What head units/deck do you guys have in your 80?

[nyk438]

I'm looking to put a new deck into my 80. Down the line I would be looking to put in subs and an amp, what decks are you guys running?


I'm looking to spend about 200 dollars.

 

[PKP80]

You spend a little more say 300ish....you can get alot.

I have an Alpine 7998, xm ready, mp3, cd, and internal phone book dialer and reciever. YOu should be able to get it for low 300's. I paid about 400.00 it retails for 800. Folds our to 1 1/2 din size and had amazing sound quality. BUT it has no internal Amp so you will need to buy one to power the speakers....I rec you do that anyway b/c 80 sound is not all that unfortunately.

-Sam-

 

[Bear80]

If I ever get around to it, I'll post up installing a 2005 toyota nav system into my 80. It runs about $1600 with the new jbl amp, and I hope to get lexus speakers in the doors. I think right now my factory deck and speakers sound pretty good if you set the tone levels right and have a sub in to cover lows like my bass link.

 

[nyk438]

You spend a little more say 300ish....you can get alot.

I have an Alpine 7998, xm ready, mp3, cd, and internal phone book dialer and reciever. YOu should be able to get it for low 300's. I paid about 400.00 it retails for 800. Folds our to 1 1/2 din size and had amazing sound quality. BUT it has no internal Amp so you will need to buy one to power the speakers....I rec you do that anyway b/c 80 sound is not all that unfortunately.

-Sam-

interal phone book dialer but no internal amp? What size amp is normal to run to power speakers?

 

[PKP80]

interal phone book dialer but no internal amp? What size amp is normal to run to power speakers?

There is no amp in order to increase the sound Q. You can run any size amp, it just depends on how much power the speakers you have can handle. I would put a 50x4 watt amp. it's enough power and if you ever want to change the speakers up you can upgrade and not have to touch the amp. But be careful if you are running stock speakers. When you install the amp be sure that you adjust your sound from low to high meaning you turn the amp all the way down and slowly turn it up to the volume that the speakers are comfortable with (if they are uncomfortable they will make distortion or popping sounds).

If you want a little Kick to your sound get a 5 channel amp. and use the 5th channel for a little Bass, 10" sub. It will improve your imaging and overall effect and doesn't cost too much more. If you're getting the 7998 maximize the entire sound field.

Cheers,
-Sam-

 

[alia176]

El cheapo Sony FX5700 (CD/MP3/RW/Changer/XM) for about $200 or so and free install at Circuit city. They included a pocket for the second DIN slot. Works great for a non audiophile bloke like me and sounds awesome with a Infinity Basslink Sub.

 

[maxnharry]

Much to my dismay, my PO had installed a cheapo JVC CD/AM/FM. I got tired of the flourescent colors and upgraded to a Nakamichi 400. Sounds great and got it for around $300.

 

[ryanjl]

Alia,

Were you able to 'hide' the basslink anywhere, or is it out in the open of the cargo area?

As far as head-units go, Nakamichi, Clarion, or Eclipse look the most factory, IMOP.

 

[nyk438]

Nakamichi? Never heard of it is it any good?

 

[ginericLC]

Nakamichi is pretty much top of the line car stereo gear, their home line is pretty high up there too.
Factory stereos in some Lexus models, maybe even the newer Cruisers? Nice stuff but spendy and sometimes it can be a PITA. I especially loathe their in dash CD changers.

I'm running a Sony 5700 in the 94 and a Sony 5000 in the 91. I don't care for the graphics so much on the 5000, I turn them off on the 5700. Maybe it isn't a 5700, maybe a 5570? But they work well. They both have a manual flip down face which is a feature I think is really nice for a Land Cruiser if you are going to wheel it with the windows open. It helps keep the dust out. Also, no matter what brand you get I would highly suggest an MP3 player. I have a MP3 changer in the 91. I think I'm just over 1200 songs in the 10 disc inventory. I never open the changer up to change CDs. I tend to recommend people stay away from more gadgets for a wheeling rig. motorized face plates, touch screens, etc... just more things to go wrong with dirt, water, or a spilled Coke.

 

[ryanjl]

You won't find Nakamichi at any large chain, I don't think.

They're available in more specialized shops, or you can get them online at places like www.onlinecarstereo.com.

The six disc in-dash changer in the LX470 is Nakamichi, and man.... it is NICE.

