Upgrade audio 07 Lexus ES350 advice

[Teecee 10+ year member]

My first post here on the forums. I own a 2007 ES350. I have the 8 speaker audio with the nav system.

What I was wanting to do is add my amp/subs out of my old car into the trunk of this car to get an extra thud in my bass. I was wondering if I should install some dynamat as well in the trunk. My goal for the dynamat is I do NOT want people to hear any rattle or much noise outside of my car. I dont want my trunk shacking or rattling or people hear me when I come driving down the street. I was hoping dynamat would help with this problem.

I was also curious of a 400-600 watt Rockford Fosgate amp needs bigger cables than 4 gauge for power and ground? I was planning on buying a Tsumani kit from Circuit City and their kits have 4 gauge cables.

I am hoping that my amp does not make my lights dim, but if it does I will do the BIG3. Do any of you guys have any problems with dimming lights? Maybe Lexus provides higher quality alts. and cableing that prevent this.

What about door speakers? Is it worth it to replace the factory door speakers with something else? I do NOT plan on replacing the factory navigation LCD radio. If it would make the audio sound better with aftermarket door speakers, any suggestions? Would they be ok with the factory stereo or would I need an aftermarket amp?

Now this is a bit off-topic but what about remote start? Can I have this installed? If so will I have to carry an extra key-faub? Will it mess with the factory keyless entry/keyless start? Any warranty issues here?

Also one last thing. I plan to use Circuit City to install my stereo just because they have done most of my work in the past and I have been very happy with the results. There shouldn't be any warranty issues with this should there?

Thank you for any advice that you might give.

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[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

The stock alternator on that will be avg-mid size, mine was 100a in my 95 SC400, but I replaced it because I'll be running considerably more than you. There will be some head room in whatever is there, just consider that the car is essentially run by a computer, and starving it for power is something you do not want to do.

Typically, 1000 extra watts is plausible on stock electrical, but I would always do Big3 just to stengthen the flow backbone a little. First thing, I would do some research and find out what size your alternator is, just to know what you're dealing with.. but I really don't think you should have a problem.

I can understand why you don't want to replace the factory Navi, because of the Dash design, you would have to do something very custom; this is the problem with late model luxury cars... it bothers me, but the niche of people that purchase them ON AVERAGE, are not really into car audio or have the money and drive to go the custom route. I guess.

You can do remote start on a nicer security system, they will use a bypass module to get around the factory system, however, you may want to research this as well because I'm wondering how, if at all, it will conflict or interface with the RFID keyless entry (I believe, at least it's there on my parents 06 LS430). If so, I dunno what will happen; yes you will get some kinf of key fob because you will need it to control the system and have the button there for the remote start.

Personally, I would not have CC do any work to that vehicle, but if you have a good relationship with the installer, so be it. I don't think you'll be voiding any warranties with any of this, but I would confirm that with Lexus first.

4awg should be fine for that, as long as you aren't planning on running anything else in the future, otherwise go bigger and use a block for future expansion.

Dynamat always helps with rattles, but I'm not sure you can make it completely silent on the outside, but it will help a lot.

 

[eggyhustles 10+ year member]

i dunno how the audio sounds in the es350..im sure it sounds decent..but i would assume that your subs will probably drown out the mids and highs..would be cool to change out your interior speakers for some aftermarket speakers..i think theres a sub in the rear deck..i would take that out too so some bass from the subs can get into the cabin..

 

[Teecee 10+ year member]

Thanks for the advice guys.

InfinitePeace,

I do have the RFID keyless entry and do not want to mess with it because I LOVE it. Maybe I will just do without the remote start. You mention to NOT let CC do the install. I guess I should contact my local car audio enthusiast shop then?

eggyhustles,

Any suggestions on some speakers to swap out with my doors/panels? I think the Lexus has an 8 speaker system. I also plan on taking out the sub but this raises another question. Would it be possible to replace the stock sub with a decent aftermarket sub and get "ok" bass? I would assume it would be nothing like my two 10" image dynamics in a sealed box though...

Again thanks for the replies and any other comments are welcome and encouraged

 

[jadon087 10+ year member]

Welcome fellow Nashvillian //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Teecee 10+ year member]

/wave

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

for the remote start on that vehicle def call a local shop

do you have mark levinson

 

[Teecee 10+ year member]

for the remote start on that vehicle def call a local shop
do you have mark levinson

No. It does not have the ML kit. The ML kit is on the Ultra Luxury model. I got everything BUT the UL kit on mine. If it did I probably wouldn't need to replace the speakers in the doors/panel

HERE is a pick of my car.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

No. It does not have the ML kit. The ML kit is on the Ultra Luxury model. I got everything BUT the UL kit on mine. If it did I probably wouldn't need to replace the speakers in the doors/panelHERE is a pick of my car.

