1.888.955.6000
 
 
1-888-955-6000
crutchfield.com
Crutchfield

Free Shipping on Everything

60-Day Money-Back Guarantee  |  Lifetime Tech Support

Kenwood KAC-8404

4-channel car amplifier
50 watts RMS x 4 (New Stock)

Zoom
  • Kenwood KAC-8404

    Front

  • Kenwood KAC-8404

    Back

Crutchfield OMC logo
We don't check this item for fit or compatibility.

Item# 113KAC8404 offer details

Item# 113KAC8404

Review Summary

 
DISCONTINUED
 
This item is no longer available to purchase.
 
Contact us for other options
 
 
 
 
 

By buying this product you'll earn up to 173 Rewards points.

When you sign up for a Crutchfield account, you’ll be enrolled in Crutchfield Rewards. You’ll earn one point for every dollar you spend on gear from us. You can turn your points into Rewards Cards that you can use toward future purchases. You can sign up for an account now, or after you complete your purchase (you’ll get credit for the points either way).

 
Kenwood

My system has plenty of power. Who needs an amp?

You might think you don't need an amp because you have a 400-watt system in your car, or because your new stereo puts out 50 watts a channel. But those are peak wattage ratings, which may boil down to 15 or 20 watts per channel, using the more realistic RMS rating. An amp sends your speakers the power they need to deliver your music with clarity and impact, whether you're using factory speakers or high-performance components. And low-frequency reproduction requires lots of power, so an amp is an absolute must if you're adding a sub to your system.

Our take on the Kenwood KAC-8404

by Buck Pomerantz

Kenwood made their reputation building car amplifiers that offer no-nonsense reliability and superior sound quality. The compact KAC-8404 4-channel amplifier features a rugged cast-aluminum chassis more than 40% smaller than its predecessor, yet it'll still pump out 50 watts RMS to each of 4 channels — ideal for improving the performance of the front and rear speakers in your system. Or, you can bridge the amp to 2-channel mode and drive a couple of subs with 180 watts RMS each without straining your car's electrical system.

Built-in high- and low-pass filters adjust the amplifier output so you'll get the best sound possible from your speaker or subwoofer combo, while the variable bass boost lets you dial in up to 18 dB of bass boost, if you want to fatten up the sound.

The front-mounted controls allow you to tweak the sound easily, and convenient front-side connections make setup a snap. Signal sensing turn-on and speaker-level inputs allow these amps to hook up to factory radios that don't have preamp level outputs.

Highlights:

  • 4-channel car amplifier
  • 50 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms (75 watts x 4 at 2 ohms)
  • 180 watts RMS x 2 bridged output at 4 ohms (4 ohm stable in bridged mode)
  • 2-, 3-, and 4-channel operation
  • CEA-2006 compliant
  • high-pass (12 dB per octave) and low-pass (24 dB per octave) filters variable from 50 to 200 Hz
  • variable bass boost (0-18 dB at 40 Hz)
  • cooling fan
  • MOSFET power supply
  • speaker-level inputs with signal sensing turn-on
  • preamp-level inputs
  • fuse rating: 40A x 1
  • 8-gauge power and ground leads recommended — wiring and hardware not included with amplifier
  • 11-1/16"W x 2-5/16"H x 9-7/8"D
  • warranty: 1 year
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
Shop all Kenwood Car Amplifiers
     

    Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

    Features and Specs

    Features and Specs
    Performance
    RMS Power Output (Watts x Channels)
    Loading...
    50 x 4
    Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels)
    Loading...
    150 x 4
    Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels)
    Loading...
    75 x 4
    Bridged Power (Watts x Channels)
    Loading...
    180 x 2
    Minimum Impedance Bridged
    Loading...
    4
    Minimum Impedance Unbridged
    Loading...
    2
    Best Frequency Response
    Loading...
    5-50k Hz
    THD at Rated RMS Power
    Loading...
    1%
    Signal to Noise Ratio
    Loading...
    80 dB
    Input Voltage
    Loading...
    14.4v
    Features
    Amplifier Class
    Loading...
    AB
    Low-Pass Crossover Frequency
    Loading...
    50-200 Hz
    Low-Pass Slope (dB/octave)
    Loading...
    12 dB
    High-Pass Crossover Frequency
    Loading...
    50-200 HZ
    High-Pass Slope (dB/octave)
    Loading...
    12 dB
    Bass Boost
    Loading...
    18 dB (rear only)
    Bass Boost Frequency
    Loading...
    40 Hz
    Fan Cooled
    Loading...
    Yes
    Fuse Rating
    Loading...
    40 x 1
    Speaker Level Inputs
    Loading...
    Harness
    Preamp Outputs
    Loading...
    No
    Width (inches)
    Loading...
    9-7/8
    Height (inches)
    Loading...
    2-5/16
    Depth (inches)
    Loading...
    11-1/16
    Parts Warranty
    Loading...
    1 Year
    Labor Warranty
    Loading...
    1 Year

    Product Research

    Product Research
    What's in the box?

    Download owner's manual

    • 4-channel amplifier with 40-amp blade fuse inserted into the chassis
    • Allen wrench
    • Speaker level input harness
    • Rubber terminal cover
    • Four 3/4" Self-tapping screws
    • Instruction Manual (English/French/Spanish)
    • Warranty information

    Our Product Research Team

    At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

    Features
    Controls
    Connections

    Features

    CEA-2006 Compliant: CEA-2006 is a new system of testing & measurement methods for mobile audio amplifiers. This voluntary standard advocates a uniform method for determining an amplifier's RMS power output and signal-to-noise ratio. The criteria for measuring power uses a DC input voltage of 14.4 volts and the RMS power output is measured into a 4-ohm load, with 1% or less Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) plus noise, and at a frequency range (for full range amplifiers) of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Signal-to-Noise ratio is measured in weighted absolute decibels (dBA) at a reference of 1 watt into 4 ohms. CEA-2006 allows consumers to compare car amplifiers and receivers on an equal basis. The Kenwood KAC-8404 under CEA-2006 regulations is rated at 50 Watts RMS x 4 channels with a 80 dBA signal to noise ratio.

    Bridgeable: The Kenwood 4-channel amplifier features two stereo amplifiers inside one chassis that not only can be used in a 4-channel configuration but also can be bridged and used in a 2-channel or 3-channel configuration. The amplifier is rated at 180 Watts x 2 at 4 ohm in 2-channel mode and 50 Watts x 2/180 Watts x 1 at 4 ohm in 3-channel mode.

    MOS-FET Switching Power Supply: The amplifier utilizes a MOS-FET switching power supply providing thermal stability and efficient switching speeds guaranteeing performance and dependability.

    Control Cover: The Kenwood KAC-8404 features a brushed aluminum top cover that conceals all of its controls. This provides a very clean look as well as protects the amplifier's controls from being accidentally changed. The cover is held in place by two hex head screws. An allen-wrench is supplied to remove the cover.

    Crossovers: The KAC-8404 has built-in high pass and low pass crossovers. The high pass crossover's slope is 12 dB/octave and is continuously variable from 50Hz to 200Hz and can be controlled independently for the A (Front) and B (Rear) channels. The low pass crossover's slope is also 12 dB/octave and continuously variable from 50Hz to 200Hz and can be controlled independently for the A (Front) and B (Rear) channels. The amplifier can also be operated at full-range simultaneously for both A (Front) and B (Rear) channels.

    Bass Boost: A fixed bass boost of 18dB at 40Hz can be engaged for Amplifier B (Rear) only. There is no bass boost for Amplifier A (Front).

    Stereo/Mono Operation: You can independently switch Amplifier A (Front) and Amplifier B (Rear) from Stereo to Mono operation. When switched to Mono, the signal from the left channel input only is used.

    Line Level Inputs: Amplifiers A (Front) and B (Rear) each have separate line-level RCA inputs with independent gain (Input Sensitivity) controls. The Input Sensitivity controls will accept an input signal of 200mV to 5.0 Volts.

