[dbk7774]

As I'm sure lots of you have seen before, my in dash changer is done. I know the obstacles with upgrading the head unit given the factory amp, rear speakers, ect. Should I just get another factory unit off Ebay, or upgrade to an in dash dvd/screen. Is this advisable with the amp and speakers we have??? I love the way the factory set up sounds and don't want to disturb it, but I do not want to have this problem repeated. By the way, I am a newbie that loves his IS, but hates this problem. BTW, I am out or the 50K warranty and apparently the warranty I got does not cover the audio. Thanks for any help or opinions that can be provided.
I have the $$ for the upgrade option, but in reading I found that if I changed head units, I would also have to change the factory amp and possibly the rear speakers.
-Kennedy

 

[drinkmalk]

If you like the sound of the factory head unit, then you'll probably be ok with the sound of a high end aftermarket headunit using its onboard amp. I personally don't think the sound quality of the stock amp is much better than a nice aftermarket headunit. Not saying the SQ from the stock amp is bad, it's just comparable to a nice aftermarket onboard amp.

As for features, I also love the features the factory head unit has and I don't think any aftermarket headunit has quite the same feature set of our stock headunit, so you'll probably have to sacrifice some of the features of the stock headunit if you go with aftermarket. However, I will admit, many LCD headunits out there look REALLY COOL and have some nice features as well. It all depends on the features you use most.

And then there is the question of install. The minimum you'll have to do if you go with an aftermarket headunit is replace the rear speakers. The front speakers should handle the power of an afermarket onboard amp just fine. And of course you'll have to wire everything to bypass the stock amp, but that's not that big of a deal.

Your other option is to get an aftermarket amp as well as an aftermarket headunit. That's where more work comes in, and replacing front and rear speakers is advised.

One last note, I've had my stock headunit for just about 2 years now and no CD jams (knocking on wood), so you might get lucky and get a non-defective stock headunit off ebay.

Anyway, hope this helps you decide.....

 

[Dmin]

I currently have one for sale if you are interested, and it'd be cheaper than you'd get one off ebay for. Pm me if you are interested.

 

[dbk7774]

Thanks for the advice and options... I think that I will pick up a OEM unit from somewhere. Seems like a lot of work to fix a problem on a car i may not have for more than year or so. Could use the extra $$ for a pair of subs and an amp... :wink:

 

[vlad_a]

How exactly did your CD changer die?

If it is the CD jamming problem, click here for the reviving instructions I posted. At least read my instructions on how to keep your dash scratchless.

 

[dbk7774]

That is such a help!!!! I will work on that tonight. It is the jamming of the CD's thats killing me. I have lost all 6 in no man's land. I can't believe that a great company like Lexus has such quaility cars and "Relentless persuit of Perfection", and such a poor piece of daily used equipment. I went to my dealer to get it fixed under extended warranty and they told me that the audio system wasn't covered because it was almost always due to user abuse i.e. blowing speekers, CD-R's and such. Something I would expect from FORD, not Lexus. Dissapointed. Thanks for the help though... I would give you all my dots if I had any or knew what the hell they were.

 

[vlad_a]

^^^^
You're welcome!

Lexus did not make the CD-Changer unit. There are many components in our cars that Lexus/Toyota did not make. They simply buy the units, or have them made to their specs, from/by another company that has more experience in the field. It is all part of business logic.
Fujitsu Ten is the company that manufactured the CD-Changer and Amplifier.

Service is a different matter. Some dealers will go out of their way to help a customer. The smart ones do, anyway.

There is always an option of going aftermarket to solve the CD-jamming problem. :wink: The world of MP3s is so fascinating.


[My instructions made it to a sticky. ]

 

[skfds]

^^^^
You're welcome!

Lexus did not make the CD-Changer unit. There are many components in our cars that Lexus/Toyota did not make. They simply buy the units, or have them made to their specs, from/by another company that has more experience in the field. It is all part of business logic.
Fujitsu Ten is the company that manufactured the CD-Changer and Amplifier.

Service is a different matter. Some dealers will go out of their way to help a customer. The smart ones do, anyway.

There is always an option of going aftermarket to solve the CD-jamming problem. :wink: The world of MP3s is so fascinating.


[My instructions made it to a sticky. ]

congrats vlad_a ...

oh a message to the person who i sgonna work on the cd player BE SURE TO TAPE THE WHOLE DAMN AREA.... better safe than sorry... oh and i advice duct tape (lot better) and be gentle.... i was in a rush with mine so yeah..

oh yeah and tape your shift knob or unscrew it as it might end up getting scratched also