 

[sjpitts]

Ok, I asked some similar questions on another thread, but did not get any answers so I am going to butt into this thread.

I really don't like the look of most of the head units out there. I don't like the flourescent look, with all the flashing light and other crap.

I like the look of that Nakamchi 400, it looks like a nice unit. I wish it was a double-din unit though- I hate to waste the extra space on my dash.

Does anybody know of a double-din unit like that? Is the LX470 one a double din? Is it available?

Jared

 

[ginericLC]

You might be able to swap in a double din from a lexus or newer LC. However, you will most likely run into wiring issues. There are a few double din aftermarket stereos available. Pioneeer has one, JVC has one, and I know Clarion has one. Car Stereo Review usually has a really good issue on all the new gear in April. You might check a library. They list all the specs for every deck. Not sure if this is available online.

I have not had any experience with the new Nakamichi factory in dash changers. The older aftermarket ones were really prone to jamming. They didn't deal with vibrations very well either. Every single one I installed came back at least once. Sound wise they can't be beat. The 400 has good reviews for both sound and dampening and chassis durability.

 

[snowcruiser]

Eclipse and Kenwood both make a double din touchscreen dvd/cd/nav unit. No experience but the Eclipse looks very nice. I have a cheap Clarion 545 something or other that plays CD/MP3/Wav and has controls for a Sirius tuner, tv tuner, dvd player and video screens. I got a free sirius tuner when I bought the unit from Crutchfield during a promotion last year. Came with a Landcruiser specific wiring harness, pocket for under the unit as it is a single din, and sirius tuner with cable. I had to buy an antenna for the sirius tuner for ~40.00. I paid $240.00 for everything with free shipping. Its been great so far and to be honest I think I've only played 3 CDs since I subscribed to Sirius.

 

[ryanjl]

The thing that aggrivates me about aftermarket double-din head-units is their relative lack of features compared to single din units by the same manufacturers. I guess they know their primary market is the single din, so they focus all their efforts that way.

The LX470 stereo is pretty sweet, and really has had no jamming issues in the last year. But then again, we've only put about 8500 miles on it, and that includes a trip to Colorado and back. No problems with it, but PO's receipt showed it was replaced shortly before we bought it. IIRC, they definitely are not cheap.

You might be able to call some aftermarket stereo shop in a bigger city to see if they've taken one out to replace it with some bling aftermarket unit. I have no idea about the compatability of one, though. I think I remember Christo saying they tried to put a navigation unit out of a new LC/LX into their LX, but found out the hook-ups were way different.

 

[maxnharry]

I really thought about getting a double DIN unit to replace the PO's JVC, but if you do some searching, you'll see that the factory double DINs have their own reliability issues.

The Nakamichi was the best price/perfomance point for me. I havent had any reliability issues and really love it.

 

[landtank]

I put in a Rockford fosgate RFX-9400. Sounds good and plays MP3s. The left over space has a CB in it.

 

[LX_TREME]

I think in early 90 thru 98 Lexus signed the contract with Nakamichi and had agreement, to provide all the lexus vehicle with Nakamichi equipped factory system.And if you go back to 94-97 ( all the lexus vehicle equipped with Nakamichi sound system ) Nakamichi was very expensive, very good sound quality and was one of the JBL hard competitor, but i dont know why for some reason the Nakamichi dissapear also not in the market anymore.

 

[nyk438]

I think in early 90 thru 98 Lexus signed the contract with Nakamichi and had agreement, to provide all the lexus vehicle with Nakamichi equipped factory system.And if you go back to 94-97 ( all the lexus vehicle equipped with Nakamichi sound system ) Nakamichi was very expensive, very good sound quality and was one of the JBL hard competitor, but i dont know why for some reason the Nakamichi dissapear also not in the market anymore.

All the reviews I've read about them are all very very good. I'm debating whether I want to throw in the extra 100 bucks for it. Also I went down to circuit city to check out what they had and they said they might have to rewire my whole system, anyone have to do this when they installed their decks?

 

[mot]

I wouldn't if I were you.

I think head units/amp make some difference especially if you are just stepping up from the stock unit, but I would save that $100 and put it in speakers as I believe speakers make the most difference in the stereo set-up.

IMHO

All the reviews I've read about them are all very very good. I'm debating whether I want to throw in the extra 100 bucks for it. Also I went down to circuit city to check out what they had and they said they might have to rewire my whole system, anyone have to do this when they installed their decks?