2001 GS300 - new purchase, discoveries & plans!

[TigerFish]

Just about the only thing that's annoying me about my recent purchase is the sound from the standard head unit and speakers. It's a nav unit too so I don't really want to lose that but the system sounds very bass heavy and woolly. I've resigned myself to adjusting bass and treble every time I switch sources (oddly cassettes seem to do best on this system) but it lacks clarity and I wondered if some replacement quality tweeters might help?
Any thoughts? And how do you access just the tweeters?

I’d ditch the satnav. I can count on no fingers how many times I used my Lexus Nav.... lol.

A decent modern double din unit could mirror your smart phone display and use your mobile satnav apps (or an android head unit can have satnav installed).

If it helps, I have a standard ac control unit that I used when I removed my factory sat Nav unit (which obviously has the heater controls built in).




Sent from my Iphone using Tapatalk Pro

[kayble]

I’d ditch the satnav. I can count on no fingers how many times I used my Lexus Nav.... lol.

A decent modern double din unit could mirror your smart phone display and use your mobile satnav apps (or an android head unit can have satnav installed).

If it helps, I have a standard ac control unit that I used when I removed my factory sat Nav unit (which obviously has the heater controls built in).




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Ah that's a good point- so you can use the non navigation HVAC controls in combination with a double din - as a retrofit for a navigation equipped car?

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

[TigerFish]

Ah that's a good point- so you can use the non navigation HVAC controls in combination with a double din - as a retrofit for a navigation equipped car?

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

Yeah, that’s right.


Sent from my Iphone using Tapatalk Pro

[rich1068]

Thanks for the advice chaps.

I'm afraid I am rather analogue at heart and the factory nav is staying. I very much like the OE look on my cars. I appreciate the capabilities of units but I know the look would jar. And anyway, how would I play my cassettes? (I wasn't joking )

I've realised with some adjustments that it's the front speakers generally that are letting the side down so I may look (at some point) at just upgrading them.

[kayble]

Hello all,

Apologeis for the lack of update - car's been behaving great, and I've made a start on one of my big(ish) projects - a subwoofer install.

I want to use the raised shelf at the back of the boot - so as to retain access to the spare wheel - so main point is I'll be removing the factory sub and using a box that takes up that shelf space and no more.

For wiring in the engine bay - the objective was to be as invisible as possilbe, no silly large gauge wire, big fuse holders or after market Battery clamps (although I accept the need for all in certain circumstances).

Used a Rockford Fosgate 8awg OFC kit wiring kit for power & ground; power comes straight from the Battery via a 60amp fuse mounted close to the Battery tray, and used an existing grommet for vehicle wiring loom to get in to the cabin.

Battery tray removed, and grommet opened for batt + cable in to the cabin. I did try to use the larger grommet to the right - couldnt get enough space so put it all back in to place - it's open in this shot though:

Closing both grommets, using corrogated plastic sheething and mounting the fuse holder (plus a liberal spray of fluid film anti-corrosion spray:

Crimping a Battery terminal (not glamorous but what the hey):

Finished product with the Battery and tray re-installed:

batt + cable installed on the factory terminal:

All fits under the factory terminal covers - and the new fuse is servicable with the vehicle Battery in place:

 

I won't bore you with fishing the cable through the cabin - save for getting in to the boot via the back seat. Followed this tutorial for removing the back seat and rear parcel shelf - to get the power cabling for the sub through to the trunk, and remove the factory sub: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-2nd-gen-1998-2005/552625-2gs-stock-subwoofer-replacement-w-pics.html

Mine looked like this with it all stripped out and the rear seat pulled forward for acces:

More to come in a moment!

 

[kayble]

Summarising this somewhat, but here's the boot with all the trim removed and the cables fished through from the cabin:

Power comes from the engine bay and is cable tied to the existing loom under the carpet. ground comes from an existing point behind the rear seat, line audio is rather awkardly down the centre of the car until it comes under the rear seat.

Here, I've laid some adhesive sound deadening material on the shelf, then used a lot of industrial velcro to secure an MDF board to the floor; the sub will be mounted on the MDF to save drilling the car body:

With the factory sub removed, I've put some more sound deadening on the rear parcel shelf - just to try and keep it from vibrating too much:

 

[kayble]

Fast forward to the final result for now:

First sub in the car is a 10" Infinity Basslink that I had spare in the garage. I like this a lot because its a simple solution to drop straight in, and sounds good if you're not looking to knock doors down as you drive by.

Me personally, I would like more bass than this can give (which is totally adequate for now) - so I'm looking for 10" subs to drop in to a sealed enclosure that I have ready, or ported enclosures with one or two 12" subs - if I'm lucky enough to find any that fit that shelf area.