4.1 Stock AMP - Problems/Questions lexus GS

**camsgs3** · 01-28-2004, 03:34 AM

Hey guys I just started getting into this CarPC stuff, and want to do this in my car, I have a 2001 lexus GS300
My plans are to get rid of the stock HU and put in a Indash 7" VGA touchscreen and PC in the trunk/underseat(not sure yet)

My problem is getting the sound output to my stock speakers, its a 4.1 setup. Stock AMP has NO RCA inputs
After reading/searching these forums still not sure whats the best way to go

next problem-
I know most people say external USB sound is better then onboard sound? I was looking at the Audigy2 NX External USB but its 7.1 sound. Im asumming i cant use this cause i need 4.1 correct??

will any/most mini MB with onboard sound work with my setup
If i can get this done, iam also assuming i can control my speaker volume through windows?

thanks - sorry for all the question

**camsgs3** · 01-28-2004, 03:42 AM

This is a install of a buddy of mine over at clublexus.com
No carPC though, has AV brain - radio,DVD

**00CericaRuss** · 01-28-2004, 02:52 PM

i'm using an audigy2nx for 4.1 and it works fine

i'd like to see how this goes.. my roomate just got a used gs400

**camsgs3** · 01-28-2004, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by 00CericaRuss

i'm using an audigy2nx for 4.1 and it works fine

i'd like to see how this goes.. my roomate just got a used gs400

whats up Cerica,
Yea the main problem is seeing if i can use my stock AMP(w/no rcas)how would i hook up the audigy2nx to that,
or i was thinking of just replacing the stock amp w/one that has rca inputs(recommened any)
You can take a look HERE ive been asking the people who know about the lexus stock stereo

any advice on what i should do

tell your roomate to check out clublexus.com, LOTS of info on mods and stuff

thanks

**audrenaline** · 01-29-2004, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by camsgs3

whats up Cerica,
Yea the main problem is seeing if i can use my stock AMP(w/no rcas)how would i hook up the audigy2nx to that,
or i was thinking of just replacing the stock amp w/one that has rca inputs(recommened any)
You can take a look HERE ive been asking the people who know about the lexus stock stereo

any advice on what i should do

tell your roomate to check out clublexus.com, LOTS of info on mods and stuff

thanks

How satisfied are you with the lexus sound? I drive an Audi that came with Bose and it wasn't enough for me. I ended up upgrading all my speakers to JL and I put in a 450/4 JL amp to run them. If your spending the dough to put in a carputer you might as well upgrade the sound while your at it.

Just my 2 cents.
Joe

**00CericaRuss** · 01-29-2004, 04:17 PM

I showed my roomate this post and we wandered over to club lexus last night...
his gs came used w/full tom's coilovers, stainless brake lines, and a trd front strut bar, so he got some free mods... lucky him.

anyways... if you got an electrical service manual for the car, scan up the pages for the audio and I'll look at it for you, and test on his car... it's the easiest way to figure it out.

As far as amps... there's alot of good amps out there... it really depends on what you want to spend/what kind of power you want.

I've got a soundstream reference 405s for sale

**Vineet Singh** · 01-29-2004, 04:27 PM

The Audigy works great as 2ch, all the way up to 7.1 channel. I have it setup as 5.1, but could do 6.1 if I had another speaker (or room for one

).

I suggest you buy 2 amps, a 2ch (bridged for sub), and a 4channel (all your other speakers), or one 5 channel amp (like mine, but I have a 2 channel as well). Crossover points can all be set internally via the SB audigy 2 NX software, and it's really quite good. I had active crossovers on the amps and just used those in the end.

Line-inputs for your factory amp... going to be iffy. I know there are equivalent wires on the stock infinity HU's/amps for 2g Eclipse/Talons, and 3000gt/Stealths, but have not found them on various other cars.

Ditch the HU, replace with touchscreen and laptop, do some wiring and configuring, and you will have a nice setup.

If you need help, I have a friend that works at the Lexus Technical Center, and can pretty much find any info on any lexus, if he doesn't know it already.

I did a seperate volume knob, just desoldered the unit off the audigy nx board, and extended it to the LCD trim panel. Seems to work really well, even has a nice overlay volume bar when you change the vol.

I've attached some pictures of my recently finished setup, this took about a week to do.

**Vineet Singh** · 01-29-2004, 04:29 PM

I forgot to put a picture of it all covered via the factory spare tire cover.

**camsgs3** · 01-30-2004, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by audrenaline

How satisfied are you with the lexus sound? I drive an Audi that came with Bose and it wasn't enough for me. I ended up upgrading all my speakers to JL and I put in a 450/4 JL amp to run them. If your spending the dough to put in a carputer you might as well upgrade the sound while your at it.

Just my 2 cents.
Joe

I think the Stock lexus sound is great, that would make the best sense to upgrade the speakers too, but ill prob. do that later on, I just want to see if i can get this going first, i no nothing about audio systems and how they work, thats why im not sure how to go about this

My Main Goal is have NO HeadUnit, all the sound to the car controlled by windows

thanks for all the help