OEM Speaker Size & Subwoofer Upgrade on Lexus LX-450

[Filmpros]

Yes, have I have used the search button extensively before asking this question...and could not find a clear answer.

I am trying to find the following speakers that will fit without modification in to a 96 / 97 Lexus LX-450.

Front Passenger Door
Front Dash
Rear Passenger Door

In addition, I am wondering if there is a replacement for the tiny speaker they call a sub-woofer in the Lexus. I would like to just replace the speaker using the same enclosure if possible. However, knowing a bit about audio, I am doubtful about finding a properly designed speaker for the sub-woofer enclosure.

I do not want to see anything but the stock grilles in the truck. The aftermarket grilles do not appeal to me.

My favorite speakers are B&W ... but they really only make home audio products. The one Car Audio product they make is for a Ford, I mean a Tata Motors, I mean Jaguar XJ.

In-car Audio Speaker Systems & Equipment - Bowers & Wilkins | B&W Speakers



I really like the MB Quart line as far as sound quality.

This is their Premium Line of speakers with a 2" depth:

MB Quart Car Audio -- Premium Speakers



These are the shallow depth (1.2" Depth) speakers they make.

MB Quart Car Audio -- Reference Speakers


If anyone knows offhand if the MB Quart speakers will fit I would love to know. If not, is anyone using a quality speaker like such as Polk Audio, JBL or other similar high fidelity system available...please let me know.

I want something much better than Infinity, Eclipse, Pioneer, or any of the other mid range speakers on the market. If there are no specific model recommendations, then all I really need would be accurate specs for the OEM Speaker and I will figure out the best possible speaker I can buy that fits.

 

[str8nm]

mbquart

I have dke113 in the front and rear doors. Had to do minor modification on panels. Used MBquart grills with included spacer rings. I think it looks very "stock" If I had the time I would have painted them grey instead of black to really get a clean look. I will see if I can find some pictures, but the truck is in storage for the winter so it may be a few weeks until I see it. (I only use it for camping trips).

I actually was really mad when it was first done, because I was assured they could be made fit without modification..then I go back and they have "trimmed" the panels. But like I said it looks great. I am actually having to redo it because the shop I had working on it this summer blew the speakers out on me...so replacements are due (MBquarts were over three years old and out of warranty.) I will keep you informed on my progress--please do the same.

I think that kicker or fosgate has a new line of very shallow depth speakers you could check out. I was trying to stay with mbquart/JL audio/ focal as I am an audio snob.

why would this not work for the sub??
Focal Utopia Be® 13 WS Shallow-mount 5" 4-ohm subwoofer at Crutchfield Signature
or these??
Component Subwoofers at Crutchfield.com

 

[Stone]

That "Focal Utopia" 5" sub is crazy expensive for what it is...$430?!?

I bought the Kicker CVT65 sub that you have pictured there from Ebay for around $50 brand new. I'm close to installing it...my neighbor is making the box for me this weekend. I think it's going to sound pretty decent and will basically go in the stock location behind the rear quarter panel. I'm not 100% sure if the speaker is going to line up with the factory grill or not...I'm going to try...but it won't be that crucial...just aesthetics. I should have it in by next weekend.

What I've found so far is any "free air" application in that spot is a total waste of time. I blew a Kicker mid-bass speaker trying it, and it doesn't produce much sound...even with around 150W going through it. You need a box to gain any real low end bass...even just to "fill in" the bottom end.

 

[arndog123]

Cool I'm in the same boat and I'm getting tired of my wife complaining about the sound quality in her LX.

 

[Stone]

My neighbor just dropped off the rough box...the outer dimensions are 3" deep x 14" wide x 14" tall...1/2" MDF as outlined by the Kicker manual that came with the speaker. Pretty small box and will easily fit in the space behind the panel.

I just have to decide where on the box the speaker will go...like I said, I'll try to line it up with the stock grill, but I might not have 3" at the top of the panel to let me do this. Then all that remains is paint it black and hook it up to see what it sounds like...should be much better than the free air setup I have there right now.

 

[1996lx450]

Speakers

I just installed a set of Kenwood KFC 1662s 6 1/2 frt door speakers and a set of Kenwood KFC 1080ie 4" rear door speakers, I had to take a set of tin snipes and trtrim the speaker tabs off of both sets. Still use the factory grilles and the sound differance was unreal! Even with the factory sub the sound is great.

 

[1996lx450]

Also it is very to install these speakers and for less than 100.00 for the speakers (what a deal)

 

[tirewater]

I've found MB Quart speakers to be too quiet due to their low sensitivity. I stuck them in my Audi because "that was the thing to have", but never really found them to live up to my expectations. I haven't heard their recent offerings, but looking at the specs indicates fairly low sensitivity as well. Unless your planning to replace all your speakers with MB Quarts, you'll be endlessly fiddling with your fader to get an even sound.

