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Out of all the cars i have worked on, the 2nd Gen Lexus IS is perhaps one of the most common models I see...with this particular one, a 2008 IS250, as my 20th or so install.
However, it has been well over a year since my last IS build, and with some new products being avaiable, it is pretty exciting to try them out in this familar car.
First up, the goals:
1. Produce an decent level of sound quality on a somewhat modest budget, with a focus on smooth top end response
2. take up as little room as possible while retaining the spare tire
3. a simple clean and functional set up in the trunk that is stealthy and not affect daily usage
lets get started:
The OEM lexus headunit serves as the signal source and a Mosconi 6to8 processor provides all the tuning functions. With the optional bluetooth dongle, i can tune the car wirelessly anywhere with in a few yards of the car...here is the software running while i am doing final listening in the vehicle:
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as mentioned, smooth highs was a key requirement as the owner is very sensitive to high frequencies. To that end, the new Morel Virtus 6.5" two way compoenent was the perfect choice. The tweeter was molded into the A pillars, spaced up above the instrument shroud to reduce reflections, and becuase the oem material is almost impossible to duplicate, as the norml with my IS installs, the pillars are wrapped with dash matching black vinyl:
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Here are some quick build pics of the pillars...due to the relatively odd shape of the Morel tweeter bracket, i first had to build a small oval shapped ring with a flush mounting wall, they were then aimed and secured to the stripped OEM pillars:
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then mold cloth was pulled, resin applied, allow to harden, and then reinforced from the inside via duraglass/resin mixture, making the pods virtually solid:
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then filler was applied and everything sanded smooth to blend together:
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and then they were wrapped with black vinyl:
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then the morel mounting cups were secured to the pillars via the supplied hardware, from here, the pillars just need to be snapped back into the vehicle, and the tweeters themselves pressed into place:
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The Morel virtus 6.5" midbass went into the stock location, first the doors were sound proofed and a new pair of speaker wires run into each door:
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then i made up two spacer baffles and treated both sides with truck bed liner to protect them against the elements:
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The baffles were then bolted up:
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and the virtus midbass installed:
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for once the virtus has a small enough motor that no foam was needed around the magnet to prevent the banging sound when the window briefly touches the magnet at the bottom of it downward travel
the same treatment was applied on the passenger side:
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However, it has been well over a year since my last IS build, and with some new products being avaiable, it is pretty exciting to try them out in this familar car.
First up, the goals:
1. Produce an decent level of sound quality on a somewhat modest budget, with a focus on smooth top end response
2. take up as little room as possible while retaining the spare tire
3. a simple clean and functional set up in the trunk that is stealthy and not affect daily usage
lets get started:
The OEM lexus headunit serves as the signal source and a Mosconi 6to8 processor provides all the tuning functions. With the optional bluetooth dongle, i can tune the car wirelessly anywhere with in a few yards of the car...here is the software running while i am doing final listening in the vehicle:
as mentioned, smooth highs was a key requirement as the owner is very sensitive to high frequencies. To that end, the new Morel Virtus 6.5" two way compoenent was the perfect choice. The tweeter was molded into the A pillars, spaced up above the instrument shroud to reduce reflections, and becuase the oem material is almost impossible to duplicate, as the norml with my IS installs, the pillars are wrapped with dash matching black vinyl:
Here are some quick build pics of the pillars...due to the relatively odd shape of the Morel tweeter bracket, i first had to build a small oval shapped ring with a flush mounting wall, they were then aimed and secured to the stripped OEM pillars:
then mold cloth was pulled, resin applied, allow to harden, and then reinforced from the inside via duraglass/resin mixture, making the pods virtually solid:
then filler was applied and everything sanded smooth to blend together:
and then they were wrapped with black vinyl:
then the morel mounting cups were secured to the pillars via the supplied hardware, from here, the pillars just need to be snapped back into the vehicle, and the tweeters themselves pressed into place:
The Morel virtus 6.5" midbass went into the stock location, first the doors were sound proofed and a new pair of speaker wires run into each door:
then i made up two spacer baffles and treated both sides with truck bed liner to protect them against the elements:
The baffles were then bolted up:
and the virtus midbass installed:
for once the virtus has a small enough motor that no foam was needed around the magnet to prevent the banging sound when the window briefly touches the magnet at the bottom of it downward travel
the same treatment was applied on the passenger side:
