Aftermarket deck, OEM amp bypass
#1
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Aftermarket deck, OEM amp bypass
I'm trying to get a double din touchscreen deck installed my '99 GS300, car toys is charging me over $1200 cause they have to bypass the stock amp? Is there any way to not break the bank for this?
#3
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
Yup, complete ripoff.
I was a car audio installer for many years and I've seen shop try this crap lots.
If you are running your speakers off the new deck's amp then you need to run new wires to the factory amp, if you have the normal pioneer factory deck, the amp is behind the glove box, probably an extra hour MAX to hook it up.
If your car has a factory NAK system that means 4 speaker wires to the trunk - still 1-2 hours time MAX,
I was a car audio installer for many years and I've seen shop try this crap lots.
If you are running your speakers off the new deck's amp then you need to run new wires to the factory amp, if you have the normal pioneer factory deck, the amp is behind the glove box, probably an extra hour MAX to hook it up.
If your car has a factory NAK system that means 4 speaker wires to the trunk - still 1-2 hours time MAX,
#4
How is the sound quality when bypassing the stock factory amp with an aftermarket HU? I was all set to replace my head unit before I learned that it isn't compatible with the stock amp. Do you still have use of the subwoofer when bypassing it?
When I was looking to replace mine, I was told that I would have to purchase a new amp as well to wire it into to get the full sound of my current stereo. Is this true, or would a replacement head unit with an amp built in have all the functionality I need to get full use of the stock speakers and sub?
I'm not an expert in car stereos, so I've had trouble finding a good answer on this.
When I was looking to replace mine, I was told that I would have to purchase a new amp as well to wire it into to get the full sound of my current stereo. Is this true, or would a replacement head unit with an amp built in have all the functionality I need to get full use of the stock speakers and sub?
I'm not an expert in car stereos, so I've had trouble finding a good answer on this.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
How is the sound quality when bypassing the stock factory amp with an aftermarket HU? I was all set to replace my head unit before I learned that it isn't compatible with the stock amp. Do you still have use of the subwoofer when bypassing it?
When I was looking to replace mine, I was told that I would have to purchase a new amp as well to wire it into to get the full sound of my current stereo. Is this true, or would a replacement head unit with an amp built in have all the functionality I need to get full use of the stock speakers and sub?
I'm not an expert in car stereos, so I've had trouble finding a good answer on this.
When I was looking to replace mine, I was told that I would have to purchase a new amp as well to wire it into to get the full sound of my current stereo. Is this true, or would a replacement head unit with an amp built in have all the functionality I need to get full use of the stock speakers and sub?
I'm not an expert in car stereos, so I've had trouble finding a good answer on this.
However, you will not be able to run the sub very well - while I have heard of some people running the sub hooked up to one channel of the rear this is not recommended.
If you wish to run the stock sub, you may wish to get a very small aftermarket amp - less than 50-60W
Of course, if you are looking for the best possible sound then a full system is you're best bet, it would look something like this:
- New deck ( either single or double din, you'll need a dash kit to make it fit, the best one for DD is the oem JDM one)
- New door speakers (you can get the adapter plates from here: http://www.car-speaker-adapters.com) - get the 6.5 if you want more sound
- 5 channel amp (or a 2 ch and a sub amp) would say a smallish, good quality 5 channel is sufficient
If you are not after monster bass, you can power the stock sub with a small amp without needing to replace the stock sub, but any more than a moderate power level will blow it.
If you shop around and buy the right stuff, you could get all the above for about what these guys are trying to charge you for a deck install.
Probably 5-6 hours to install a deck, amp and 4 door speakers.
#8
If you are not interested in replacing the speakers, you could get the same sound or better from a new deck running the stock speakers. In actual fact, I have found that a new deck with factory speakers sounds better than aftermarket speakers with the stock deck/amp.
However, you will not be able to run the sub very well - while I have heard of some people running the sub hooked up to one channel of the rear this is not recommended.
If you wish to run the stock sub, you may wish to get a very small aftermarket amp - less than 50-60W
Of course, if you are looking for the best possible sound then a full system is you're best bet, it would look something like this:
- New deck ( either single or double din, you'll need a dash kit to make it fit, the best one for DD is the oem JDM one)
- New door speakers (you can get the adapter plates from here: http://www.car-speaker-adapters.com) - get the 6.5 if you want more sound
- 5 channel amp (or a 2 ch and a sub amp) would say a smallish, good quality 5 channel is sufficient
If you are not after monster bass, you can power the stock sub with a small amp without needing to replace the stock sub, but any more than a moderate power level will blow it.
