nav issues + new alpine headunit
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2001
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nav issues + new alpine headunit
hi all, I am trying to upgrade my stereo system but have run into some problems. I have a 2002 GS 430 with nav
The audio guy has changed my front speakers to focal utopia line, relocated the tweeter clsoe to the speakers and custom made a wood frame and dynomat the speakers area. I have purchased mcintosh MCC404M to power the front speakers, add crystal line components to convert the signal to RCA plus one gauge power lines and other stuffs. I have not added the subs yet cus i want to achieve really good SQ before I do anything else. So far, the result is disappointing. the quality sounds kinda like radio in the front. My audio guy told me they can not bypass the lexus stock amp cus it is built in with the navigation unit that I have and that is why the signal is kinda weird in the front. Basically the signal has to go through the stock amp!!! They suggest me to purchase a new headunit, this will allow the signal to go directly through my amps to achieve best result, the nav will work as it is except the audio button would not work. They will hook up some wireless thingy too to make sure my steering audio functions could work too. The unit they suggest is the F1 CDS-7990 head unit and I might go ahead and install the PXA-H900 multimedia manager as wells.
My concern is, to percy or other gurus, is what they are saying true?? Have anyone with nav upgrade their systems by doing something else??
also, regarding the navigation issue, since I am modding my GS big time, I am thinking of taking it back to Taiwan where there is no GS430, only 300 ( the price of an IS over there and get a GS 430 here!!!) Does anyone of you know if the GS nav system (I have the DVD based one) can use other nav software?? I heard from my lexus sales that our nav system is alpine based, can we use the new alpine software (the 3D one?) it is nice that we have a touch screen nav system, is our system set up ONLY to use GS software, or anyone software that is DVD based? what is the deal with navigation compatibility issue?? And if I can use other nav software such as the offical alpine one, how would the screen look like when I change my temperature or other features using the stock nav monitor?
if my nav can only work with N-AMerican lexus based CD. I might have to take out my entire stock nav system and swap it back to the original center panel, and put the new head unit, new monitor and the local taiwanese DVD players there...sad!!!
I could not find these information on line and I am extremely frustrated, I hope someone here can help me out, thank you!!!
if someone has great knowledge in these two areas, perhaps I could speak more to you over icq??? here is mine 19282080
email digital_wu@hotmail.com
please contact me and let me know if I can chat with you.!!!
Daniel
The audio guy has changed my front speakers to focal utopia line, relocated the tweeter clsoe to the speakers and custom made a wood frame and dynomat the speakers area. I have purchased mcintosh MCC404M to power the front speakers, add crystal line components to convert the signal to RCA plus one gauge power lines and other stuffs. I have not added the subs yet cus i want to achieve really good SQ before I do anything else. So far, the result is disappointing. the quality sounds kinda like radio in the front. My audio guy told me they can not bypass the lexus stock amp cus it is built in with the navigation unit that I have and that is why the signal is kinda weird in the front. Basically the signal has to go through the stock amp!!! They suggest me to purchase a new headunit, this will allow the signal to go directly through my amps to achieve best result, the nav will work as it is except the audio button would not work. They will hook up some wireless thingy too to make sure my steering audio functions could work too. The unit they suggest is the F1 CDS-7990 head unit and I might go ahead and install the PXA-H900 multimedia manager as wells.
My concern is, to percy or other gurus, is what they are saying true?? Have anyone with nav upgrade their systems by doing something else??
also, regarding the navigation issue, since I am modding my GS big time, I am thinking of taking it back to Taiwan where there is no GS430, only 300 ( the price of an IS over there and get a GS 430 here!!!) Does anyone of you know if the GS nav system (I have the DVD based one) can use other nav software?? I heard from my lexus sales that our nav system is alpine based, can we use the new alpine software (the 3D one?) it is nice that we have a touch screen nav system, is our system set up ONLY to use GS software, or anyone software that is DVD based? what is the deal with navigation compatibility issue?? And if I can use other nav software such as the offical alpine one, how would the screen look like when I change my temperature or other features using the stock nav monitor?
if my nav can only work with N-AMerican lexus based CD. I might have to take out my entire stock nav system and swap it back to the original center panel, and put the new head unit, new monitor and the local taiwanese DVD players there...sad!!!