    Signal Sensing Speaker Level Input: The KAC-8404 comes with a 4-channel speaker level input harness.  This feature makes it easier to add an amplifier to a factory radio or a receiver with no preamp outputs. You don't need to connect the remote turn-on wire when using the speaker-level input harness because the power of the amplifier is turned "On" and "Off" as the amp detects input signal from the unit's speaker level input.

    Built-In Fans: There are two fans and two vents located on the back side of the amplifier to help dissipate heat and ensure cool, reliable operation. Make sure not to block these vents or fans when you install the amplifier.

    Power Indicator: When the power is turned on to the amplifier, the Power indicator will light up red. This indicator will turn off with the amplifier and will turn off if the amplifier goes into protect mode. The amplifier also features a Blue LED lamp on the top of the amplifier which illuminates when the amplifier is on.

    Protection circuitry: The amplifier features protection circuits that will turn the amp off in case of the following events to protect the amplifier and your speakers:

    • Speaker output contacts ground
    • Speaker wire short-circuits
    • Unit malfunctions and DC is sent to speaker output
    • Internal temperature is too high
    • Loss of ground of head unit or amp

    Controls

    Top of the Amplifier: All of the amplifier's controls are found on top of the amp under the removable brushed aluminum cover.

    • A-Channel Crossover: High Pass/Low Pass/Off
    • A-Channel Operation Mode: Stereo/Mono
    • A-Channel Crossover Frequency: 50-200 Hz
    • A-Channel Input Sensitivity: 200 mV-5 V
    • B-Channel Crossover: High Pass/Low Pass/Off
    • B-Channel Operation Mode: Stereo/Mono
    • B-Channel Crossover Frequency: 50-200 Hz
    • B-Channel Input Sensitivity: 200 mV-5 V
    • Bass Boost (B-Channel only): On/Off

    Connections

    Front of the Amplifier: All of the amplifier's connections are found on the front of the amplifier for easy access.

    • Fuse: 40 amp
    • Power: Gold-plated screw terminal (0.5625" wide)
    • Ground: Gold plated-screw terminal (0.5625" wide)
    • Remote Turn-On: Gold-plated screw terminal (0.3125" wide)
    • Speaker Outputs: Gold-plated screw terminals (0.3125" wide)
    • A and B Line In: Two pair of gold-plated RCA inputs
    • Ground Screw: Phillips-head screw for RCA signal ground if needed
    • Speaker-Level Input: Multi-pin input for use with included speaker level input harness

    Note: The amplifier features a brushed aluminum top cover used to hide the unit's controls and which also needs to be removed to access the Power, Ground, Turn-on, and Speaker terminals. The cover is held in place by two small hex-head screws which are removed using the supplied hex-key. Once all connections and control adjustments are made, the top cover should be re-installed.

     

    Product Reviews

    Review this product
    Great Gear Giveaway rewards card

    Submit a review and you will be entered to win a $150 gift card

    Crutchfield Great Gear Giveaway Official Sweepstakes Rules

    Reviews for the Kenwood KAC-8404

    Average Customer Review:

    6 people say:

    Review this product:

    Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences about this product. Please be sure to focus your comments on the product itself. Read our Review Guidelines for more information.

    Your email won't be visible. Please use the email address that is associated with your order.
    (e.g., JohnD) Your review will be signed using the display name and location
    (e.g., Charlottesville, VA)

    Click on a star to rate the overall product on a scale of 1-5
    1500 characters left
    Attach a YouTube Review
    Crutchfield Video Review Guidelines
    • Only submit videos that you made or are authorized to use.
    • Do not submit videos that contain music, video or visuals that are copyrighted and belong to someone else.
    • Please see our Review Guidelines for more information.
    500 characters left
    500 characters left
    Filter by rating:
    Sort by:
    Showing: 1-6 of 6
    View page: 1
    5 out of 5

    Good Amp

    Written By Dave, Mentor, OH on Saturday, November 07, 2009
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    This is amp was perfect for the power i needed for my kenwood speakers. sounds
    great, and gets loud! Im a proud owner of this amp now. the heart to my great
    clean sound of car.
    1 out of 1 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    4 out of 5

