Ryan

Hey Lexusaudio,

This sounds really exciting. What do you think this will cost in ballpark terms for both the changer and your converter? Also, you mentioned that the "es300 92 to 96 cdx-m9071zt or a ls400 93 94 cdx-m8036zt" are more advanced than the one I have in my 93 SC400. Do they have a memory buffer to prevent skipping?

Thanks,
Ryan

goldz

WAHOO!!!!!!

OK, here's the deal. One of our own members, - lexusaudio - came up with the solution for all of my CD changer problems. I now have a 6 disk changer from an ES that works flawlessly in my SC 400, thanks to one of the wiring harness he makes. If you want the details on how he does it, contact him. He is truly an electronics genius.

Ryan

Hey Goldz,

This is great news! How did the head unit do with having only 6 discs? i.e. did it still try to find disks 7-12 or did it act like it was always a 6 disc changer?

What part # is the ES changer and what model year cars was it put in? Lastly, how did it fit in the SC - is it plug-n-play like stock or did you need to do some modification for the mounting?

Sorry for all the questions - this is just very exciting!

goldz

Hi Ryan,
The head unit acted like it was always a 6-disk unit, the changer is from a 1995 ES I believe, - don't know the model #, and I had to fabricate a bracket mount. I'll have pics once I tweak it a little. It sticks out into the trunk a little more than a 12 disk unit would - maybe 3 - 4". I'll measure it tomorrow. You need to contact lexusaudio for more detailed info. This guy is phenomenal, and I believe he can make a wiring harness to hook your head unit up to most any 6-disk Lexus (Pioneer) changer. Also, he is an honest individual. If he says he'll do something, you can consider it a done deal.

goldz

Ryan

Amazing! This is great!

SC300Es

this is good news

Ryan

Hey Goldz,

Please post the pics - I would love to see what it looks like.

Ryan

mynoles1

Has there been anything new to report on this front?

I am confused by one thing. Lexusaudio says you can just plug in the ES changer and our current SC headunit will operate it with no problem. Then, goldz posts a comment that a special wiring harness was configured and used for his ES changer.

Which is it? Does the ES changer models mentioned in Lexusaudio's comment simply "plug-n-play" or deos it require special wiring?? I know the bracket needs work, that's fine, but curious before I search out the ES or LS changer.

Out of curiosity, does the ES/LS changers have memory of some sort, or simply a superior anti-skip mechanism??

Thanks!

lexusaudio

YES THAT WAS CONFUSING. IN GOLDZ CASE THE 99 AND 2000 SC400 WITH THE NAK SYSTEM HAS A DIFFERENT CD CHANGER CABLE. SO HAD TO RUN RUN THE 92 TO 98 SC400 CD CHANGER CABLE TO USE THE 96 SC400 RADIO AND THE 96 ES300 6 DISC CD CHANGER. THE 92 T0 2000 SC400 NAK RADIOS ARE ALL COMPATIBLE BUT LEXUS GAVE UP ON THE 12 DISC AND THE 99 AND 2000 SC400 USED A DIFFERENT PIONEER 6 DISC WITH THE NAK SYSTEM. SO TO SWITCH RADIOS HAD TO SWITCH CD CHANGER CABLES.............................................................................................. 92 TO 98 SC400 OWNERS ALREADY HAVE THE CABLE THAT WILL PLUG INTO THE ES300 CHANGER SO YOU DONT HAVE TO RUN ONE TO USE THE ES300. .... IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THE NEW 99 2000 SC400 6 DISC COULD BE PLUGGED INTO THE 92 TO 98 CARS BUT UNFORTUNEATELY NOT. .............................................AS FAR AS WHY THE ES300 CHANGER IS A BETTER CHANGER THAN THE SC400 CHANGER IS AS FOLLOWS.THE ES300 CHANGER IS A GENERATION 2 PIONEER CHANGER AND THE SC 400 12 DISC IS GENERATION 1 MATSUSHETA CHANGER. SO THAT MEANS A BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GENERATION .. ALL THE GENERATION 1 CHANGERS FROM ALPINE, PIONEER, PANASONIC ALL HAD LOTS OF DEFECTS IN THEM. BY GENERATION 2 THEY WERE MUCH BETTER PLAYERS WITH LONG LIVES COMPARED TO THE GENERATION 1. THE LS400 CHANGER FROM 93 AND 94 HAS A DOUBLE SIZE FACEPLATE TO FIT IN THE OLD 90 TO 92 SPACE SO ISNT AS NICE A FIT AS THE 92 TO 96 ES300 CHANGER. ALSO THE ES300 CHANGERS ARE PLENTIFUL COMPARED TO LS400 CHANGER. BY THE WAY I AM TYPING IN CAPS DUE TO SEEING THE WHAT I AM TYPING BETTER. I AM NOT YELLING AT ANYONE.

SC300Es

Thanks for clearing that up. So, the 92-96 ES changer should work fine on my 98 SC then, right?

Btw, I thought you were yelling at us because we don't know anything...lol

mynoles1

Lexusaudio, thanks for clearing that up.

Just as a side question, why would Lexus put a better changer in a 93+ ES model, but in their newer, so-called "flagship" model they would use the older generation?? Seems if they had the better product for the ES line, they would have considered it for their top of the line.

What can I expect to pay for an ES changer from that generation, and do you have a good suggestion on where to find them?

Thanks again for all the help, I really have wanted to keep my Nak system intact.

SC300Es

Goldz you have any pictures yet?

SC300Es

Thanks to lexusaudio's expertise, I now have a 1996 ES300 CD Changer in my trunk. It works perfect, and it plugged right into my existing harness. I got it from Car-part.com for $150.00.

A big

mynoles1

Does anyone have pictures of their install of an ES300 changer? I just bought one, and am looking for the best possible method of intsallation that is functional and doesn't look ridiculous.

Can this ES300 changer be mounted at any angle, or must it be horizontal??

Any help and pictures on this subject is greatly appreciated!

SC300Es

Mine is on top of a cushion next to my original 12 changer. PM Goldz. He has pictures of his install. He installed it sideways in the spot where the 12 changer was. If he doesn't reply to you, I'll post his pics.

Ed