Looking to upgrade the sound system on my 3GS but got a coupe questions:

Is the sub located right under the dash? Looks like it but not sure.
I want to have a clear and better sound than stock but don't want to throw too much $$$ into it so any recommendations guys?

 

The sub is located in the rear deck. The only thing you can really do to upgrade sound without spending to much is just replace all the oem speakers and tweeters or just upgrade the fronts since rears are just fillers anyway.

 

Do you know if Lexus had equiped their speakers with an Amp already or not and is the sub replacable since it's located in the rear deck?
I probably will upgrade the whole system since Black Friday is coming

 

Do you have ML or stock? The stock is easier to modify than the ML. As for the sub...its going to be a hell of a lot easier just to relocate the one you want to install than to modify the existing location.

 

There is a stock amp in the right side of the trunk

 

Just did my system in the RX and one of the options was rather cheap. Buy through the dealership a digital sound processor (DSP) either a Helix , Audio control DQ or JL audio clean sweep and last but not least is JBL ms-8.
All the above will take your stock speakers and give them better time alignment, a sense of depth, better blending of the stock speakers and so forth. The DSP are made to "upgrade" your stock speakers and I think you'd be pleasantly surprised at how they sound once properly tuned.

So buy a dsp, keep everything stock and do from there. Also perhaps throw out the stock factory under powered amp and buy a Alpine pdx or JL audio amp and be ready to be pleasantly surprised.

 

How do you install the DSP? and how much of output for the power I should buy? dont want to buy a too powerful one that could end up blowing the speakers. I'm not sure if my is ML but it does sound better with radio and satelite but sucks with MP3 and ipod.

 

How do you figure it out? I looked around the interior but could not find any sign of audio brand.

 

If you have ML, near the tape deck portion of the head unit it will say Mark Levinson. If not, then it's the stock sound system. Curious for this as well as I'm contemplating an upgrade also. Let us know what you end up with

 

i'm interested in going this route too, although I was experience having 2 12's competition subs in the past, this time around I rather just keep it simple and replace oem stuff with aftermarket but enough for the stock amp to handle. I have ML system as well.

 

I just bought a set of Focal Speaker to install them in the front. Will keep everyone in loop

 

Please do.
Good luck!!!

 

The focal speakers have my eye right now. How did they work out for you??

 

Has anyone with a ML system swapped out the sub in the rear deck for something aftermarket?

I believe the ML has a 10inch sub in the back and am tempted to swap it for a jl 10w6. I believe i need a DSP (audiocontrol lc8i?), amp (jl XD600/1v2?). Is there anything I am missing?

Ideally do not want to use a box, but am not sure of what my options really are. Should I use a JL prowedge+ and call it a day?

 

The size of the enclosure you would have to build for that w6 would stick down and take up just as much room if not more than a box would. I have a Memphis audio 12 in a box that only takes up half of that back indent of the trunk. Or you could build an enclosure into either side of the trunk. The nice thing about my box is I can pull it out if need be necessary but I feel wanting to keep as much trunk space as possible