kicker head unit

nitrous1 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2016 8:45 am

HU is wired direct to batteries( battery switch on,radio on). HU location sucks, I don't understand why they didn't put it near the gauges up top with the dash redesign

80AMT23 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:34 pm **Posts:** 191

nitrous1 wrote:

HU is wired direct to batteries( battery switch on,radio on). HU location sucks, I don't understand why they didn't put it near the gauges up top with the dash redesign

It's literally just a tiny monitor, very thin. There's gotta be a way to angle it upwards somehow.

shawndoggy · **Joined:** Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:19 pm **Posts:** 263

Yeah I get the pop too, which is kindof annoying.

Between polarized sunglasses and middle aged eyes, I too find the HU screen hard to see. I wish there were an old people BIG FONTS setting. The volume slider progression bar is particularly useless unless I put my face right up to the screen and squint.

I really wish/wonder whether there could be a new firmware flashed to the HU.

On the bright side, the sound quality from the HU (especially bluetooth) is really good. I just wish the screen were a little easier to read.

80AMT23 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:34 pm **Posts:** 191

shawndoggy wrote:

Yeah I get the pop too, which is kindof annoying.

Between polarized sunglasses and middle aged eyes, I too find the HU screen hard to see. I wish there were an old people BIG FONTS setting. The volume slider progression bar is particularly useless unless I put my face right up to the screen and squint.

I really wish/wonder whether there could be a new firmware flashed to the HU.

On the bright side, the sound quality from the HU (especially bluetooth) is really good. I just wish the screen were a little easier to read.

There is actually an update on the firmware from Kicker, there's a USB port on the backside you plug a thumb drive into and it installs. Check Kicker's site for the link.

I hate on the Axis that I can't see the right gauge LCD screen with polarized lenses on without tilting my head...

shawndoggy · **Joined:** Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:19 pm **Posts:** 263

80AMT23 wrote:

There is actually an update on the firmware from Kicker, there's a USB port on the backside you plug a thumb drive into and it installs. Check Kicker's site for the link.

I hate on the Axis that I can't see the right gauge LCD screen with polarized lenses on without tilting my head...

What does the firmware update do?

haha well I usually wear contacts on the boat instead of my glasses... and in the last couple of years I've had to go to progressive lenses. I just have to live with the fact that I'll never be able to read the hour meter on the water. ;-( text is too small, and I can't focus that close with contacts.

80AMT23 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:34 pm **Posts:** 191

shawndoggy wrote:

80AMT23 wrote:

There is actually an update on the firmware from Kicker, there's a USB port on the backside you plug a thumb drive into and it installs. Check Kicker's site for the link.

I hate on the Axis that I can't see the right gauge LCD screen with polarized lenses on without tilting my head...

What does the firmware update do?

haha well I usually wear contacts on the boat instead of my glasses... and in the last couple of years I've had to go to progressive lenses. I just have to live with the fact that I'll never be able to read the hour meter on the water. ;-( text is too small, and I can't focus that close with contacts.

I really don't know actually, haven't installed it. I'll email Kicker and see. Was talking with them this morning about the bracket, they were pretty quick to respond.

nitrous1 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2016 1:11 pm

I get a pop also, so I started shutting the head unit off before I shut of the batteries. I also found out that whole unit is made for kicker by a company called CPS distributors inc. out of Colorado, I had talked with them about a few issues

80AMT23 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:34 pm **Posts:** 191

nitrous1 wrote:

I get a pop also, so I started shutting the head unit off before I shut of the batteries. I also found out that whole unit is made for kicker by a company called CPS distributors inc. out of Colorado, I had talked with them about a few issues

I actually just got off the phone with them too. They apparently make parts for a lot of companies. They said the latest software is 1.0.23 and that there are numerous fixes in that version and more so in the previous release. I'm not sure what version came stock from Malibu.

They said that currently there's no future plans to adjust the screen angle in software but that is planned for the next iteration of this unit.

gtoddh · **Joined:** Sun Feb 07, 2016 8:28 pm **Posts:** 122

80AMT23 wrote:

On a related noted, does anyone hate that you can't see this HU in the sun unless you squat down in front of it. Anyone have any ideas for an angled bracket to install behind it to point it upward? I really really need that.

Yeah it sucks not being able to see it, but I pretty much just set it up and let my Pandora run through it so all I'm really doing is turning it up and down all day. It would be nice to be able to see it better though. Yes an angled installation "adapter" would be very nice to have!

steveA20 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2016 6:26 pm

Just did the firmware update, not exactly sure what it fixed. I've been complaining about the visibility since day 1. I pulled the head unit out of the dash and held it at different angles. It would have to have a drastic angle change to really make a difference. I wish they would just get rid of the volume bar and just have big volume numbers in the middle of the screen. Shouldn't be hard for them to figure something out. Axis already ditched that media center and will be using infinity in the 2017 boats. Same location.

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