep cherokee sport

Question
I have a 99 jeep cherokee sport with a Kenwood kdc-8015 head
unit. 6.5" Infinity reference 2ways in the rear pods(stock speaker  
roof openings). Today I added 6.5" Kicker ex6.2 components to
the doors and window pillars and I am dissapointed with both
the sound quality and the power. I told the salesman-installer
that I did not want to  get into the amp thing he said it would
sound great..    Do you have any Idea what those kicker ex6.2
are worth approximately?    Thank you Ben.................   I'm hoping not
to
end up spending 2000.00

Answer
Hi Ben,

I am sorry you do not like what you heard.
I am also afraid he is probably right about more power being the cure (in his eyes, at this stage).
Additionally (and quite suprisingly, to most people), you can easily damage them or ANY speaker from having too little power available (from trying to 'crank them' or in your case just trying to get them loud enough to offset 450.00 and end up sending distortion to them from the deck).

As to them being not loud enough (this is a presumption based on your statement about power, since speakers do not 'have' power), that this 'dissappointment' is a factor of the Kickers' efficiency, something that Polk audio speakers have very high ratings on.

My rules of thumb:

If one wants to have a loud system, he needs money, power amps AND speakers with high efficiency ratings.

If he wants quality, he needs less money, but still needs the high efficiency speakers (as greater dynamics are the main part of most peoples' 'quality' ratings).


Your Answer:
I could only find a pair of 'ss' 6.2 Kicker separates at ebay. They are suggested at around $440.00usd retail. I am guessing that a shop could install these for about that due to mark up (if they really want your business).
I can only presume that the EX models are similarily priced but I can tell you that the Polk separates are $250-400 and will NOT need a new power amp to have you smiling BIG as you drive. Many times, adding or changing to these types speakers will attain more loudness and dynamics than doubling or even quadrulping the power to lesser rated ones (no matter how new they are).

Note:
I do NOT work for Polk and only mention/recommend them as they are a very good way to fix your problem, as I see it.
If the kickers sounded fine in the demo room (then terrible in your vehicle), it was probably due to what amplifier they had powering them during the demonstration/audition, then you not having that same amount of power in the vehicle.
Always be sure you are auditioning with similar power devices and amplification (eg, request head unit amplification for auditioning, in your case)in a demo room to avoid major letdowns once installed. For this reason, there is a lot of trust involved to your chosen installer/shop. Use references when possible in choosing one that is straight forward and stands behind 100% of their work.
This is obviously an issue when they will have to cut your doors as was needed in this case for the tweeters.
I have used Kickers for 18 years, but only for low end
6'5"-18" sizes. I would select Polks as my 1st choice for mid and highs in almost ANY case, and most certainly, this one.


Finally, If they have NOT told you all of this info (including what efficency (SPL) ratings really mean to the purchaser/owner)...sadly, it may be time for a new installer, but it would still be better to write off the kickers (sell later on ebay?) and count your blessings that the Polks will work and will NOT require poweramps and other customization to work satisfactorily (and the holes are already cut), therby cutting your potential losses in $$$ dramatically.  ;-)

If you would like more explanation on what SPL is about, just remember that everytime you double the power you only get 3 more decibels to a given pair of speakers.
Speakers SPL's are rated at 1 watt @ 1 meter. Even only a 6db difference in spl ratings means the lower rated speaker will need 4x the power to sound as loud as the higher rated one.

I hope this helps out.
As it is the same thing I would tell any friend that might have 'bought before they asked me'.


Sincerely,
Jerry Mael