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My 2000 RX-300 has the factory Nakamichi system in it. After 24 years and 272k miles it isn't sounding so good any more. I'm wondering if anybody here has converted their RX to the standard system so they could upgrade the speakers, add an aux module, etc?
Do you have the itch to replace or the sound quality has deteriorated? For a vehicle the sound system is fairly good and the climate control is integrated with it, If the sound has slowly gone bad, I would suggest check the speakers. They can dry rot.
It has significantly degraded. 25 year old speakers, intermittent channel dropout, also would like to replace my noisy FM converter with an actual line-in aux but I've never heard of one that works with Nak.
I would happily replace the speakers, not sure what would actually work with the Nak system though. Will any 6.5" mid-range driver work if I install like
You maybe tempted to do full scale replacement, but I would suggest start with the best audio source the CD player and replace the speaker. Nothing magical about Nak/Lexus speakers. With auto application the issue is typically the size/shape. There should be plenty of choices in any case.
You get into lot more complications signal level and dual-differential signals + integration of vehicle function/display if you want to replace the system.
You are not the first to the party ... in fact people have moved away from first gen and investing in high quality audio can end up costing more than the vehicle.
Search on Aux-audio or call well known audio equipment manufacturer for options.
Well the value of the vehicle is sort of irrelevant to me right now. I'm not going to trade or sell for another 5 to 7 years unless the engine or transmission goes (or god forbid a crash). So I do what I must to keep the old girl going.
I have searched for aux many times and never found any that were compatible with the Nak.
Nak or nonNak have different pin outs so that makes them non compatible (not plug and play).
Try the search with advance option and restrict to Rx first gen.
To add an Aux in port you have to hijack one of the sources. Typically folks are using CD. Then you have to use audio level transformer to match the levels [most forgo the dual differential and just feed one input for left and one for right]. You still have to fake the serial interface to choose CD and even play a CD in the drive. Elegant solution is to build an electronic interface but you have to be a tinkerer with analog ICs. I built a prototype for myself but have moved on to newer vehicles [working with apple play interfaces]
There are other options such as Radio input. This is what I did for my SC. Inside the radio there is a test point [after the tuner]. I spliced in there and did not need dual differential levels.
You can gut the whole system. There is a double din adapter but I don't know what folks have done for the integrated controls.
Oh, keep in mind the accessories have a serial protocol and they direct/select sources of signals.
Salim
Last edited by salimshah; Dec 8, 2023 at 02:08 PM.
OK, turns out my 24 year old speakers are not trashed - at least not on the driver side.
Also, turns out the Nakamichi system door speakers do NOT have built in amplifiers, and they are NOT 2 ohm (as I have seen mentioned before). Here is what I found on the left front door:
And here is what I found on the left rear door:
And just for reference, here is what I found on the back of the radio:
Anybody know what the smaller of the two coax cables is for? I know the larger one is for the radio antenna.
There are Two antennas referred to as diversity antenna and Mast antenna. The diversity antenna should lead to side glass above the passenger side rear hatch . There is track like a defroster track.
still have to figure out what id sounding distorted. You may like to test the speakers out. The coil is held by webbing and then the cone is suspended by flex material to the frame.
Salim
Last edited by salimshah; Dec 10, 2023 at 11:37 AM.
Huh, I always figured that was for the remote key fob.
I haven't listened to terrestrial radio in many years, but I'm old enough to want to have it available just in case. I added a switch to keep my antenna retracted when I use my FM converter aux-in, I think I've only used it once in 11 1/2 years.
I added a switch to keep my antenna retracted when I use my FM converter aux-in, I think I've only used it once in 11 1/2 years.
Ha, I did the same thing on one of my cars repurposed a trunk disable button from an ES300. I make sure my power antenna also works even though I never use it.
De-Nakamichi-fication
