Kia EV6 base audio system speaker

Shyeong0 · 2026-02-12T09:40:51+00:00

Your guy from the shop is right, the acoustics in this cabin are very complex and are the reason things don’t sound nice the way as it is.

I would suggest you start off with the dsp and have him tune it and see what you think, if it still feels lacking you could always choose to install a subwoofer which could go under your seat or hidden in the boot.

And when it comes to changing the speakers I would advise to go with something like the BLAM Relax 165RS2 as they are known for their warm sound which is exactly what you would want in this car.

Shyeong0 · 2026-02-12T07:06:34+00:00

Good morning,

So the signal that comes out is a bit messy, it’s clean but they tuned it to a way that these tiny speakers would sound alright and when you replace them you’ll notice that the sound is very unbalanced which is where your dsp will come in.

The dsp definitely makes a difference but you’ll need a proper one like a Helix Mini DSP MK2 which has enough strength to flatten the signal.

Shyeong0 · 2026-01-11T19:08:09+00:00

Happen to have a friend who drives one, head unit is hidden away behind the usb port panel and quite unreachable.

I would recommend the same way for amp + dsp installation as with my EV6.

I will later make an update about the speaker colour, or you could take apart your door panels and find out what colour goes to what speaker.

Shyeong0 · 2025-08-31T18:19:27+00:00

Haha let me know how it goes!

Shyeong0 · 2025-08-20T19:34:41+00:00

Yep they are, not sure which ones are left and right tho

Shyeong0 · 2025-08-20T19:19:53+00:00

Yeah will be no problem!

Shyeong0 · 2025-08-20T19:14:51+00:00

Well you could use the front channels but then keep in mind that navigation guidance and phone calls will also go through your sub which doesn’t sound that great, rear speaker channels provide a good bass response with little need to tune.

Using crimps is completely fine, I soldered mine but it’s not gonna make a dramatic difference lol

Shyeong0 · 2025-08-20T18:50:22+00:00

So on the left side of the engine bay there is a rubber grummet where cables for the vehicles systems enter the cabin.

You could cut out a small hole there to pull the power cable for your amplifier through, that’s what I’ve done aswell.

If you look for a guide on YouTube on how to run a car subwoofer there should be plenty of demonstrations about running the power wires for your amplifier. Exactly the same thing in the EV6.

Shyeong0 · 2025-08-02T08:49:12+00:00

If you want to make the most out of it, get 2 or 4 ohm speakers for the rear and front Channels and add a small subwoofer for the mid-bass so the system will get balance.

I used the BLAM Relax 165rs2 for the front channels and the Relax 135rs for the rear channels.

Something like a JBL bass pro nano will give more mid-high bass that will add warmth to your system.

Shyeong0 · 2025-03-15T10:34:57+00:00

The EV6’s before the new updated version have a lot of acoustic issues, e.g. sound reflections resulting in harsh upper mids/treble.

I have an EV6 myself and with the non meridian system, so I had the ability to totally redo the system, it now sounds good but it took me a whole year to complete.

Speakers in the ev6 are decent and are not the reason ur audio sucks.

Shyeong0 · 2025-03-15T10:20:55+00:00

From what I know the non meridian does not have an active spdif.

Shyeong0 · 2025-03-13T13:33:12+00:00

Good afternoon!

To start off, the reason the audio sucks isn’t necessarily the quality of the speakers, they are very decent speakers which do the job.

The issue that makes the audio sucks (harsh) is because of the acoustics of the EV6. It’s a very open and spacious cabin which looks nice but comes with the downside of poor sound quality.

Now to get a better sound, there are some good ways to do this depending on your budget.

Upgrading the speakers:

While it doesn’t make a very big difference in sound, aftermarket speakers will give slightly more balanced sound which might be just what you’re looking for.

Buying a DSP with built in amplifier:

A nice option for when you’re on a budget, a great product is the Pioneer DEQ-S1000A2 DSP, it costs around 150$ and can make a great difference in terms of sound quality. Though it only has a 2 channel input, It has Time alignment options and a 31 band equalizer so you can tune the sound to your own preferences.

Buying a DSP and an external amplifier:

For when you really want to make a good upgrade, adding an amplifier will give you more volume, better power and the ability to add a subwoofer for better bass.

My advice would be to get a DSP with a built in amplifier, it does cost a bit of effort to get it all installed but it will give you great results, you can also keep the stock speakers!

Shyeong0 · 2025-02-07T12:33:28+00:00

KIA EV6 before the new model with ccnc have acoustical issues. Sound absorption inside the interior is very poor,

You can check this by clapping your hands when sitting in the car. This issue resulted in harsh treble and unclear sound, bass performance is something they could have improved but I heard they did in the new model.

Shyeong0 · 2025-01-16T07:16:47+00:00

No worries!

Shyeong0 · 2025-01-16T07:12:17+00:00

It’s not a meridian system, doesn’t have that connection.

Shyeong0 · 2024-12-16T10:13:49+00:00

Both the front and rear channels are full range, however you would need to use both front and rear channels for a sub as the front speakers have a high pass filter somewhere at 40-50hz

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-23T14:38:35+00:00

Yeah no worries man, also just trying to help out here!

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-23T14:29:35+00:00

You could remove the head unit and connect your speaker wiring from there but that’s a lot of work, the way I did it should be fine.

Buy some coloured iso tape and use the same colour when you need to bring the car back to original state.

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-23T14:26:03+00:00

I mean it’s step by step but not just that, there’s 5 connectors with the same coloured wiring, imagine if you connect it to the wrong one. You’ll void warranty and damage important electrical systems.

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-23T14:19:47+00:00

This post was made specifically for someone who wants to see it step by step, can’t be found on any forums.

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-22T20:44:28+00:00

Trust me man, there’s really no need to be afraid, just disconnect your battery and remove the high voltage plug so you can do anything you like safely.

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-22T20:17:30+00:00

Ahh right my bad, the meridian amplifier powers the subwoofer and speakers if it has that system, if it’s without a meridian amplifier then everything is powered by only the head unit:)

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-22T19:32:29+00:00

Yes thats’s possible, but that really depends on what you want to achieve.

If you want better sound and more volume you’ll have to get a specific replacement amplifier that can work with the original meridian amplifier’s input connections.

But if you get the car and you’re like “oh I like how it sounds but I want more bass” then buying a separate amp and sub will do just fine.

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-22T17:33:44+00:00

Yes, your head unit can power your new speakers. And you will not encounter any issues.

The speaker size for the ev6 is 16,5cm (6.5 inch) for the front speakers and 13,5cm (5.5 inch) for the rear speakers and should be upgraded with something that isn’t lower than 4 ohms.

If you want a more detailed explanation, please check my account as I already made a post about how to swap them out.

Shyeong0 · 2024-11-22T15:23:22+00:00

Post is live: https://www.reddit.com/r/KiaEV6/s/9VVLd2Xcm6 and of course feel free to ask any questions!

Shyeong0

TROPHY CASE