The Tower Can That Comes With Nothing Inside It

OceanRock Audio|
Kicker's KMTES and KMTED enclosures are empty on purpose, built to hold speakers you already own instead of selling you drivers you don't need again.

Every tower speaker covered previously, the KMFC, KMTC, KMTCXL, and KMTDC65 lines, ships as a complete unit: driver and enclosure sold together. The KMTES and KMTED are different on purpose: empty tower enclosures with no driver included at all, built specifically for a bare 45KM654 or 43KM654 coaxial speaker you already own or plan to buy separately.

The KMTES holds a single 6.5" or 8" driver ($319.99-$399.99 depending on size and color); the KMTED holds two 6.5" drivers in one enclosure ($399.99). Both include the aluminum pipe clamp hardware sized for common tower diameters.

Key Takeaways

  • No driver included. These are empty cans built for the 45KM654/43KM654 coaxial speaker specifically, sold or already owned separately.
  • The KMTED houses two 6.5" drivers in a single dual enclosure, a DIY version of the same concept behind the pre-loaded KMTDC65.
  • Aluminum tower-pipe clamps included, sized for 2-1/4", 2-3/8", and 2-1/2" pipe diameters, with a separate KMTAP adapter pack available for other sizes.
  • Nine-degree axis rotation in either direction for aiming, less range than the full-rotation clamp on the pre-loaded KMTC line.
  • Tough ABS construction with slotted mounting holes to accommodate different bolt patterns.

Why Buy an Empty Enclosure

If you already own a pair of 45KM654 speakers, from a prior flush-mount install, and want to move them to a tower instead of buying an entirely new pre-loaded tower speaker, the KMTES lets you reuse the driver you already have. That's real savings over replacing a working speaker just to change its mounting format, the same logic behind the KLSR lighting rings solving a different retrofit problem for existing speakers.

Check the KMTES →  |  Check the KMTED →

Feature Walkthrough

Pipe Clamp Sizing

Included aluminum clamps fit 2-5/8" tubing directly, with three included adapter sizes covering 2-1/4", 2-3/8", and 2-1/2" pipe. A separate KMTAP adapter pack extends compatibility to additional pipe sizes not covered out of the box.

Rotation

Nine degrees of axis rotation in either direction lets you fine-tune aim after mounting, a narrower adjustment range than the full-rotation clamp mechanism on the pre-loaded KMTC65/KMTC8 line.

Single vs. Dual

The KMTES holds one driver per enclosure; the KMTED holds two 6.5" drivers in a single housing, letting you consolidate two speakers onto one mounting point the same way the pre-loaded KMTDC65 does, just without a driver included.

Compatibility Notes

Kicker's own listing specifies compatibility with the 45KM654 and 43KM654 coaxial speakers specifically. Confirm your exact driver model matches before ordering; this isn't stated as a universal fit for any 6.5-inch speaker.

Who It's For

Choose the KMTES or KMTED if you already own compatible KM654 drivers and want to relocate them to a tower mount without buying new speakers. If you're starting from scratch with no existing drivers, a pre-loaded tower speaker like the KMFC65 or KMTC65 is simpler, one purchase instead of two.

Honest Cons

No driver included, despite tower-speaker-level pricing. Factor in the cost of a compatible driver if you don't already own one.

Compatibility is specific to the 45KM654/43KM654, not a universal 6.5" or 8" fit.

Less rotation range than the pre-loaded KMTC line's full-rotation clamp — nine degrees versus near-full rotation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy speakers separately for these enclosures?

Yes — both are sold empty, built specifically for the 45KM654/43KM654 coaxial driver.

What's the difference between the KMTES and KMTED?

The KMTES holds a single driver; the KMTED holds two 6.5" drivers in one dual enclosure.

What pipe sizes does the included clamp fit?

2-5/8" directly, with adapters included for 2-1/4", 2-3/8", and 2-1/2". A separate KMTAP pack covers additional sizes.

Why would I buy this instead of a pre-loaded tower speaker?

If you already own compatible drivers, this saves the cost of buying a new complete tower speaker just to change the mounting format.

Bottom Line

The KMTES and KMTED solve a specific reuse case: moving speakers you already own onto a tower mount without replacing the drivers. If you're starting from zero, a pre-loaded tower speaker is the simpler one-purchase option instead.

View the Kicker KMTES/KMTED on Ocean Rock Audio →

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