Upgrade my '00 Gs300 Audio
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Upgrade my '00 Gs300 Audio
So i have an Alpine INE-W940 6.1 HU on order along with a backup camera, dash kit, and XM unit on order for my car. I need some tips on a basic decent sounding audio system without spending another 1k... What kind of amp do i need to power all speakers and the sub in the back? i want to keep the speakers and sub stock for now but i have read that i shouldnt use stock amp with aftermarket HU.... I am completely new to the amp portion of this upgrade... so please i need all the info i can get... also does anyone have a good link for a wiring harness that will fit this HU? BTW i have seen some write ups on how to do this but none on what components to get... in the future i want to upgrade speaers to kicker with a kicker sub that dosnt require a custom box... i want the car to look as stock as possible except for the HU... everything esle needs to be hidden... Thanks for the help
#2
Lead Lap
iTrader: (5)
match your amps with your speakers both in ohms and wattage (RMS)
4channel amp (digital/analog doesn't matter) for your door panels
digital monoblock for your sub
i think stock in all 4 of the doors is 4.25"
i used these
http://www.speaker-installation-photos.com/Lexus/GS
to go 6.5 all the way around. components in the front (tweeter fit perfect in stock location), coax in the back (popular opinion is that components in the back are useless).
i have a 10" w/ ported box in the trunk that sits well on the rear shelf where the stock sub+amp used to be
wiring harness get it from metra
you're gonna hafta convert from stock serial amped to RCA in this car
oh forgot to add you'll want a nice fuse holder (i went 200), a capacitor is optional (i've got one 2.5), maybe HO alternator, 4gauge minimum wiring a must
4channel amp (digital/analog doesn't matter) for your door panels
digital monoblock for your sub
i think stock in all 4 of the doors is 4.25"
i used these
http://www.speaker-installation-photos.com/Lexus/GS
to go 6.5 all the way around. components in the front (tweeter fit perfect in stock location), coax in the back (popular opinion is that components in the back are useless).
i have a 10" w/ ported box in the trunk that sits well on the rear shelf where the stock sub+amp used to be
wiring harness get it from metra
you're gonna hafta convert from stock serial amped to RCA in this car
oh forgot to add you'll want a nice fuse holder (i went 200), a capacitor is optional (i've got one 2.5), maybe HO alternator, 4gauge minimum wiring a must
Last edited by offbad; 02-25-14 at 10:24 PM. Reason: addt'l info
#3
you can run your stock amp just fine all i did was put a resistor on each + speaker line inline from the deck harness to the harness kit
the resistor's i used are 62 ohm 1/4w 5%
the resistor's i used are 62 ohm 1/4w 5%
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
match your amps with your speakers both in ohms and wattage (RMS)
4channel amp (digital/analog doesn't matter) for your door panels
digital monoblock for your sub
i think stock in all 4 of the doors is 4.25"
i used these
http://www.speaker-installation-photos.com/Lexus/GS
to go 6.5 all the way around. components in the front (tweeter fit perfect in stock location), coax in the back (popular opinion is that components in the back are useless).
i have a 10" w/ ported box in the trunk that sits well on the rear shelf where the stock sub+amp used to be
wiring harness get it from metra
you're gonna hafta convert from stock serial amped to RCA in this car
oh forgot to add you'll want a nice fuse holder (i went 200), a capacitor is optional (i've got one 2.5), maybe HO alternator, 4gauge minimum wiring a must
4channel amp (digital/analog doesn't matter) for your door panels
digital monoblock for your sub
i think stock in all 4 of the doors is 4.25"
i used these
http://www.speaker-installation-photos.com/Lexus/GS
to go 6.5 all the way around. components in the front (tweeter fit perfect in stock location), coax in the back (popular opinion is that components in the back are useless).
i have a 10" w/ ported box in the trunk that sits well on the rear shelf where the stock sub+amp used to be
wiring harness get it from metra
you're gonna hafta convert from stock serial amped to RCA in this car
oh forgot to add you'll want a nice fuse holder (i went 200), a capacitor is optional (i've got one 2.5), maybe HO alternator, 4gauge minimum wiring a must
#6
Lead Lap
iTrader: (5)
most subs aren't built for infinite baffle unless you're gonna fabricate a custom box the output might not be what you're looking for.
in general:
sealed-- easy install, small space, "tight" response
ported-- easy install, takes up more room, more response but can sometimes be considered "sloppier" response
IB-- no box, no room to take up, need to find right subs, output may be "lacking"
it's all preference really. best bet would be to hear side by side comparisons, limiting your variables, and hearing what you like.
Last edited by offbad; 02-26-14 at 10:33 PM. Reason: addt'l info
#7
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
sure i guess
most subs aren't built for infinite baffle unless you're gonna fabricate a custom box the output might not be what you're looking for.
in general:
sealed-- easy install, small space, "tight" response
ported-- easy install, takes up more room, more response but can sometimes be considered "sloppier" response
IB-- no box, no room to take up, need to find right subs, output may be "lacking"
it's all preference really. best bet would be to hear side by side comparisons, limiting your variables, and hearing what you like.
most subs aren't built for infinite baffle unless you're gonna fabricate a custom box the output might not be what you're looking for.
in general:
sealed-- easy install, small space, "tight" response
ported-- easy install, takes up more room, more response but can sometimes be considered "sloppier" response
IB-- no box, no room to take up, need to find right subs, output may be "lacking"
it's all preference really. best bet would be to hear side by side comparisons, limiting your variables, and hearing what you like.
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#8
If you've already decided to go completely aftermarket with your audio ie your Hu especially you might as well hardwire your existing speakers seeing as there still good and your going to have to do it anyway to run aftermarket speakers....so picking up a 4 channel amp to run up mids and highs in the mean time that can be done cheaply and still have your stock sub as well getting a little more juice to get that bass your searching for...personally I've found my 99 gs 300 to be a challenge having been a professional installer in the past but if u r a novice or like me prefer run your set up how you would like rather them follow what the manufacturer has installed lol....sometimes the simplest and cheapest way is the best solution...In this case getting rid of stock amps and wiring all together.
#10
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
If you've already decided to go completely aftermarket with your audio ie your Hu especially you might as well hardwire your existing speakers seeing as there still good and your going to have to do it anyway to run aftermarket speakers....so picking up a 4 channel amp to run up mids and highs in the mean time that can be done cheaply and still have your stock sub as well getting a little more juice to get that bass your searching for...personally I've found my 99 gs 300 to be a challenge having been a professional installer in the past but if u r a novice or like me prefer run your set up how you would like rather them follow what the manufacturer has installed lol....sometimes the simplest and cheapest way is the best solution...In this case getting rid of stock amps and wiring all together.
#11
You can do it but it is a pain I'll look into procedures for you I've done it with bose&other stock amped systems before sometimes it just involves like you said a few adapters or looped signals....you have a namikatchi system right now correct or stock
#13
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
idk what i have... i have the 2000 gs300 platinum with ivory interior (like it matters) but if i absolutely have to i guess i can get a 4 channel and a monoblock and just tap into existing wiring.... its crazy i do avionics work in airplanes all day long but dont know the first thing about car audio... but i can make some pretty connections and i can solder like a pro!
#14
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#15
Stock sub on aftermarket amp is possible but useless it'll blow very quickly from over powering....Also the 2000 gs...If you run aftermarket amps to run ur system it's recommend you hard wire to the door speakers stock wiring isnt the best for aftermarket applications and obviously doesn't run to your trunk...Two choices is to spice factory wiring before the door or run ur own....more work to run ur own but worth it in the long run....