That said, where do you see that their shallow line has a 1.2" mounting depth? The only place I see 1.2" being mentioned is the diameter of the tweeter.

On my LC, the max mounting depth appears to be around 1 1/2". 1 5/8" is pushing it. Of course you can use spacers to increase the mounting depth, but I don't know how far out you can go before running into troubles.

I'm in the process of inserting some Blaupunkt THx-652 speakers in the front doors. They have a mounting depth of 1.8" (although to be honest I think the spec sheet is lying, it looks over 2"). You don't have to do any cutting. You can pop out the screw inserts in the door and use speed clips to screw the speaker in.

 

[yoopercharged]

I originally did mine with the exile 6.5 xp. They fit under the stock grille, but it was a very close fit to the window track. They sounded good, but I had some MB Quart Q 160s that I wanted to try. They sound much better, but I had to make a 1" spacer and ditch the factory grilles. I did have a neat idea for a spacer ring that seemed to work pretty good on my friends jeep. Take a piece of hose ( I used some clear vinly 1/4" id, but any hose should work) and wrap it around in a loop to make a ring. Cut some small pieces to stuff in the end and connect the ends together. Now you have an adjustable depth speaker ring. Tighten the screws to vary the depth.

 

[Filmpros]

Hi,

It is not about volume...it is about quality if sound.

I am not sure what you mean by quiet...but they may not be quite as efficient as a lower quality driver. This would have the effect of them playing at a slightly lower level at the same volume setting.

However, they have superior imaging, smooth mid range, clean highs, tighter more controlled musical bass, and much better definition than most car speakers I have heard.

I have auditioned them and they do not sound lower in volume by much at all...however, they are a flatter, better sounding speaker so they do not have that nasty harsh high frequency sound and overly present honking mid range or flabby bass with too much boom that most car speakers have.

You may be right about the depth. I guess I am reading this wrong and took it to mean mounting depth.

MB Quart Car Audio -- Reference Speakers Specs


Thanks for pointing that out. I will call them this week and find out what the depth is.

I've found MB Quart speakers to be too quiet due to their low sensitivity. I stuck them in my Audi because "that was the thing to have", but never really found them to live up to my expectations. I haven't heard their recent offerings, but looking at the specs indicates fairly low sensitivity as well. Unless your planning to replace all your speakers with MB Quarts, you'll be endlessly fiddling with your fader to get an even sound.

That said, where do you see that their shallow line has a 1.2" mounting depth? The only place I see 1.2" being mentioned is the diameter of the tweeter.

On my LC, the max mounting depth appears to be around 1 1/2". 1 5/8" is pushing it. Of course you can use spacers to increase the mounting depth, but I don't know how far out you can go before running into troubles.

I'm in the process of inserting some Blaupunkt THx-652 speakers in the front doors. They have a mounting depth of 1.8" (although to be honest I think the spec sheet is lying, it looks over 2"). You don't have to do any cutting. You can pop out the screw inserts in the door and use speed clips to screw the speaker in.

 

[bignasty]

B&W install i liked a few years back.

Milbert Amplifiers, Most Musical Amplifiers


MB Quarts are good speakers but need an amp to really sound good. They dont need much power .IMO Head unit power and factory system amp's suck, it will never sound right. Just about any descent aftermarket amp on MB Quarts will sound great.

 

[bignasty]

I originally did mine with the exile 6.5 xp. They fit under the stock grille, but it was a very close fit to the window track. They sounded good, but I had some MB Quart Q 160s that I wanted to try. They sound much better, but I had to make a 1" spacer and ditch the factory grilles. I did have a neat idea for a spacer ring that seemed to work pretty good on my friends jeep. Take a piece of hose ( I used some clear vinly 1/4" id, but any hose should work) and wrap it around in a loop to make a ring. Cut some small pieces to stuff in the end and connect the ends together. Now you have an adjustable depth speaker ring. Tighten the screws to vary the depth.

MB Quarts Q's were the best speakers that was produced by MB. Too bad you cant get them any more. I lost a couple of times against those speakers. They really sound good on a good amp and source.

 

[bignasty]

I have dke113 in the front and rear doors. Had to do minor modification on panels. Used MBquart grills with included spacer rings. I think it looks very "stock" If I had the time I would have painted them grey instead of black to really get a clean look. I will see if I can find some pictures, but the truck is in storage for the winter so it may be a few weeks until I see it. (I only use it for camping trips).

I actually was really mad when it was first done, because I was assured they could be made fit without modification..then I go back and they have "trimmed" the panels. But like I said it looks great. I am actually having to redo it because the shop I had working on it this summer blew the speakers out on me...so replacements are due (MBquarts were over three years old and out of warranty.) I will keep you informed on my progress--please do the same.

