Kicker Audio FAQ: Answers for Small Shops, Installers, and the People Who Searched for the Wrong Kicker

Before you scroll past, yes: I'm a quality and brand compliance manager in mobile electronics. I review roughly 200 audio shipments a year, and I've rejected my share of them. In our Q1 2024 quality audit, 11% of first deliveries came back with something wrong—wrong impedance, missing mounting hardware, or an enclosure that didn't match the cut sheet. So this FAQ is written from that seat, not from a marketing desk.

Here's the thing: the search terms that lead people to Kicker audio are basically a basket of unrelated questions. Some people are looking for the Rams kicker interview. Some want a roof cargo box. Some just want to know if they need a pressure washer for a foam cannon. This page answers the Kicker audio questions, plus the adjacent gear questions that show up on the same work order.

1. Wait—is this the Rams kicker interview? Or the Mevis Rams kicker story?

No, it's not. If you searched for 'rams kicker interview' or 'mevis rams kicker,' you're looking for a football player, not a subwoofer. (Happens all the time, unfortunately.) This page is about Kicker Audio, the car audio brand that makes subwoofers, amplifiers, speakers, and marine audio gear. But if you're an installer or a dealer who happens to be reading this, the next few questions are more useful than an interview recap.

2. I'm a small shop. Can I get Kicker products without a huge opening order?

Short answer: yes, usually. Most Kicker distributors have a tiered pricing structure, and the starting tier is pretty reasonable—you don't need a 50-unit commitment to get a real price. That matters to me because I've watched suppliers blow off small first orders, and it's a mistake. The vendors who treated my $200 starter order like an actual order were the ones I sent $20,000 orders to later. Small doesn't mean unimportant; it means potential.

Before you open an account, ask for the current spec sheets and availability. Also ask about dead stock policy. A good distributor will be honest about what's an active SKU and what's been sitting in a warehouse. That's a red flag if they're not.

3. RMS or peak power—which Kicker spec should I actually check?

It's tempting to think peak power is the real number because it's bigger. Honestly, peak power is the marketing number. RMS is what a subwoofer can handle continuously, and that's the number your amp selection should match. The 'just buy the biggest amp' advice ignores the vehicle's electrical system and the enclosure's mechanical limits.

For example: a Kicker sub rated 300W RMS will sound better on a clean 300W RMS amp than on a cheap 1,500W peak amp that clips. If you're ordering for a customer, put the RMS range on the work order. That one line saves you a blown-sub warranty call. Per FTC guidelines, wattage claims have to be truthful and substantiated, so a spec sheet is a better source than a box sticker.

4. What's the most common Kicker install mistake you see in your reviews?

Enclosure mismatch, by far. People buy a 12-inch Kicker sub and assume every sealed box labeled 12-inch will fit it. I learned that lesson when a pre-fab box looked perfect on the outside, but the sub's mounting depth was about 1/4 inch too deep. Magnet hit the back wall. (Thankfully, we checked before shipping.)

Most buyers focus on the sub diameter and completely miss mounting depth, enclosure volume, and displacement. The question everyone asks is will a 12 fit my box? The question they should ask is is this enclosure the right volume and depth for this specific Kicker subwoofer model?

5. Does the Sportrack SR7016 Horizon roof mount cargo box have anything to do with audio?

Not directly, but installers ask because a work order rarely stops at speakers. The Sportrack SR7016 Horizon roof mount cargo box is a roof-mounted cargo box that clamps onto crossbars. The same quality-check logic applies: read the fitment notes before you promise it'll work. Check the crossbar spread, the load rating, and the box's mounting style. Universal fit is a starting point, not a guarantee.

It's kind of like a Kicker subwoofer in that way. The spec sheet is the truth. If the sheet says mounting depth is X inches, don't assume the enclosure has extra room.

6. Should I add a hardwired vehicle GPS tracker to a demo car or fleet vehicle?

If you're building a show car with a serious Kicker system, I'd say yes. A hardwired vehicle GPS tracker is harder to yank out than an OBD-II plug-in, and it's connected to a constant power source with a proper fuse and ground. That's the setup I recommend when a customer asks about protecting an investment.

But check the current draw before you finalize the install. Some trackers pull enough power to drain a battery in a vehicle that sits for two weeks. I'll never assume a tracker is low-power again—not after watching a battery die on a trailer queen. (Been there, unfortunately.)

7. Do you need a pressure washer for a foam cannon?

Yes—a foam cannon doesn't work unless it has a pressure washer behind it. But you don't need a 3,000 PSI gas-powered beast. For car prep, an electric pressure washer in the 1,200–1,800 PSI range with 1.2–1.6 GPM is basically the sweet spot. The 'more pressure is better' advice ignores the fact that too much pressure can damage trim, door seals, and even a Kicker grille on a demo vehicle.

Match the cannon to the GPM, not the PSI. That's the spec most people miss, and it's the one that actually determines foam thickness.

8. Why would a small independent install shop choose Kicker over cheaper brands?

Consistency. In my line of work, the worst thing is a product that changes between batches. Kicker has been around long enough that their spec sheets and packaging are pretty stable, and that makes QC easier for me and for you. Is it always the cheapest? No. Is it a no-brainer for every subwoofer order? Not necessarily. But for a shop that cares about fewer warranty claims and happier customers, the brand name does heavy lifting.

And here's the part I care about most: a good supplier shouldn't treat a $500 Kicker order like a nuisance. If they do, that's their loss. I've built $20,000 orders on relationships that started with a $200 test order. Bottom line: small buyers can demand quality, and experienced distribution will respect that.

That's it. No grand conclusion. If you have a more specific install question, ask your distributor's tech line—and read the spec sheet first.