I could not find these information on line and I am extremely frustrated, I hope someone here can help me out, thank you!!!
if someone has great knowledge in these two areas, perhaps I could speak more to you over icq??? here is mine 19282080
email digital_wu@hotmail.com
please contact me and let me know if I can chat with you.!!!
Daniel
Moderator - Electronics Forum
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,985
Likes: 12
From: Illinois
Re: nav issues + new alpine headunit
Originally posted by digital_wu
hi all, I am trying to upgrade my stereo system but have run into some problems. I have a 2002 GS 430 with nav
***Standard NAV or ML NAV?***
The audio guy has changed my front speakers to focal utopia line, relocated the tweeter clsoe to the speakers and custom made a wood frame and dynomat the speakers area.
***So he basically just threw off the staging. I'd always recommend the stock tweeter location since it's at a very good height. To relocate them down low, and pointing at the knees, is not a good thing.***
I have purchased mcintosh MCC404M to power the front speakers, add crystal line components to convert the signal to RCA plus one gauge power lines and other stuffs. I have not added the subs yet cus i want to achieve really good SQ before I do anything else.
***And you're taking the right approach. Get the SQ down pat before just "adding" onto the problem.***
So far, the result is disappointing. the quality sounds kinda like radio in the front.
***I'm not surprised. The stock tuning is questionable at best.***
My audio guy told me they can not bypass the lexus stock amp cus it is built in with the navigation unit that I have and that is why the signal is kinda weird in the front. Basically the signal has to go through the stock amp!!!
***Yep...that's about it. The only other solution that I can think of is to add an outboard equalizer, either a 1/3rd octave or a parametric eq. This should tame some of the peaks and nasal-like sound.***
They suggest me to purchase a new headunit, this will allow the signal to go directly through my amps to achieve best result, the nav will work as it is except the audio button would not work.
***You'd probably have to go completely aftermarket. From the looks of the larger NAV screen, it's not able to seperate with the bottom controls. That is, large screen on top, and a similar (or what appears to be) a din sized cassette/volume,etc on the bottom. You'd pretty much have to dump the whole thing for the aftermarket. But you can always try the EQ option first. This is a double edged sword...you want to keep the stock nav but you want better sounding SQ. If you keep the NAV, the best it will ever sound will be crappy signal through the stock amp, even with McIntosh pumping everything after the line level converters. Now if you dump the stock nav and go completely Alpine, then you have a good chance at SQ. Time for some choices...***
They will hook up some wireless thingy too to make sure my steering audio functions could work too. The unit they suggest is the F1 CDS-7990 head unit and I might go ahead and install the PXA-H900 multimedia manager as wells.
***GEEZ! That's not a small upgrade...that's a HUGE a$$ upgrade!!!***
My concern is, to percy or other gurus, is what they are saying true??
***Pretty much on the dot.***
Have anyone with nav upgrade their systems by doing something else??
***Don't know...don't have the experience in this.***
also, regarding the navigation issue, since I am modding my GS big time, I am thinking of taking it back to Taiwan where there is no GS430, only 300 ( the price of an IS over there and get a GS 430 here!!!) Does anyone of you know if the GS nav system (I have the DVD based one) can use other nav software?? I heard from my lexus sales that our nav system is alpine based, can we use the new alpine software (the 3D one?) it is nice that we have a touch screen nav system, is our system set up ONLY to use GS software, or anyone software that is DVD based? what is the deal with navigation compatibility issue?? And if I can use other nav software such as the offical alpine one, how would the screen look like when I change my temperature or other features using the stock nav monitor?
***Don't know about the conversion. Could be more of a headache than it's worth.***
if my nav can only work with N-AMerican lexus based CD. I might have to take out my entire stock nav system and swap it back to the original center panel, and put the new head unit, new monitor and the local taiwanese DVD players there...sad!!!
I could not find these information on line and I am extremely frustrated, I hope someone here can help me out, thank you!!!
if someone has great knowledge in these two areas, perhaps I could speak more to you over icq??? here is mine 19282080
email digital_wu@hotmail.com
please contact me and let me know if I can chat with you.!!!
Daniel
hi all, I am trying to upgrade my stereo system but have run into some problems. I have a 2002 GS 430 with nav
***Standard NAV or ML NAV?***
The audio guy has changed my front speakers to focal utopia line, relocated the tweeter clsoe to the speakers and custom made a wood frame and dynomat the speakers area.
