Kenwood KSC-SW11 Subwoofer Installation 2014 Prius Hatchback

i just installed a Kenwood KSC-SW11 powered Subwoofer in my 2014 Prius Hatchback and it sounds GREAT compared to the stock non-JBL stereo. I wish someone had posted directions on how to do it before, but it looks like I am the first.

It took me an entire weekend, but I was pretty particular about not having wires show and I soldered all the spliced wires and sealed everything with shrink tubing. I put it under the passenger seat and it fits perfectly.

You don't need to pull the head unit. The wires that come out of the back are tiny and all bundled up and a confusing mess. I used the front speaker wires at the kick panel in front of the doors. Pull the covers off and also the cover that is at the bottom of the door frame to expose the wiring harness. I pulled the cover off the door too so I could be sure what color the wires are that go to the speaker to make sure I spliced into the right ones. Taking the door panel off is easy. I added bullet terminals because that's what the ends of the wiring harness that comes with the Kenwood had already. I did not attempt to use the rear speaker lines because I was afraid the bass to the rear speakers might be filtered by the head unit. Plus the directions said use the front speakers. If you pull the door panels off its super easy to see the correct colors of the wires to cut behind the kick panel.

The battery connection was easy, pull off the passenger side rear lower door frame panel (you already have the front one off). I added a connector to the battery and followed the battery line to the front passenger door of the car with the power wire. I used many zip ties.

The on off line was a little tricky. You have to find a 12v line that comes on when the power is on but is off when the car shuts off. I used the power to the 12v accessory charger that is inside the middle storage console. You have to use a tester to see which of the 2 wires comes on when the power was on, in my case it was the green one. Splice into that one and connect to the switched power line so the amp does not drain your battery when the car is off.

I took both front seats out, it was so much easier to hide the wires under the carpet with the seats out. I used a bent coat hanger to fish the wires.

I didn't cut any wires short until the whole thing was wired up and I was sure it worked. The ends of the wires from Kenwood were nicely spliced with bullet plugs so I didn't cut the ends off. Checker Auto had bullet plugs for my splices that fit the Kenwood plugs perfectly. I shortened the excess wires in the middle of the lines mostly under the door frame plastic covers where it was easy to work. I cut the wires to length then soldered the splices and then covered the joins with shrink tubing. After every wire I shortened to fit I tested the system to make sure it still worked, that was great because something went wrong and I knew right where to look instead of completing all the splices and wondering where I had screwed up.

I put the remote in the center console and drilled a hole in the front next to the 12v outlet to run the wire. All the excess wire fit nicely in the void under the center console. That remote has about 10 feet of excess wire but you can't cut it.

The ground went to a bolt under the center console.

I didn't attach the unit to anything. It fits in there pretty well and sits down in a depression, so I doubt it will slide around. I was super careful to hide every wire, it's pretty stealth.

I ordered some Focal 6x9 speakers for the front doors. They come with component tweeters. I ordered some JL Audio 6 3/4 for the rear doors. None of that has come yet but I will update this when I install them. I did not upgrade the head unit because I didn't want to lose all the functionality.

I totally recommend the Kenwood KSC SW11, it's plenty loud enough, and even with the stock speakers it is 1000 percent better than before. I paid $151 at Amazon, Crutchfield wanted $249.

Have fun!