that is exactly why i was asking...

if you do consider change the interior speakers im going to let you know that it will be quite the undertaking.I know the factory amplifier in that vehicle is not going to have sufficient ouput to drive anyting decent from the aftermarket so you are going to have to add at least one amplifier as well which in itself will be a chore because i know for a fact that your factory radio must stay in the car. That being the case you would need to add a factory integration processor thus adding another piece to install into a relatively difficult vehicle. Now if you are willing to do all of this i can certainly point you in the correct direction

 

[Teecee 10+ year member]

that is exactly why i was asking...

if you do consider change the interior speakers im going to let you know that it will be quite the undertaking.I know the factory amplifier in that vehicle is not going to have sufficient ouput to drive anyting decent from the aftermarket so you are going to have to add at least one amplifier as well which in itself will be a chore because i know for a fact that your factory radio must stay in the car. That being the case you would need to add a factory integration processor thus adding another piece to install into a relatively difficult vehicle. Now if you are willing to do all of this i can certainly point you in the correct direction

Start to point please. The car is paid for, only has a few thousands miles on it, and I plan to drive it for a LONG time because I love the car. So I am willing to invest some time and money into it. I dont wany anything crazy insane and I want it to look as factory as possible. I dont mind having some amps/subs in the trunk but I wont be putting this into any shows or anything.

My budget for the amp/speakers to replace the stock setup would probably be $1000, but if I can get by with $500 that would be great. I still have to purchase some rims for the car too and get the windows tinted....although I am on the fence about the window tinting.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

So $1k is for everything?...What do you already have?

 

[Teecee 10+ year member]

I have the subs and the amp for the subs.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

are you going to be doing the install?

 

[Teecee 10+ year member]

are you going to be doing the install?

Depends. Lets say the $1000 is for equipment only. I will probably pay someone to do the install since we are replacing all of the speakers, but I wont include that in my $1000 budget.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

ok

Im going to suggest that you purchase the equipment authorized for warranty and product support purposes and many members of these here forums are going to disagree with this approach just an //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif But if you are not looking for anything all that spectacular this is what i suggest

Alpine PXe-H650 Factory Integration Unit - $399

Focal 165A1 Components up Front - $220

Focal 165A1 Rear Coax - $150

Alpine MRP-F450 - $150

Knu Konceptz 8ga 4channel Kit - $32

Leaving $18 for lunch

 

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

InfinitePeace,

I do have the RFID keyless entry and do not want to mess with it because I LOVE it. Maybe I will just do without the remote start. You mention to NOT let CC do the install. I guess I should contact my local car audio enthusiast shop then?

Go to someone reputable that will give your car the same TLC that you do, you may end up paying just a bit more, but you never know. I got a quote at one local place to do my alarm and they quoted me higher than one of the better shops in town did (i only quoted the first place because they were 2 blocks from my work).

I cant say for sure if it will disturb your RFID entry, but my guess is yes simply because of how an alarm works. For instance, in my lexus (and I assume all cars with similar systems) you can go up to the car while it is armed, unlock the trunk WITH THE KEY and the alarm will go off. I think this same concept would apply with the RFID system, unless there is an integration module for late model lexus that can somehow tell the alarm that when the RFID is present and it unlocks the door, that everything is cool and it will disarm automatically. I'm going to assume such doesnt exist because the average late model lexus owner wont want to mess with it and will be happy with the stock alarm. You will have to confirm this with whoever makes the alarm you are interested in for sure though, I'm just venturing a guess.

Factory integration will be a pain but it's possible as has already been stated. I know your stock system is nicer than probly any other stock system, but it WILL sound better when you replace the stock speakers; of course you aren't going to have an 8 speaker system anymore, but honestly, I think that 8 is superfulous... 4 almost is, but since you have a passenger sedan, it makes more sense than doing rear fill in my 2 door when I rarely ever have people in my back seat.

The focal idea isn't bad, if that's the kind of sound you like, but some people find them a little harsh. That said, I loved my polykevs that I had back in 04... really nice speakers. I just personally wanted to go with something smoother this time around. You could also try and piece together something active inside that budget, but you could end up sacrificing your rear fill that way or having to get a 3rd amp which I know you aren't going to want to do... I don't know as much as others about the active thing, but it's something to think about.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

I agree with the above active would be incredibly easy within that budget especially considering that the Alpine PXE-H650 has built in 3way active crossovers but as stated that would only be possible with a third amplifer or an unamplfied rear section

 

[eggyhustles 10+ year member]

With his budget..i think going passive is the only choice..unless he got the phoenix gold rsds lol

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

not necessarily active would likely be cheaper then passive

 

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

not necessarily active would likely be cheaper then passive

Depending on the drivers he chose, I agree.