Our take on the Soundgate™ Powerstage™ System by Kicker

by Buck Pomerantz

Transform your F-150 Super Crew's factory sound system

You've got a great set of wheels, but something's missing: the sound of the Ford factory radio leaves a lot to be desired. Low power, less-then-ideal speaker placement, and dialed-back bass all contribute to the unhappy situation. This Soundgate Powerstage system upgrade by Kicker will transform your Ford F-150's stock radio and speakers into a high-fidelity sound system capable of giving you full, accurate, and richly-textured musical pleasure. And it does it without changing the look of your F150's interior or dash.

The digital processor/amp and the wiring
are custom-fit for your vehicle.

It plugs into your factory wiring with no cutting

The heart of the system is the Powerstage processor/amp module that plugs in between your car's stock receiver and speakers with the help of a Ford-specific wiring harness. Kicker's technicians measured the acoustics of the F-150 Super Crew's interior, then developed a program to get the strongest and cleanest audio performance possible from the stock speakers. The Powerstage module breathes new life into your vehicle's factory system, automatically correcting for the limitations of the factory speakers, then adding plenty of power so the speakers can sound their best.

Of course, there's a subwoofer with it

It wouldn't be a sonic upgrade without a subwoofer to bring bass magic to the mix. Kicker includes a custom-fit, powered subwoofer that mounts under the right rear seat. A 200-watt amplifier provides the power you need to feel the bass from the 10" sub in the front seat.

Substage™ for the F-150
mounts under the rear seat.

Do it yourself and save

This Soundgate upgrade package comes with all the hardware and brackets you'll need, and all the wiring is pre-cut and terminated to help make the installation easier. Step-by-step, illustrated instructions make this sonic upgrade a fun and rewarding project.

Important Note: This upgrade package will only work with the 2011-up Ford F-150 Super Crew pickup with the basic factory sound system. It will not work in a Ford F-150 with the premium (Sony) sound system. If your truck doesn't have a factory subwoofer, you'll need a nut insert tool (not included) to complete the installation.

See more info on this item

Highlights:

audio upgrade system
fits 2011-up Ford F-150 Super Crew with basic, factory system
package includes:
- digital signal processor with built-in 4-channel amplifier
- processor features preset high-pass filters, EQs, and speaker time alignment
- amplifier: 50 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms
- vehicle-specific harness connects processor to factory stereo
- Soundgate Substage SF150C09 custom-fit powered subwoofer
- molded plastic enclosure fits under rear seat
- 10" round subwoofer
- 200 watts RMS sub amp
all power and signal wiring pre-cut and terminated, ready for installation
custom-engineered processor/amp mounting bracket
illustrated installation and setup instructions
warranty: 1 year
Our 60-day money-back guarantee

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What’s in the box? | In-depth notes

Product Research

What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

Subwoofer assembly (enclosure/ 10" subwoofer/ amplifier)
Amplifier assembly (full range amplifier/ mounting bracket)
11' Subwoofer body harness
8.5' Subwoofer power harness (with in-line fuse holder)
Three M6x25mm Bolts with flat washers attached
3 M6 Nut inserts
15 amp mini blade fuse
Twelve 6" Zip ties
2 Adhesive backed foam pads
42" Amplifier body harness
8.5' Amplifier power harness (with in-line fuse holder)
25 amp mini blade fuse
Installation instructions
Warranty information

Our Product Research Team

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Features

Overview: Kicker's SoundGate PowerStage factory audio upgrade kits are designed to fit in specific year/make/model vehicles. The PF150C11 is compatible with select 2011 and 2012 Ford Supercrew pickups (please confirm fit with the Crutchfield vehicle selector). Included with the system are a 10" subwoofer in a custom enclosure, subwoofer amp, multi-channel amp with custom mounting brackets, all the necessary cables to power the amplifiers, and adapter plugs to connect to the factory radio and speakers without cutting into any of the factory wiring.