***So he basically just threw off the staging. I'd always recommend the stock tweeter location since it's at a very good height. To relocate them down low, and pointing at the knees, is not a good thing.***
I have purchased mcintosh MCC404M to power the front speakers, add crystal line components to convert the signal to RCA plus one gauge power lines and other stuffs. I have not added the subs yet cus i want to achieve really good SQ before I do anything else.
***And you're taking the right approach. Get the SQ down pat before just "adding" onto the problem.***
So far, the result is disappointing. the quality sounds kinda like radio in the front.
***I'm not surprised. The stock tuning is questionable at best.***
My audio guy told me they can not bypass the lexus stock amp cus it is built in with the navigation unit that I have and that is why the signal is kinda weird in the front. Basically the signal has to go through the stock amp!!!
***Yep...that's about it. The only other solution that I can think of is to add an outboard equalizer, either a 1/3rd octave or a parametric eq. This should tame some of the peaks and nasal-like sound.***
They suggest me to purchase a new headunit, this will allow the signal to go directly through my amps to achieve best result, the nav will work as it is except the audio button would not work.
***You'd probably have to go completely aftermarket. From the looks of the larger NAV screen, it's not able to seperate with the bottom controls. That is, large screen on top, and a similar (or what appears to be) a din sized cassette/volume,etc on the bottom. You'd pretty much have to dump the whole thing for the aftermarket. But you can always try the EQ option first. This is a double edged sword...you want to keep the stock nav but you want better sounding SQ. If you keep the NAV, the best it will ever sound will be crappy signal through the stock amp, even with McIntosh pumping everything after the line level converters. Now if you dump the stock nav and go completely Alpine, then you have a good chance at SQ. Time for some choices...***
They will hook up some wireless thingy too to make sure my steering audio functions could work too. The unit they suggest is the F1 CDS-7990 head unit and I might go ahead and install the PXA-H900 multimedia manager as wells.
***GEEZ! That's not a small upgrade...that's a HUGE a$$ upgrade!!!***
My concern is, to percy or other gurus, is what they are saying true??
***Pretty much on the dot.***
Have anyone with nav upgrade their systems by doing something else??
***Don't know...don't have the experience in this.***
also, regarding the navigation issue, since I am modding my GS big time, I am thinking of taking it back to Taiwan where there is no GS430, only 300 ( the price of an IS over there and get a GS 430 here!!!) Does anyone of you know if the GS nav system (I have the DVD based one) can use other nav software?? I heard from my lexus sales that our nav system is alpine based, can we use the new alpine software (the 3D one?) it is nice that we have a touch screen nav system, is our system set up ONLY to use GS software, or anyone software that is DVD based? what is the deal with navigation compatibility issue?? And if I can use other nav software such as the offical alpine one, how would the screen look like when I change my temperature or other features using the stock nav monitor?
***Don't know about the conversion. Could be more of a headache than it's worth.***
if my nav can only work with N-AMerican lexus based CD. I might have to take out my entire stock nav system and swap it back to the original center panel, and put the new head unit, new monitor and the local taiwanese DVD players there...sad!!!
I could not find these information on line and I am extremely frustrated, I hope someone here can help me out, thank you!!!
if someone has great knowledge in these two areas, perhaps I could speak more to you over icq??? here is mine 19282080
email digital_wu@hotmail.com
please contact me and let me know if I can chat with you.!!!
Daniel
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: California
Daniel, since you're already spending so much I'd definitely change out everything to aftermarket....it WILL sound much better and you can be sure the nav will work...doing the conversion just sounds like a lot of headache as Percy mentioned...
Also, are you sure you want to bring a nice car to Taiwan? Unless you have a driver otherwise it's really going to get messed up. (The mopeds there don't care what you drive)
Also, are you sure you want to bring a nice car to Taiwan? Unless you have a driver otherwise it's really going to get messed up. (The mopeds there don't care what you drive)
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: International
thing is he wants it to look perfectly factory and custom... all smooth and everything working well with the car.. so i recommended to him to try the TVNAV and run that as a TV basically and his idea of a hidden head unit with a remote sensor somewhere around the screen... his concern was that the buttons beside the screen would no longer work...
so is there anyway a audio shop could actually wire these buttons to do somethign on an AFTERMARKET head unit?? that woudl proboby be the optimal situtaion...
so is there anyway a audio shop could actually wire these buttons to do somethign on an AFTERMARKET head unit?? that woudl proboby be the optimal situtaion...
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