5speed6 v.2

Lexus's top-of-the-line LS is a 600hL hybrid.

<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/LS600hL_rear.jpg">

Optioned out, it tops $115K before tax. It comes standard with a "Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound Audio System featuring 19 custom made speakers".

Well a new owner of this car into high-end home audio was very displeased with what he heard when he listened to his new stereo.

I listened to it too, and at best, it was "okay". It was boomy and sounded very narrow.

The orders were put in.... "Make it sound good".

Here is the install that followed. The choice was to go with Morel drivers all around.

For starters problem #1 was the M.L. midbass drivers in the doors, 6x9's:

<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/MarkLevinson6x9.jpg">

Here is the remedy, 6 1/2" driver with a 3" voice coil:
<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/Morel6_front.jpg">

Side by side comparo:
<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/6x9_Morel6_rear.jpg">

Cheap stamped steel basket, small magnet vs. cast aluminum and vented magnet.


Here is the M.L. midranges and tweeters, and their Morel replacements:
<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/MidrangeTweeter_Front_Comparo.jpg">

<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/MidrangeTweter_RearComparo.jpg">

Mid/tweet installed in the center channel location:
<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/MorelMidTweetCenterChannel.jpg">

Mid/tweet installed in the rear pillar:
<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/MorelMidTweet_RearPillar.jpg">

Next up was the amp. Here is the M.L. 450 watt amp:
<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/MarkLevinsonAmp.jpg">

<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/MarkLevinsonAmp2.jpg">

The jury is still out as to whether the amp or the speakers were the weakest link in the system.

And here is the replacement amps, 1,700 watts of pure clean power with lots of headroom

<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/AlpineAmpStackFront.jpg">

<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/AlpineAmpStackRear.jpg">

Amps mounted in their new home:
<img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/aw5speed6/LexusLS600hL/AlpineAmpStackInCar.jpg">

The end result...clean, spatious, loud &amp; extremely musical.

HIS4

I hate it when some car salesman has to go on and on about how the car has 20 something speakers blah blah blah.

I probably would have installed even less than what was put in but its a nice install. Good job. I see you really like Morels

NoProblem

I think I'd have:

Up front; component 3 ways:
6 or 7 inch woofers
3-4 inch mid range
tweeters

rear fill:
woofers and maybe mid range

Trunk:
2 x 10s

That's 10 or 12 speakers!

That would keep the imaging up front, give some good and strong low frequencies in the car, and keep the subs for very low frequencies so that it would blend in well.

I would be really dissapointed with that Levinson system by the looks of the magnets though.

HIS4

I think a 2-way component system up front is more than enough, 2 mids for rear fill if any, and 1 sub.

So either 5 or 7 depending on if you want rear fill or not. Right now I just have 2 mids, 2 tweeters up front, 2 mids in the rear deck (they're actually coaxials but they are crossed over so that the tweeter doesn't really come into play), and a 10" sub. Unless you're into SPL, I've never felt a need for more than a single 10" or 12" sub. I'd actually like to try to do a system that used a single 8" or multiple 6.5" subs free air in the rear deck to see how that would turn out.

NoProblem

had 2 12s DVCs in the back. A single one wasn't enough, especially with 33 inch noisy tires!

Slave IV

components or just leave open space to mount your own stuff.
One good component set in the front and a sub with a clean amp running it all is all you need.

HIS4

Somebody walks into a car dealership and says, I want to buy this car but I don't want the motor, suspension, wheels, and exhaust because I'm going to put my own stuff in. Sounds kind of stupid doesn't it. Same goes for the sound system. Sadly the systems now are integrated into the cars computer and diagnostic system so just removing it is not all that easy like back in the old days.

5speed6 v.2

Thanks.. and yes, Morel is my current "in" speaker.

LWNY

If it was real ML, it would cost more than the car.

5speed6 v.2

..parent company of JBL.

JBL's products aren't the same either since Harman took them over as well.