[Joel Solid]

I recently changed out my front separates in my Silver IS. I'm changing out the entire stereo and all the speakers but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Well first Of all I got Infinity Kappa Perfect 6.1. Which are a 6.5 inch mid and a separate tweeter. The installation wasn't very difficult. The stock mid housing was riveted to the door, which was the only bad thing. If you are planning to replace the front separates you will need a 1 inch spacer to replace the stock housing the mid was in. The Infinity tweeters easily went back into the stock location. The results were pretty much what I had expected. With the factory deck in place the sound is virtually the same. The stock speakers are more efficient so they play louder at the same volume. (which was expected) I feel this new separates will only shine once I put all the rest of my equipment in there. I remember reading in an earlier post about how the rear speakers are cheap and only have a power handling level of 17.5 watts or something like that. Well believe it or not the front speakers say the same thing. 17.5 watts. Well in my opinion the IS has the BEST stock stereo I have ever heard so 17.5 watts or not it sounds great. I plan on installing the rest of my equipment when I get the time. I'll keep everyone updated on the progress.

Joel

 

[wazzup]

Picures please, pictures.

 

[vvtipwr]

let us know how you plan on changing the factory cd player? I know it's not as simple as a regular harness anymore. All kinds of wires/connectors back there!!

 

[TEG]

Thanks for the info!

Hmm. The rear 6x9 speakers say 17.5watts (perhaps 25watts RMS/Max), as do the front 6.5" speakers.

That would be 25x4=100watts for the 4 main speakers. I doubt they pump another 140watts into the tweeters - so why does the head unit claim to output 240watts?

 

[Spectra300]

I will tell you how.

When Lexus claims 240 watt stereo system that 240 watt is peak power and not continuous power(RMS). The 17.5 watts is most likely RMS watts which can probably produce 30 watts peak at any given time but not continuously. Lets do some math 30 watts/speaker*8 speakers=240 watts.

FWIW whenever you buy stereo equipment it is more important to know what the RMS wattage is and not the max wattage.

[This message has been edited by Spectra300 (edited August 24, 2000).]

 

[TEG]

I am pretty sure that 17.5 is the RMS power, and 25 is the max power.

8x25=200... And why would the tweeters get more power than the woofers and midrange?

 

[AndyL]

Sounds like they use the same reporting method used in mini-hifi system to boost the figure to look better, ie. using Peak Music Peak Output (max)

So are the figures of the stereo units of other Lexus P.M.P.O as well ?

 

[Joel Solid]

Well first of all I work at Circuit in the car audio department so I know what i'm talking about. Almost all of car audio head units list peak power as the output level. Realistically a aftermarket deck that claims 40 X 4 = 160 total wattage. But actually the RMS or continious output is somewhere in the ballpark of 10 to 15 watts per channel. Which would be between 40 and 60 watts total power. I'm sure Lexus as well as other car manufactures stock head units use the same peak power rating system. As far as the headunit a friend of mine and I are gonna build a custom kit for the dash and then the stereo will have to be rewired to bypass the factory amp and crossovers. That job shouldn't be attempted by anyone who doesn't know EXACTLY what they are doing. I'll keep ya posted.

Joel

p.s. sorry I didn't take pictures of the door speakers

 

[shadoh6]

I think it was either TEG or the webmaster that had planned on putting the rear armrest in the front and putting a subwoofer in the rear armrest's place...has that happened yet? It sounds like a great idea since I don't do much skiing down here in Houston...

 

[TEG]

Thats _my_ idea. I will take pictures once I do it. My car should be here very soon.

 

[Emerald]

I'll go for the front armrest, but according to my salesman, the woofer is under the seat already. I'm still trying to listen for it and haven't felt the low tones under my rear, but boy, those salesmen will say anything to get you to bite. He only worked there about 3 weeks. High tunrover in sunny Florida. A subwoofer in the right place would make an excellent addition to a fine and very powerfull and well balanced audio system that already resides in the car. I know my ears start to really hear things with the volune turned up about 33%. Also, the car is just itching for an amplifier and some good speaker upgrades, but it has to be done right. Take it over to Mark Anderson. I hear he is the guy that's replacing all the high-end companies that we have been enamored with for decades.
Respectfully,
Elliott Marshall, A.S., RPR

 

[rarjoon]

TEG - can we count out the "8" speaker? I thought the IS didnt come with subs?
So far:
2 tweeter in door frame
2 Mids in front doors
2 rear 6x9's

where are the other 2 speakers? I havent noticed if ther are any on the rear door, and if there are... then the sales guy duped this other fella on the sub theory. if not where are they?

 

[TSoich]

I think the 'other two' are actually a pair of 5" mids that are axially mounted with the 6X9s in back.

Terry

 

[lilaznboi]

I agree with TSoich. I thought they were tweeeters mounted w/ the 6x9's in the back but they might be mids. I can't realy tell.

------------------
Spectra Blue IS300

 

[TEG]

Yeah - each rear 6x9 cutout has two speakers stacked on top of each other.