Multi-Channel Amplifier: The multi-channel amplifier is rated at 50 watts RMS x 4 channels and powers the front and rear factory speakers. The amp also has a built-in computer-optimized, 32-bit DSP (Digital Signal Processor) programmed specifically for the truck's interior and factory audio system. A custom bracket is bolted to the amp to mount it out of sight, above the parking brake. The included wiring harness has adapter plugs that connect between the factory radio and factory harness, so cutting/splicing/testing the existing wires is not necessary. The included power harness is connected to the accessory lug in the fuse box in the engine compartment, and specific wire routing instructions are included.

Subwoofer: The single 10" Kicker subwoofer is loaded in a custom enclosure and powered by a 200-watt amplifier mounted to the enclosure. The included wiring harness has an adapter plug that connects to the multi-channel amp's harness (for subwoofer signal input) and the power cable is connected to the accessory lug in the fuse box in the engine compartment. Specific wire routing instructions are included, as is all necessary mounting hardware.

Note: The subwoofer is mounted under the rear seat on the passenger's side. The hardware to mount the subwoofer is included, but if the truck didn't have a factory subwoofer a nut insert tool is also necessary (and not included).

Electrical System: Both amplifiers are designed to have minimum impact on the truck's charging system.

Dimensions: The listed dimensions do not include the mounting brackets (regardless of these measurements, the amplifier mounting brackets and subwoofer enclosure are custom built to fit out of sight in the vehicle):

Amplifier:
- Width: 8-1/4"
- Height: 1-3/8"
- Depth: 6"
Subwoofer Enclosure:
- Width: 25"
- Height: 8-1/4"
- Depth: 13"

Product reviews from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Video: Kicker Soundgate Powerstage System

Zak Billmeier

2/20/2013

The Soundgate Powerstage system upgrade by Kicker will transform your compatible vehicle's stock radio and speakers into a high-fidelity sound system capable of giving you full, accurate, and...

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5 out of 5

SoundgateT PowerstageT System by Kicker

Written By DNS, Arlington,TX on Sunday, May 19, 2013

Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)

SoundgateT PowerstageT System by Kicker is exactly as advertised. The included instructions are right on and all the components and wiring fit perfectly. Kicker states the product was designed to fit not only the existing system, but also engineered to complement the massive cabin space of the F150 Lariat Supercrew. It is true. It is a bit on the expensive side but in this example you get what you pay for. I am actually far beyond impressed!.It adds wicked bass and enhances the entire range of sound. Kicker really did their due diligence designing this product.

Pros:

Superb sound, detailed instructions, very neat clean installation. Every bit as slick as the factory sub and enhanced system. It isn't without effort to install but the end result is worth it.

Cons:

None

1 out of 1 people found this helpful

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5 out of 5

Pretty Good!

Written By Richard, San Antonio, TX on Thursday, April 25, 2013

Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)

I picked this up the other day. It is pricey but I couldn't resist that it was all plug and play as I did not feel like tearing up all of the backseat area to mount an amp on the back wall. Anyway, long story short is that the improvement over the stock system is great! The system has the potential to hit as hard as anyone would want unless you're one of those that needs to vibrate anyone and everyone around you. Apparently Kicker recommends not to use aftermarket speakers. I have Infinity Reference 6832cf's all the way around and they have opened up quite nicely with the provided DSP. Very clear sound and zero distortion. They sounded good without the DSP but now that it's hooked up I can tell they were a bit muddy before. Overall I am very pleased. I can also say that it'll blow the Sony Stereo out in terms of bass and clarity. The only upside to the Sony is the extra speakers in the A-pillars and center channel. This was installed in a 2011 FX2 F-150 and the install was very straight forward as I hoped it would be.

Pros:

Hits hard and super clear and one of the easiest installs I've done.

Cons:

None that I have come across performance wise. As stated above it's a bit pricey.

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