speaker replacement
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 36
Likes: 13
From: FL
speaker replacement
The speakers in my 2001 RX-300 sound like they are on their last leg. The dealer says he does not think he can get replacements. Questions: 1. Does Lexus have replacement speakers available?, 2. has anyone found aftermarket speakers that fit?, and 3. How hard is it to replace the speakers myself?
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
quick reply here:
I have come across couple of threads on doing speaker replacement/upgrade. Please use search feature. If and when I have more time, I can do the search for you and will update this post. If you are not comfortable with search, start reading the DIY sticky thread.
The physical size and ohm rating is important and try to match the wattage. You can also visit Cruthfield or even go to a local car audio shop and they should be able to tell you what would fit or not.
Speaker cones can rot (age and exposure). Other than the speakers there can be a problem with other audio components.
The subwoofer goes through maximum motion (physical movement) and if rotten would give way first.
Reason I explain this is there are many speakers and you should make an attempt to narrow down what is actually messed up.
Salim
PS: The speakers are not Lexus. They may Pioneer or from other audio manufacturers.
I have come across couple of threads on doing speaker replacement/upgrade. Please use search feature. If and when I have more time, I can do the search for you and will update this post. If you are not comfortable with search, start reading the DIY sticky thread.
The physical size and ohm rating is important and try to match the wattage. You can also visit Cruthfield or even go to a local car audio shop and they should be able to tell you what would fit or not.
Speaker cones can rot (age and exposure). Other than the speakers there can be a problem with other audio components.
The subwoofer goes through maximum motion (physical movement) and if rotten would give way first.
Reason I explain this is there are many speakers and you should make an attempt to narrow down what is actually messed up.
Salim
PS: The speakers are not Lexus. They may Pioneer or from other audio manufacturers.
The Pioneer speaker is a custom speaker for the RX300 with a molded-in bracket to fit the door profile. Be careful what the "local sound shop" want to put in. Sure, they can put any 6.5/6.75" speaker in there but without a sealing bracket it won't sound good. Moreover, most aftermarket speaker have a totally difference impedance, efficiency and frequency response than the OEM speaker. You can get the Pioneer on e-bay and they are generally in pretty good condition (if you can hear yours buzzing, the foam surround has rotted away).
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You won't find these speakers new. They were OEM for Lexus only, not retail, and Pioneer will have stopped making them years ago. Yes, get a used pair off ebay, here's an example:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26497426087...YAAOSw7q9hW4CS
Note the front and rear speakers have slightly different mounting frames.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26497426087...YAAOSw7q9hW4CS
Note the front and rear speakers have slightly different mounting frames.
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Pit Crew
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 238
Likes: 46
From: Springfield MO
I put in the Polk Audio DB 6502's and DB 652's from Crutchfield last year. Went in easily, no modifications of speaker holes were needed. Did not use the tweeters that came with them, or the crossovers. Sound great, I kept the original tweeters on my RX. I did this at the same time I replaced ALL the door lock actuators. I took a leisurely 2-3 weeks to do all this, luckily I have a heated and cooled shop. Not a Nakamichi unit, plain vanilla.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 174
Likes: 76
From: AZ
Even if you can find the factory speakers, you probably should not buy 20 year old speakers, as even sitting in a box, the rubber ages with time.
I purchased brand new 6.5" Pioneer component speakers and they mounted up relatively easily with modification, but keep in mind they do not mount as nicely as the factory custom units, so they don't line up with the door panel as well, and therefore sound travels mostly through the speaker grille, but also somewhat into the door panel, so they don't sound as "loud" as the factory ones did, but at least they work well.
You could do something like that, which I am happy with, because the alternative is to spend a small fortune asking some custom shop to spend effort in fabrication etc, probably. Perhaps there's a kit that would allow you to mount them closer to the door panel, but I haven't run into anything like that. (There's probably a two inch gap, roughly)
I purchased brand new 6.5" Pioneer component speakers and they mounted up relatively easily with modification, but keep in mind they do not mount as nicely as the factory custom units, so they don't line up with the door panel as well, and therefore sound travels mostly through the speaker grille, but also somewhat into the door panel, so they don't sound as "loud" as the factory ones did, but at least they work well.
You could do something like that, which I am happy with, because the alternative is to spend a small fortune asking some custom shop to spend effort in fabrication etc, probably. Perhaps there's a kit that would allow you to mount them closer to the door panel, but I haven't run into anything like that. (There's probably a two inch gap, roughly)
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 174
Likes: 76
From: AZ
To add, if I'm buying used speakers on ebay, I'm specifically looking for ones from the midwest or somewhere nice and HUMID... maybe not so inclined to order out of Arizona, just my two cents (the speaker listed above is in Chandler, AZ)....
Maybe used speakers from a humid part of the world might still be in good shape. That would be nice, and easy to swap!
Best of luck.
Maybe used speakers from a humid part of the world might still be in good shape. That would be nice, and easy to swap!
Best of luck.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 174
Likes: 76
From: AZ
Check this out:
So, you may opt to try to find the same kind of speakers that guy used, or something else that will fit in the same way, that way you can use that plastic bracket. That might be nice. Unfortunately my Pioneers did not fit, so I could not use those.