    Very flexible, you can't go wrong

    Written By Michael, Bronx, NY on Sunday, August 16, 2009
     
    I can only speak of how this amp handles mids & highs, since I have a
    separate dedicated amp for my subs. The sound is very crisp & clean. It's
    powering 6.5-inch Kenwoods in the front and rear factory speakers of
    my '02 VW Golf. It was a HUGE improvement over my last 4-channel amp
    once I took the time to tweak the settings. I'm a perfectionist, so it took me
    about a week to get it just right for my tastes. I'd keep the cover off for a
    while as you'll find yourself making minor adjustments as you drive around.
    I have the gain on the front channels slightly higher than the rears and
    have both the front/rear channels on HPF at around 100 Hz.

    Anyway, my only minor setback was slight engine noise. The only time I
    heard it was when I paused my iPod or was using bluetooth, but it still
    annoyed me. You always hear about the importance of a good, solid
    ground. I originally had the amp grounded to a distribution block along with
    my sub amp. Instead, I ran a slightly longer ground wire directly to the
    grounding point. After that, all I heard was dead silence when I revved the
    engine with the music paused and the windows up.

    Aside from performance, I prefer amps like this one whose connection
    terminals are all on one side so the install is cleaner. I have it mounted low
    on the driver's side trunk wall. For the price and performance, I think
    this amp is more than a fair value.
    5 out of 5 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    lots of solid, clean power.

    Written By septone, seattle, wa on Tuesday, October 07, 2008
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    I have a Kenwood KAC-8404 powering all of my door and dash speakers, some polk audio 4x6 in the dash, 6x9 in the rear deck, and infiniti 51/4" in the front door. I can turn it up to the point where it actually begins to hurt the ears without any distortion.

    The highs are crisp and clean. :)

    I'm very happy with this amp.
    1 out of 2 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    Put your Kenwoods together

    Written By Neal, Chicago on Thursday, June 12, 2008
     
    I put this Kenwood KAC-8404 with a Kenwood SR700 (sirius built-in satelite receiver). Pair of Kenwood KFC 1682ie 3way speakers and pair of Kicker 6 1/2" Midbass/subwoofer 04SSMB6. All which fit in the doors of my Colorado. Sound is excellant, size is great and power is perfect for vehicle.
    2 out of 2 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    Excellent choice when you're on a budget

    Written By Big Walt, Moreno Valley, CA on Wednesday, May 28, 2008
     
    This amp sounds
    AWESOME!!! I'm using
    it to power a pair
    of 5 x 7 Infinity
    Reference Series
    component speakers
    and a pair of
    Infinity 5 x 7 Kappa
    Series 2 way
    speakers with ZERO
    distortion. Because
    of budget issues(not
    enough money LOL) I
    have to wait to
    install a sub, but
    the mids thump hard
    enough to keep me
    content until then.
    Originally I had an
    Infinity 5 channel
    amp, but it was just
    too big, this amp is
    perfect for the
    amount of space that
    I'm playing with.
    You can't go wrong
    with this amp.
    3 out of 3 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    Great Buy

    Written By Ashley, Clintonvile, WI on Saturday, April 12, 2008
     
    I used this amplifier to power a set of 6.5" component speakers and a 10" subwoofer. The flexibility of the variable crossovers and 3 way capability make this amplifier an excellent all in one amplifier. Plenty of power for the subwoofer, and the component speakers really sound great. Overall this amp combined with the new speakers added an amazing amount of depth to my music. Volume levels can be cranked up much higher now due to the clean boost in power.
    42 out of 48 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    1-6 of 6

    Accessories

    Add accessories for the Kenwood KAC-8404

    You'll need an amp wiring kit to install your new amplifier, as wiring is not included. See all categories & accessories

