LX450 Audio/Speaker Overhaul

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Walletclan

Walletclan

Noob Cruiser
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Aug 12, 2014
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After much time and research on this site and online, this is the setup I have decided to go with for my '96 LX450. For me this is not about booming peformance more than a solid, economic system that will be easy to install and still give me the features I am looking for. I bought everything from Amazon with my Prime account.

Hopefully this gives others a good starting point.

Comments, questions, concerns and advice are welcome!

Headunit: Kenwood DDX771
Front Speakers: Pioneer - TS-G1644R
Rear Speakers: Pioneer- TS-G1044R Upgrading to Pioneer - TS-G1644R (9/11/14)
(Adding) Amplifier: Rockford Fosgate R400-4D 400 watt Class D amp
Backup Camera: HDE E336 Waterproof Rear Vehicle Backup Camera

I will come back to this thread with updates once I get it all installed! Thanks for all of the other posters, whose information I used.
 
Last edited:
I really like the idea of the backup camera. We rented a new Highlander for a recent trip to CA and got used to the backup camera pretty quick and came to depend on it in the tight parking spaces.

please post up your results~
 
Sounds like a good foundation. Not sure if you are installing it yourself, but some extra sound deadening in the doors always helps to reduce buzzes and rattles, although I imagine the 450 already has some pretty solid doors to start with.
 
My centre speaker cut-out on me tonight for some reason and I couldn't believe how bad the sound was. I have upgraded Pioneer speakers in the front doors, and upgraded sub-woofer in the centre console. I had to crank up the volume to 3/4 just to get the same level I would normally get just under 1/2. Luckily it kicked back in a few minutes later. If possible I would upgrade the centre sub-woofer and try to keep it with your new head unit.
 
I ordered the pioneers front and rear, does anyone know the part number for a good center speaker that fits correctly.

And also some good info and price for some sound deadening material.

Thanks
 
Hi,

Don't waste your money on the center console speaker. No matter what you put in there don't expect for it to pound. Once you upgrade the door speakers you won't hear the center speaker. Put a 4 channel amp under seat with 6 1/2 in all the doors you wont regret it. I did this and havent looked back
 
Your gonna go thru the give the man a fish proverb...
Learning to remove the doors will come in handy later when your locks quit working or window motors fail.

Putting the speakers in is easy. I did mine in 15 mins each after learning how the panels come off.
I pitched the front grills and used the Pioneer grills. They look as good as stock, reused the rear grills. On the rears you will need to cut the frames out, but it's an easy job and a dremel works fine, so would a jig saw.

Make sure to unhook amp in front kick panel and also rear woofer amp (maybe only on Toyota not Lexus) or you will blow to fuse when in install new head unit.
You won't believe how much better the new speakers sound.
Next upgrade should be to replace stock bulbs with LEDs. They too are a huge improvement.
 
Hornd said:
Putting the speakers in is easy. I did mine in 15 mins each after learning how the panels come off.
Click to expand...

Is there a thread/tutorial somewhere on removing the door panels? I've removed many in the past (but never on my 80) and it seems there are always tricks and hidden screws to getting them off without damage. I've searched, but not seen this answered directly.

I primarily ask as my speakers surrounds are shot and I am watching this thread with interest!!
 
IronCladLou said:
Is there a thread/tutorial somewhere on removing the door panels? I've removed many in the past (but never on my 80) and it seems there are always tricks and hidden screws to getting them off without damage. I've searched, but not seen this answered directly.

I primarily ask as my speakers surrounds are shot and I am watching this thread with interest!!
Click to expand...

There is. Try searching "ih8mud 80 series door panel removal" on Google to find the right thread. The built-in search is not all that useful. The process is super easy and straight forward except for the black plastic triangle pieces covering the access to the side view mirrors. I broke both of mine and had to order new ones (about $11/each). I started a thread asking how to remove those w/o breaking them. I'd post the link but I'm on my phone.
 
Walletclan said:
After much time and research on this site and online, this is the setup I have decided to go with for my '96 LX450. For me this is not about booming peformance more than a solid, economic system that will be easy to install and still give me the features I am looking for. I bought everything from Amazon with my Prime account.

Hopefully this gives others a good starting point.

Comments, questions, concerns and advice are welcome!

Headunit: Kenwood DDX771
Front Speakers: Pioneer - TS-G1644R
Rear Speakers: Pioneer- TS-G1044R
Backup Camera: HDE E336 Waterproof Rear Vehicle Backup Camera

I will come back to this thread with updates once I get it all installed! Thanks for all of the other posters, whose information I used.
Click to expand...

I'm also in the middle of a complete stereo redo in my LX, albeit slower and more complicated. You'll get great sound just by replacing the door speakers.

One suggestion: most people on here disconnect the dash speakers. But, if you want, the same 4" pioneers you got for the rear door will fit in the dash. The only trick to making them fit is to take the factory amp off its bracket and relocate it a bit higher up. It's behind the passenger side dash speaker. Secure it with duct tape for the redneck win.
 
Upon further consideration, I am going to go with Pioneer - TS-G1644R all the way around and add a Rockford Fosgate 400x4-channel Class D amp. I am going to return the 4" speakers that I was going to drop into the rear. The boxes have not been opened yet.

I am amazed at how affordable car audio is now. When I was in high school in the 90's car audio was all the rage and prices were big. The tech is cheap for the price.

Thoughts?!?!
 
jeeperatt1 said:
Did you need a specific dash kit to fit the Kenwood?
Click to expand...

Not as far as I know. From what I have read it should fit in the stock opening. The existing trim has to be removed to install the head unit and then put back on, but I don't think it will involve trimming or anything.

I plan on getting everything put in Tuesday, so stay tuned.
 
Update: (Pictures to follow)

The Kenwood DDX771 headunit slid right in without the need for trim, but I am thinking I would have been a bit happier with the Pioneer AVH-X5600BHS or 4600BT simply to better screen resolution and intuitive UI.

I had the rear USB port routed to the dummy plate next to the heater blower switch on the bottom of the climate control unit.

I had an installer look at the speakers. They all needed small spacers to keep them from hitting the window channel and the rear doors had to be ground down a bit to fit the speaker. 4" would have fit right in but they would not have contributed much to the sound. The stock speaker grill fit over the front door speakers and the rears have the Pioneer grills. No big deal to me.

The amplifier was mounted in the passenger sider rear storage area with plenty of room to spare. What is nice is that the amp has a pass-through so I can mount a sub and another amp without having to re-wire from the headunit to the back.

I think I will definately need a sub woofer at some point because the 4 6.5" speakers offer little to no low-end bass, but they do cover the mid to high frequencies well.

The stock amp and console subwoofer were by-passed.

I have ran into one issue. My iphone 5s will not connect to Pandora on the headunit via USB. My hypothesis is that it won't work, despite being compatible, because I am already running iOS 8 (i have a developer license). My wife's iPhone 5 running iOS 7.1.2 works just fine and so did one of our iPads running iOS 7.1.2 as well. I will either need to downgrade my phone or see if a future firmware update will resolve the issue. iOS 8 comes out officially tomorrow, by the way.

I am pretty happy with the build. It is much improved sound, feature and technology wise. So now I have the stock headunit and the 4 stock door speakers, with grills if anyone wants to make me an offer for the lot of them.

Stay tuned for pictures.
 
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