Just got done with a Lexus Install, with full install log attached :)

[simplicityinsound]

hey guys, just got done with a relatively involved install by my standards on a show car IS350.

there is a full step by step install log online, and you can find it here:

http://www.icixsound.com/vb/showthre...9&page=1&pp=10

but here is a basic description of hte install and some pics

goals:

1. cleany and class, matching the luxurious and classy nature of the vehicle

2. excellent sound quality

3. decent attention grabbing in the trunk while maintaining a relatively stock interior

equipment used:

headunit: Due to various reasons, the stock lexus headunit and stock Mark Levinson amp was retained as a signal source.

Processor: Audio Control DQL-8 summing device/Digital 31 band Equalizer/digital xover is used to sum and control the sginal, additionally a DDC remote control until was used so tuning can be done in the front seat.

Front Stage: DLS Ultimate Nobelium 6.2 6.5" two way component set, the midbass is in the stock lower door midbass location, and the tweets are flushed into the kick panels.

Rear Speakers: DLS Ultimate UX26 high end 6.5" two way component coaxials in the stock lower door location

Subwoofer: 2 x DLS ultimate Nobelium 10" subwoofer

Amplification: DLS Ultimate A3 dual mono supplies the front stage with 150 rated watts a side. DLS Ultimate A5 3 channel amp feeds the rear doors with 85 watts and the subs with 780 rated watts.

Wiring: Mixture of TSunami, Stinger, and DLS

Sound Proofing: Elemental Designs Edead V1UE and V4 foam

the install:

*under the hood: replaced stock battery with Optima Yellow top, Dual polished terminals, all stock wires extended to route cleanly, stinger 150 amp CB anchors the power.

*interior: The DDC is mounted in a Carbon Fiber vinyl wrapped rack in the glovebox, doors fully sound dampened, tweeters flushed into the stock kick panle, tweeter grilles painted to match the carpet. all other stock speakres were removed and rear deck fully dampened.

*trunk: The theme here is Mirror, if you split the trunk down the middle, the goal is for hte left and right side to look almost identical. A single pliece dual fiberglass well houses the amps and the subs, and two smaller wells house the D- blocks. the fiberglass is all painted ot match the outside of hte vehicle. Routed Edge lit plexi is at every opening and lights up blue. The fake floor is all carbon fiber vinyl, attention to paid to make sure all the paterns line up on the roof of the trunk, a rack was built to house a motorized rack holding hte DQL-8, with its own edge lit plexi opening. Covers are also made so the entire install can be covered up when not at shows

okay, enough yap, here are some selected pics from the install log for you guys


battery wiring:



front door midbass install/door dampening:





front tweeter location:





front Audio Control DDC rack:



rear door UX26 install:





rear deck speaker removal/dampening:



trunk pics in different positions and lighting





















comments welcome

[Mr Marv]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[alphakenny1]

i was there with anthony (vestax) maybe a couple of weeks ago and it looked awesome. good job as always! anthony also told me he did a good tune job with it .

[fit_tuner]

you are the mother frickin god among men /w custom installs.... so much attention to detail! very clean, professional, and functional. good job!

[thazy2]

are those tweets down that low?


How do they sound?



I always thought that they had to be up front on top.....

[xencloud]

very interested to know how you got that striped pattern on there? Is that a fabric of some sort? I love that look....

very clean install! Congrats!

[FoxPro5]

I love how you're simplicity in sound, yet that's one complicatedly-sweet looking install that must have taken A LOT of time.

[solacedagony]

Originally Posted by xencloud

very interested to know how you got that striped pattern on there? Is that a fabric of some sort? I love that look....

very clean install! Congrats!

Carbon fiber?

[GS3]

simply put, a magnificent job.

how does it sound compare with the factory levinson system, i've litsen to the factory levinson system and it sounded pretty good for factory already. how much improvement over the levinson system by summing the signal and split it out again with the DQL 8?

[shinjohn]

Nice job Bing! Excellent attention to detail!

Wish I coulda had time to chat with you at the BBQ and check out some of your work. Well, next time we have a meet around here, hopefully you can swing by.

[Vestax]

Originally Posted by alphakenny1

i was there with anthony (vestax) maybe a couple of weeks ago and it looked awesome. good job as always! anthony also told me he did a good tune job with it .

LOL we didn't get it exactly the way we wanted to... I think the processor was not that easy to use. At the end of the tuning session, we did get it to a desirable listening position. The AC DQL-8 takes a bit to get used to but I think it sounds pretty good with the stock head unit.

My favorite part of this install was the actuator that pushes out the shelf to reveal the processor.

[CaliforniaBoy5]

Amazing!

[the other hated guy]

IMO your best work yet......

[89grand]

That's a beautiful install, but I can't help but wonder what those tweeters sound like down there on the floor like that.

I'm sure it works, but it doesn't seem like it would.

[scott_fx]

that looks amazing!

[alphakenny1]

i dont see a problem with the tweeters down that low. its all about experimentation. i have my midranges/tweets in the kicks cross firing and my stage is easily above the dash. the kicks will decrease the PLD, which in turn is great for imaging.

[dBassHz]

Holy cow! Your trunk install is bad-ass!

[89grand]

Originally Posted by alphakenny1

i dont see a problem with the tweeters down that low. its all about experimentation. i have my midranges/tweets in the kicks cross firing and my stage is easily above the dash. the kicks will decrease the PLD, which in turn is great for imaging.

I understand all that. I was wondering how it sounded because the left tweeter for instance is right where the dead pedal is, decreasing the PLD isn't that meaningful if your foot blocks the tweeter.

I guess you just don't put your foot there, who knows.

[6spdcoupe]

Excellent work Bing, I wouldnt expect anything less. Now ya got a Bimmer to take care of.

[bobditts]

Very nice job. I like the carbon fiber vinyl. Where did you get the metal mesh material? How come you didnt put this in the install gallery section?

[JoeHemi57]

very nice, i'm looking at an IS as well but w/o mark levinson. I was a little worried that with 13 speakers it would be hard to go aftermarket. I'm a little shocked at the tweet placement myself, is there any way to get an aftermarket tweet in the stock location?

[scott_fx]

Originally Posted by bobditts

Very nice job. I like the carbon fiber vinyl. Where did you get the metal mesh material? How come you didnt put this in the install gallery section?

I have some similar mesh that matches the hole pattern on my tubedrivers. www.mcmaster.com has all you need with great customer service

[3.5max6spd]

Very nice. That trunk is fire!

Anyone with any remote experience with those tweeters knows they absolutely rock off axis in such a location.

[89grand]

Originally Posted by 3.5max6spd

Very nice. That trunk is fire!

Anyone with any remote experience with those tweeters knows they absolutely rock off axis in such a location.

Even with your foot blocking it?

[3.5max6spd]

Originally Posted by 89grand

Even with your foot blocking it?

I have no problem hearing/listening to mine while i drive......