    EFX 8-gauge Amplifier Wiring Kit Power and signal connections for your new amp
    120 people say 
    Your Price: $49.99
    Add to Cart
    Rockford Fosgate RFK8 8-gauge amplifier power wiring kit
    1 person says 
    Your Price: $64.99
    Add to Cart
    Rockford Fosgate RFK8i 8-gauge amplifier power and signal wiring kit
    23 people say 
    Your Price: $74.99
    Add to Cart
    StreetWires 16-gauge Super Cable™ Speaker Wire Blue jacket — priced per foot
    17 people say 
    Your Price: $0.49
    Add to Cart
    StreetWires 14-gauge Ultra Cable™ Speaker Wire Blue/copper jacket — priced per foot
    30 people say 
    Your Price: $1.49
    Add to Cart
    StreetWires 14-gauge Super Cable™ Speaker Wire Translucent blue jacket — priced per foot (Clear)
    3 people say 
    Your Price: $1.49
    Add to Cart
    StreetWires Zero Noise 5 Stereo Patch Cables High-performance cables with superior noise rejection (16.4-foot)
    28 people say 
    Your Price: $29.99
    Add to Cart
    StreetWires Zero Noise 5 4-channel Patch Cables Available in 3 different lengths (16.4 feet)
    12 people say 
    Your Price: $59.99
    Add to Cart
    StreetWires Zero Noise 7 4-Channel Patch Cable Available in different lengths (16.4 feet)
    5 people say 
    Your Price: $79.99
    Add to Cart
    StreetWires Firewall Bushing Protect your 8-gauge cable against firewall damage
    6 people say 
    Your Price: $9.99
    Add to Cart
    Tsunami Litewave Series PP92UM-CAP 2-farad canister-style capacitor
    7 people say 
    Your Price: $149.99
    Add to Cart
    Tsunami LITEWAVE Series PP912UM-CAP 1.2-farad canister-style capacitor with blue LCD meter
    33 people say 
    Your Price: $99.99
    Add to Cart
    Metra Crimp Tool and Connectors Package contains crimp tool and over 150 pieces
    5 people say 
    Your Price: $19.99
    Add to Cart
    S&G Wire Cutter/Stripper Tool Cuts and strips 12- to 22-gauge wire
    5 people say 
    Your Price: $19.99
    Add to Cart
    Pro.Fit Wire Worm Installation tool helps route wiring through tight spaces
    19 people say 
    Your Price: $12.99
    Add to Cart
    S&G Tool Aid 87650 Door Trim and Panel Removal Tool
    51 people say 
    Your Price: $9.99
    Add to Cart
    Skewdriver Pro SPK4042 Ratcheting straight and offset screwdriver set with 40 bits (Skewdriver Pro with ratchet handle, pictured)
    6 people say 
    Your Price: $49.99
    Add to Cart
    DEI Heat Shrink Tubing Black 4-foot length (Assortment)
     
    Your Price: $24.99
    Add to Cart
     
    Your Price: $69.95
    Add to Cart
    InstallCard: Amp or Equalizer Prepaid professional amplifier or EQ installation
    13 people say 
    Your Price: $79.99
    Add to Cart

    Smart people protect with SquareTrade- The best warranty at the best price

    SquareTrade Warranty
    SquareTrade Warranty 3 Year Warranty
    Your Price: $24.99
    Add to Cart

    In business since 1999, SquareTrade is the largest independent warranty provider in the U.S.

    100% parts and labor - no deductibles

    All mechanical and electrical failures covered, includes normal wear and tear.

    Your item's repaired or the full item price returned withing 5 days

    Runs concurrent with manufacturer's warranty

    Rated 5-stars by consumers

    For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Kenwood KAC-8404, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/S-76gETvhJ75e/p_113KAC8404/Kenwood-KAC-8404.html ).

    Get live, personalized service from an expert

    Crutchfield Advisor: Hi there.

    Crutchfield Advisor: We're happy to answer questions or provide additional info about this item.

    Advisors also available at 1-888-600-3963

    Sorry, the Kenwood KAC-8404 is no longer available for purchase.

    • Front

      Kenwood KAC-8404
    • Back

      Kenwood KAC-8404