I think that kicker or fosgate has a new line of very shallow depth speakers you could check out. I was trying to stay with mbquart/JL audio/ focal as I am an audio snob.

why would this not work for the sub??
Focal Utopia Be® 13 WS Shallow-mount 5" 4-ohm subwoofer at Crutchfield Signature
or these??
Component Subwoofers at Crutchfield.com

Before i spent 400 dollars on a 5inch sub, i would have to hear them personally or look at a frequency response graph for them.

 

[tirewater]

Hi,

It is not about volume...it is about quality if sound.

I am not sure what you mean by quiet...but they may not be quite as efficient as a lower quality driver. This would have the effect of them playing at a slightly lower level at the same volume setting.

I was talking about sensitivity/efficiency relative to any other speakers you may leave in the system. MB Quarts have lower sensitivity ratings. If you don't replace all the speakers in the system you'll have issues with the sound balance between them, hence my comment about fiddling with the fader.

Sensitivity/efficiency has no bearing on the quality of the driver.

I was disappointed in the MB Quarts in my Audi, which isn't to say they're bad speakers. I don't have experience with MB Quarts in the fjz80.

Now I don't have a lx450, but if it's as noisy as my LC I'd spend some time putting sound dampening material in the doors, floor, etc... Although I think the flatish windscreen contributes most of the wind noise in my vehicle.

 

[martinakl]

Kicker Comp VT 6.5"

I was thinking about buying one of these for mine ( a 6.5"). CompVT | KICKER the 6.5" can be used as a "free-air" sub (it doesn't need a box to work). I was thinking about removing the box for the 4" sub all together and making the sub fire to the side (Drivers side or passenger side. TBD) I would cut a piece of 1/2"+ MDF to put on the inside of the console so I have a rigid mount to screw the sub to. The console would be between the sub and the MDF and the screws would hold it in place (or glue the MDF to console). May need to find a way to block off the grill from the 4" so it sounds right (probably with Dynomat all around the inside of the console). I believe with a free-air you still want to try and isolate front and back of the speaker.

Other things I've considered...

Good front dash (4") and front door speakers (6.5" components) and mount two (2) 6.5 kicker comp CVT 6.5" in the rear doors. They are shallow enough (according to crutchfield.com, they will fit in the rear door).

Or, good door speakers (front and back) and mount two (2) 6.5" in the back where the LC sub is located by the same method of sandwiching the panel between the sub and a piece of MDF. Add Dynomat to the rear plastic and metal 1/4 panel. I don't want to give up any space for a speaker box.

I've had 6.5" Kicker comps installed in the rear deck of a car years and years ago. With a good amp they put out some bass. More than one might expect.

 

[yoopercharged]

Digital Designs makes a very good 6.5 in subwoofer. With the right ported enclosure, about .5 cu ft IIRC, it would sound very nice. Might also think about putting slim subs under the front seats.

 

[KurtKuhn]

Rich, here's a link to my stereo installation pics. Polks in my signature line will fit with little door modifications. And, they sound great.

If I had it to do over, I would have created a thin spacer ring for the rears since there is the slightest rub of the window mechanism against the back of the speaker (the magnet).

-KK

 

[BiscuitPower]

Before you drop a bunch of money on MB Quart or whatever names are tossed around here, you should seriously check out DIYMA.com

As much time and money you have in your rigs, you should do it up right with a diy system. Most local installers haven't a clue what a real SQ system sounds like. Take a trip over to Madisound Speaker Components | Assisting speaker builders for more than 25 years. The good stuff from Seas, Scanspeak, and Peerless will blow the doors of most of the marketed garbage thats out there. This is coming from a guy who used to own a pair of B&W 801's... and sold them. I now run a small tube amp to a couple of open baffle full range drivers. If all yer looking for is SPL's, though? Meh. Either way, have fun. Car audio is a blast.

-michael

 

[mkfour]

X2 on Madisound instead of boxed set components.

But, with the 80, you're heavily restricted by mounting depth, unless you change the location of the woofers.



The left is a MQ Quart Ref. The right is a MQ Quart Ref. shallow mount. I think they have new models out, but as long as the specs. are the same, you can get both of them to fit (slim or regular) 6.5" in the front and 5.25" in the rear.

6.5" Ref in the front door.



Ref. tweeter in the A-pillars.



Sounds pretty good, but could use some improvements. But I'm satisfied considering the location I had to work with. By the way, I'm a Klipsch Reference owner.

 

[stevenmichael]

Where can I find a photo and the dimensions of the different speakers I have in my 1997 lx450 . I want to replace all of them . I'm wanting to get just regular speakers nothing fancy I don't blast music just normal levels . Is there any tricks to getting the door panel off .As far as the clips go ? Do I need a special tool to get the panel off . Are the clips easy to break ? Is there a link on this forum that shows how to remove the panel ? Thanks .