I just got a new 2011 IS350C and love it, except the stereo doesn't have much bottom end in it. I'm guessing I'll have a subwoofer installed somewhere in the car but I don't want to use up any trunk room if at all possible.

Have any of you added a subwoofer to a new car and where did you put it?

Also did the stock system have a circuit for it and enough power to drive it?

Please advise and thanks.

 

^ a lot of us just end up putting a box in the trunk, or doing a custom enclosure. There is a diy for a sub install. Hopefully the wires are the same color as the 06-10 are.

For me I ended up doing a custom enclosure to get more trunk space, but I hardly use my trunk now

 

Sounds like what you're looking for is the 4080 enclosure, which would be paired with a 12 inch sub like the JL Audio 12w6v2 and a 500+ watt amp like the JL Audio 500/1 (yes, you need the amp - the stock system won't give you anywhere near enough power for any decent subbass setup). With the 4080, you lose almost no functionality since the box only takes up the passenger's side corner or you trunk. Unfortunately, the 4080 box appears to have been discontinued. You can try your luck with a WTB post in the classifieds, or reach out to 4080 enclosures directly to see if they still have the mold. Check this out: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is2...iberglass.html Finished product seen below:



You can also browse this thread for ideas on what other 2IS owner's have done with their sound systems: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...our-setup.html

I almost went with the 4080 solution, but opted for a custom "stealth" setup of rear-facing subs because I'm a stickler for symmetry. Luckily, I only lost ~4 inches of horizontal space in my trunk, so I retain pretty much full functionality.

 

Too bad he has the convertible.....

 

Thanks for the responses so far, but I do have a hard-top convertible and you can't use the trunk space (as the top store into that area).

Any other advice guys?

 

^ You can't use the trunk at all? Not even the corner area (assuming you have that).

 

That's a sick box...are those three 12'' or 10''? How much power do you have running to it? Does it overpower the rest of the system? And most importantly, where you got it made?

 

Kick panels down by the footwell area and MAYBE a stealth box ALL custom made by a good stereo shop. They may find a location to put an 8" woofer or maybe even smaller. Sorry, not familiar with the interior of the vert. Good luck.

 

No way 3 12"s would fit like that haha. Those are actually 3 8" Image Dynamics subs powered by a JL Audio HD750/1 amp. It was either this, 2 10"s or 1 12". I went with the 3 8s because I like the look and the way the box is designed it takes up the least space horizontal trunk space of the 3 options. Maintaining access to my spare was also a requirement, as was having it stealthy. With the covers on you'd never really know a system is there.

I have the stock ML system, and IMO this subbass setup compliments the cabin speakers just right, without overpowering. Work was done by Simplicity in Sound - Google it. They do GREAT work.

 

Are you able to lift up the underside and take out the spare tire if needed for a blown tire in any of those setups? I want to add 1 10" sub in my trunk, but still want the spare tire to be accessible just cause im paranoid about getting a flat on the highway

 

^ Yup, I maintain full access to the spare. Your other option as I mentioned is the 4080 enclosure, or something similar, that tucks into the side of your trunk in that dead space.

 

that box in the is300 is sick i wish i had the time to do that dddddddddddddam it

 

I can't think of any area other than the spare tire well that would house a sub in the vert.

 

^ Hmmm, it's kinda ghetto but you could always put a Bazooka tube inside your cabin on the floor behind your front seats.

 

I took the car to a Lexus recommended aftermarket stereo installer yesterday. Very disappointing! They said there was no room inside the car to put a subwoofer. The only options are to fabricate a small enclosure in the trunk, along the back near the bumper (this is a convertible so the main area of the trunk must stay clear for the hard-top to fold into), or to put a bazooka tube in the rear seat floor behind the passenger or driver seat.

It's amazing Lexus makes a car this nice and doesn't have a better bottom-end on the sound system.