How to Upgrade Your Lexus Sound System
Adding an amplifier or subwoofer is a great way to upgrade your Lexus’ sound system, but doing so can also cause your insurance premium to skyrocket.
Written by Andrew Biro
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Your Lexus’ sound system primarily depends on the vehicle model, model year, and trim level—most models, however, include at least 6 to 10 speakers. To upgrade your Lexus sound system, you’ll want to start by replacing the stock speakers, installing a subwoofer, and hooking up an amplifier to boost your power.
As one of the world’s foremost luxury car brands, Lexus has consistently delivered sleek, stylish, well-manufactured vehicles, integrating the latest technologies into their design, especially when it comes to their premium audio packages. The stock sound system, however, leaves a little to be desired.
If you’re looking to upgrade your Lexus’ stereo system but you don’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the right place.
Jerry
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savings—has assembled the following article breaking down everything there is to know about Lexus’ standard sound systems and essential audio upgrades.We can even teach you how to save hundreds on your Lexus car insurance costs!
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What kind of sound system does a Lexus have?
As you can probably guess, not every Lexus has the exact same sound system—in fact, the type of sound system in your Lexus depends exclusively on the vehicle model, model year, and trim level. Most models do, however, feature between 6 to 10 speakers, an AM/FM stereo, smartphone integration, and Bluetooth capabilities.
Over the last decade, however, Lexus has started offering a premium Mark Levinson sound system upgrade in certain models and trim levels—the exact components of these systems vary, but most include an additional 3 to 14 speakers, a 12-channel amplifier, and at least one subwoofer.
Ultimately, the overall sound quality of your music is determined by the speakers in your sound system, regardless of whether you're connecting via Bluetooth, the radio, or an aux cord.
If your Lexus has a Mark Levinson premium sound system, you probably don't need to upgrade—but if you have the stock setup, you might consider looking at aftermarket speaker options.
How to upgrade a Lexus’ sound system
Your Lexus's exact age and model will have an impact on the precise upgrades your car’s audio system can handle—in general, however, you should focus on three things: installing new speakers, adding a subwoofer, and hooking up an amplifier.
Start with speaker upgrades
One of the simplest ways to improve your Lexus’ sound quality is by replacing the factory speakers with a better set of aftermarket ones.
Be prepared to spend a good amount of money on your speaker upgrades, though, especially if you’re not familiar with your Lexus’ internal electronic systems—you’llneed to hire a professional to complete the installation, and their services aren’t cheap. What’s more, some Lexus vehicles use fairly small factory speakers, which means some replacements will necessitate modifications before they can be installed.
You will also need to choose between installing component speakers, which have a clearer sound, or coaxial speakers, which are significantly less expensive. Our suggestions for aftermarket Lexus speaker upgrades include:
Add a subwoofer
Similarly, the addition of a subwoofer is integral to any Lexus sound system upgrade, as it helps free smaller speakers from the burden of producing low-frequency notes, thereby allowing them to operate within a more comfortable range of frequencies.
Ultimately, installing a subwoofer results in richer sounds and better handling of bass notes, allowing you to experience your music to its fullest. In most cases, a subwoofer can be housed in your Lexus’ trunk or in the rear seat—the ideal placement will ultimately depend on the vehicle model.
Of course, not all subwoofers are created equal and there are a lot of them for sale, making it difficult to parse out which are going to deliver the best sound—to lessen the chances of getting ripped off, look for something like the
Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8
or the JL Audio 8W3v3-4
. What’s the difference between 2-ohm and 4-ohm subwoofers?
While you’re comparing subwoofers, you’ll start to see different units marked as either “2-ohm” or “4-ohm”. If you’re wondering whether one is better than the other, well, there’s no real objective answer.
You will, however,get a louder, more forceful sound from a 2-ohm subwoofer, whereas a 4-ohm sub will give you a much clearer, deeper sound—which one you choose really just comes down to a matter of personal preference.
Boost your audio quality with an amplifier
Another way to upgrade your Lexus’ sound system is with an external amplifier, which can help improve the overall audio quality, as speakers fed via an amplifier do not crackle or distort the music.
Even if you don’t upgrade your stock equipment, a good amp can still produce loud, clean-sounding audio from the factory speakers, as the amp functions as an additional source of power and removes some of the stress from the OEM speakers.
It’s also worth mentioning that, if you plan on adding a subwoofer, you will NEED an amplifier to help power it—here are some of our recommendations:
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How to protect your Lexus’ sound system—and save on insurance!
Of course, there are some drawbacks to upgrading your Lexus’ sound system, not the least of which is the potential impact on your insurance rate. Any aftermarket components you add to your car won't be covered by the majority of standard insurance policies because they only cover the original factory parts.
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FAQs
What sound system does Lexus use?
In certain models and trim levels, Lexus offers buyers the opportunity to upgrade to a premium Mark Levinson sound system, which typically includes an additional 3 - 14 speakers, a 12-channel amplifier, and at least one subwoofer.
How many speakers does a Lexus sound system have?
The number of speakers in your Lexus largely depends on the vehicle model, model year, and trim level, but most have somewhere between 6 and 10—and if you opt for the Mark Levinson sound system upgrade, you can have up to 25 speakers!
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