Kicker Hideaway vs. Memphis
05-24-2017, 11:49 AM
#31
Messed with it a bit more and have some more observations. 1st is that wired with the WPT1212 there is 0 issues with start stop during my commute that has a few longish stops.
The 2nd was that while I'm happy with the sound, I feel it has a bit more to give. When I turned off the EQ it easily overpowered and distorted. Which IMO means I should be able to change something so I don't have to max bass boost and gain to get where I am now. So I found some folks with the hideaway saying they preferred aux speaker instead of aux sub. I'm not sure if it actually made a difference, but I feel it's slightly louder (I've messed with it so much I'm not 100% if I'm just making myself hear an improvement). Anyway, that change is 727-01-01 xxxC xxxx xxxx (The C replaces the 8 from the Aux sub setting).
So now I'm wondering if the signal from the WPT is naturally a low level? If it is, that would mean rewiring the connections to RCAs and removing them from the Memphis high level harness would net the gains I'm looking for.
While I do intend to lengthen the power, ground, and remote wires any way, I wasn't going to do so for some time. But if someone can verify that using the WPT to run RCA's for the low level input would enable me to lower the settings and give me more headroom I'll give it a shot when I do the power wires.
I tried to take a video to show how well this unit fills in the low end, but of course you can't hear the bass change on a phone, can barely hear it on my PC which has pretty good audio and sub, and kind only kind of hear it on the home theatre so I'm guessing it's the cell phones mic that eliminates that option for showing you guys. Sorry, I tried
The 2nd was that while I'm happy with the sound, I feel it has a bit more to give. When I turned off the EQ it easily overpowered and distorted. Which IMO means I should be able to change something so I don't have to max bass boost and gain to get where I am now. So I found some folks with the hideaway saying they preferred aux speaker instead of aux sub. I'm not sure if it actually made a difference, but I feel it's slightly louder (I've messed with it so much I'm not 100% if I'm just making myself hear an improvement). Anyway, that change is 727-01-01 xxxC xxxx xxxx (The C replaces the 8 from the Aux sub setting).
So now I'm wondering if the signal from the WPT is naturally a low level? If it is, that would mean rewiring the connections to RCAs and removing them from the Memphis high level harness would net the gains I'm looking for.
While I do intend to lengthen the power, ground, and remote wires any way, I wasn't going to do so for some time. But if someone can verify that using the WPT to run RCA's for the low level input would enable me to lower the settings and give me more headroom I'll give it a shot when I do the power wires.
I tried to take a video to show how well this unit fills in the low end, but of course you can't hear the bass change on a phone, can barely hear it on my PC which has pretty good audio and sub, and kind only kind of hear it on the home theatre so I'm guessing it's the cell phones mic that eliminates that option for showing you guys. Sorry, I tried
Have you played with switching to the RCA inputs yet? Ordered the Memphis (should be here Friday) and I'm curious which input has he better sound.. The high level is intriguing because it supports auto turn-on via speaker signal so I could skip the remote and not have the amp power up when the stereo is off.
05-24-2017, 03:23 PM
#32
I haven't. It'll be a fall project when I extend the harness to center it. I have a bunch of summer stuff to do around the house so unless someone verifies that the WPT signal is lowlevel I'm not in a rush. I'm happy with the speaker still though I do think it's got more to give. I should be able to get distortion in my opinion with the current settings of max bass and max level.
As to the remote wire on the WPT vs the high level and turning on the sub, I think it turns on with either one. Pretty sure when I tested the high level, the sub turned on when I remote started and the stereo doesn't turn on when you do that. I didn't see if it turned off after a few minutes with that setting, but it might.
As to the remote wire on the WPT vs the high level and turning on the sub, I think it turns on with either one. Pretty sure when I tested the high level, the sub turned on when I remote started and the stereo doesn't turn on when you do that. I didn't see if it turned off after a few minutes with that setting, but it might.
05-25-2017, 08:02 PM
#34
In theory there should be a difference between an 8" and a 10" sub. I'd love to compare them but I've only owned the Memphis, which I got cheaper than the Hideaway.
05-31-2017, 06:09 PM
#35
Ok, so I got some cheapo non-solder RCA cables and since I'll be extending the harness at some point anyway I cut off the high level inputs to test out the RCAs for low level. While I ran into some issues, this is definitely the way to go with the FORScan setting I have. I now have bass reduced to less than mid for the speakers and am letting the sub fill the void. It's MUCH louder even though I backed the gain down slightly, went from +12db bass boost to less than 8db on the subs setting.
Where I have an issue is the unit has a red and white RCA input, so I figured running one wire from the WPT1212 to each RCA would be the way to go. WRONG. Had some serious issues and pulled one plug out (doesn't matter which) and the sub is very responsive.
So should I be running the + and - from the WPT1212 into a single RCA? Or just use a single + or - and cap the other one off?
Once I get this all cleared up I'll start a new thread and edit my responses on this one to eliminate confusion for people searching in the future.
Can also 100% confirm that the remote turns on the unit without the highlevel plugged in.
Where I have an issue is the unit has a red and white RCA input, so I figured running one wire from the WPT1212 to each RCA would be the way to go. WRONG. Had some serious issues and pulled one plug out (doesn't matter which) and the sub is very responsive.
So should I be running the + and - from the WPT1212 into a single RCA? Or just use a single + or - and cap the other one off?
Once I get this all cleared up I'll start a new thread and edit my responses on this one to eliminate confusion for people searching in the future.
Can also 100% confirm that the remote turns on the unit without the highlevel plugged in.
Last edited by DogHauler; 05-31-2017 at 06:21 PM.
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Matt_J (06-01-2017)
06-01-2017, 12:09 PM
#36
Ok, so I got some cheapo non-solder RCA cables and since I'll be extending the harness at some point anyway I cut off the high level inputs to test out the RCAs for low level. While I ran into some issues, this is definitely the way to go with the FORScan setting I have. I now have bass reduced to less than mid for the speakers and am letting the sub fill the void. It's MUCH louder even though I backed the gain down slightly, went from +12db bass boost to less than 8db on the subs setting.
Where I have an issue is the unit has a red and white RCA input, so I figured running one wire from the WPT1212 to each RCA would be the way to go. WRONG. Had some serious issues and pulled one plug out (doesn't matter which) and the sub is very responsive.
So should I be running the + and - from the WPT1212 into a single RCA? Or just use a single + or - and cap the other one off?
Once I get this all cleared up I'll start a new thread and edit my responses on this one to eliminate confusion for people searching in the future.
Can also 100% confirm that the remote turns on the unit without the highlevel plugged in.
Where I have an issue is the unit has a red and white RCA input, so I figured running one wire from the WPT1212 to each RCA would be the way to go. WRONG. Had some serious issues and pulled one plug out (doesn't matter which) and the sub is very responsive.
So should I be running the + and - from the WPT1212 into a single RCA? Or just use a single + or - and cap the other one off?
Once I get this all cleared up I'll start a new thread and edit my responses on this one to eliminate confusion for people searching in the future.
Can also 100% confirm that the remote turns on the unit without the highlevel plugged in.
Thanks for the update! I'll look forward to seeing your results.
06-02-2017, 10:09 AM
#37
Ok, so I got some cheapo non-solder RCA cables and since I'll be extending the harness at some point anyway I cut off the high level inputs to test out the RCAs for low level. While I ran into some issues, this is definitely the way to go with the FORScan setting I have. I now have bass reduced to less than mid for the speakers and am letting the sub fill the void. It's MUCH louder even though I backed the gain down slightly, went from +12db bass boost to less than 8db on the subs setting.
Where I have an issue is the unit has a red and white RCA input, so I figured running one wire from the WPT1212 to each RCA would be the way to go. WRONG. Had some serious issues and pulled one plug out (doesn't matter which) and the sub is very responsive.
So should I be running the + and - from the WPT1212 into a single RCA? Or just use a single + or - and cap the other one off?
Once I get this all cleared up I'll start a new thread and edit my responses on this one to eliminate confusion for people searching in the future.
Can also 100% confirm that the remote turns on the unit without the highlevel plugged in.
Where I have an issue is the unit has a red and white RCA input, so I figured running one wire from the WPT1212 to each RCA would be the way to go. WRONG. Had some serious issues and pulled one plug out (doesn't matter which) and the sub is very responsive.
So should I be running the + and - from the WPT1212 into a single RCA? Or just use a single + or - and cap the other one off?
Once I get this all cleared up I'll start a new thread and edit my responses on this one to eliminate confusion for people searching in the future.
Can also 100% confirm that the remote turns on the unit without the highlevel plugged in.
06-02-2017, 10:56 AM
#38
I had crappy plugs and they didn't have the tail piece for -, so that was my issue. I taped the - to the outside of the plug and everything is better. Now that I know it works I'm buying quality solder plugs. When I do the thread on the unit review and install I'll have pics with it.
07-11-2017, 08:28 PM
#40