If you shop around and buy the right stuff, you could get all the above for about what these guys are trying to charge you for a deck install.
Probably 5-6 hours to install a deck, amp and 4 door speakers.
However, you will not be able to run the sub very well - while I have heard of some people running the sub hooked up to one channel of the rear this is not recommended.
If you wish to run the stock sub, you may wish to get a very small aftermarket amp - less than 50-60W
Of course, if you are looking for the best possible sound then a full system is you're best bet, it would look something like this:
- New deck ( either single or double din, you'll need a dash kit to make it fit, the best one for DD is the oem JDM one)
- New door speakers (you can get the adapter plates from here: http://www.car-speaker-adapters.com) - get the 6.5 if you want more sound
- 5 channel amp (or a 2 ch and a sub amp) would say a smallish, good quality 5 channel is sufficient
If you are not after monster bass, you can power the stock sub with a small amp without needing to replace the stock sub, but any more than a moderate power level will blow it.
If you shop around and buy the right stuff, you could get all the above for about what these guys are trying to charge you for a deck install.
Probably 5-6 hours to install a deck, amp and 4 door speakers.
For my needs, the stock speakers/sub is 'good enough' for me. I just want a refreshed head unit with technology from this decade.
Keeping the sub functionality is a must for me, so a bypass might not work. In that case, I'll have to price out a head unit/cheap amp combo. I'm not skilled enough to do the install myself (nor do I have the desire/time to figure it out myself) so I'll have to have a trusted stereo shop do it for me.
#10
#11
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
They are standard toyota harness adapters. Any stereo installer store should have them. I paid 10 dollars for a set. Since I had a nav I had to buy two sets (a male and female set) because I had to leave my original head unit connected. I put it in the glove compartment where the cd player was. You will not need to do that. But you do need the wiring diagram on the DIY you run your new head unit speaker wires to the original speaker wires that go to amp. And you get your power acc and continous power from the connector that goes to original head unit. You run the amplified wires out of your head unit to the stock amp not the rca ones
98 05 Lexus GS300 GS400 GS430 Double DIN Car Radio Install Dash Trim Kit Wire | eBay http://m.ebay.com/itm/141422678046?_mwBanner=1
http://www.parts-express.com/metra-7...m_campaign=pla
Last edited by sam12345; 01-11-15 at 09:00 PM.
The following users liked this post:
4rcedfed (04-18-20)
#12
They are standard toyota harness adapters. Any stereo installer store should have them. I paid 10 dollars for a set. Since I had a nav I had to buy two sets (a male and female set) because I had to leave my original head unit connected. I put it in the glove compartment where the cd player was. You will not need to do that. But you do need the wiring diagram on the DIY you run your new head unit speaker wires to the original speaker wires that go to amp. And you get your power acc and continous power from the connector that goes to original head unit. You run the amplified wires out of your head unit to the stock amp not the rca ones
98 05 Lexus GS300 GS400 GS430 Double DIN Car Radio Install Dash Trim Kit Wire | eBay 98 05 Lexus GS300 GS400 GS430 Double DIN Car Radio Install Dash Trim Kit Wire | eBay
http://www.parts-express.com/metra-7...m_campaign=pla
98 05 Lexus GS300 GS400 GS430 Double DIN Car Radio Install Dash Trim Kit Wire | eBay 98 05 Lexus GS300 GS400 GS430 Double DIN Car Radio Install Dash Trim Kit Wire | eBay
http://www.parts-express.com/metra-7...m_campaign=pla
If this wires up to the stock amp, this is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks again.
#14
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
Also for the trim piece you can go to an auto parts store and they sell a paint that is called toyota interior trim paint or something along those lines that you can paint the trim piece and match the color exactly because the trim piece will be black and not match exactly
This is the one that matches my trim exactly
http://m.summitracing.com/parts/shw-...FaZDMgodGBcAsw
Last edited by sam12345; 01-12-15 at 08:11 PM.
#15
Pole Position
iTrader: (5)
Also for the trim piece you can go to an auto parts store and they sell a paint that is called toyota interior trim paint or something along those lines that you can paint the trim piece and match the color exactly because the trim piece will be black and not match exactly
This is the one that matches my trim exactly
http://m.summitracing.com/parts/shw-...FaZDMgodGBcAsw
This is the one that matches my trim exactly
http://m.summitracing.com/parts/shw-...FaZDMgodGBcAsw
www.l-tunedparts.com is the place to get it from. $70 shipped to my door.
Last edited by mveale; 01-14-15 at 08:30 AM.