Hopefully this hasn't been covered, because I have been unable to find it. I am looking to upgrade my audio system in my GS. I went to a car audio shop the other day that stated it may be difficult to change out the head unit without changing the rest of the audio system due to Lexus using "data bus lines" ? Is this true? I know alot of people have switched out their head units, did you really have to switch out everything? It's been about 12 yrs since I messed with car audio but this doesn't seem right. I was originally looking to install a Pioneer AVH-7300 that I got a great deal on, but now I'm thinking that I will just upgrade all of the stock speakers, add a sub, and an amp. Will just upgrading the stock speakers help with clarity or will I need to add more power to them to? Will th factory head integrate with another amp to run the high's? Sorry for all of the questions, this just has me baffled. Car audio is usually very simple. BTW, I am planning on doing a mac mini carputer conversion before too long. Thanks.

 

The easiest thing is to remove the stock head unit, amp, and CD changer. They are far too integrated to be able to use any of it with an aftermarket stereo. But that's not an issue because most new aftermarket stereos come with a built in amplifier that's more than capable of powering your regular speakers. The downside is you will lose the stock sub unless you add an external amplifier.

Yes. Upgrading the stock speakers will help a lot. You can do this now, or when you later. The stock amp will be sufficient for most speakers in that respect. Except the sub.

 

IF YOU BUY A PIONEER AFTERMARKET UNIT YOUR GLOVEBOX CD CHANGER CAN BE SALVAGED . i can convert it to pioneer aftermarket changer but keep all the present location and magazine eject button. it picls up cd text in the conversion also.

 

I'd like to know where you found that information. This most certainly will NOT work on the 1998 to 2000 models for sure.

 

the gs factory changer was made by pioneer so the aftermarket connector board can be substituted for the factory connection board and it works any pioneer p series ibus headunit including the avic n1 n2 n3 .

 

Any other info on this unit? would like to check it out.

Percy

 

here is a picture of the 1998 to 2002 factory gs changer with the pionjeer aftermarket pbus cable attached and 2 wire power plug right. the other end of cables plug into the pioneer square blue colored port . this has been accomplished by replacing the pcb board with pioneer aftermarket board .

 

here is a picture of the changer playing though a pbus pioneer headunit. as you can see it is still the same gs changer with the orange c sticker but now works with pioneer aftertmarket. headunit. the lexus changers were made in japan not indonnesia so will last 10 times longer than current pioneer aftermarket changers which barely work through their 1 year warranty. also the changer will do anything the headunit is capable of like cd text and song naming. so why throw away the changer or glut the market with used changer and sell a 1000.00 list price gs changer for 75.00 on ebay. modify it to work with your pioneer aftermarket. . its especially useful for the 1 din pioneer nav dvd players. they can only either play the nav dvd or a cd and not both. also you wont be wearing out the expensive pioneer nav unit playing cds though the laser of the headunit. i have been modifying lexus changers since 1998 to work on pioneer headunits so i know it works.

 

Have anything for a C90 unit? Sony...

Percy

 

no sorry . only pioneer made lexus changers can be modified to work on pioneer aftermarket headunits. sony made ford lincoln changers back in the 90s so they could be modified but thats the only sony stuff. i dont know of any sony made audio components for any usa toyota or lexus modls.

 

lexusaudio. im impressed with your skillz! your right....why throw away a perfectly fine cd changer when it can be modified to work!

i have a 99 GS with the Nakamichi audio. am i correct in assuming that the changer is the same pioneer unit as in other GSs? when you replace pc board with aftermarket pioneer pc board, are you talking about on the changer or on the HU? any pics of the backs of the changer and HU combo hooked up?

 

yes the nakamichi changer can also be converted to pioneer aftermarket cd changer by changing the expansion board . then you can connect a pioneer pbus cd changer cable to your aftermarket pioneer stereo or nav unit made since 1994. the picture above is a lexus gs changer playing through a 1998 pioneer headunit. the back side of the stereo haedunit would show the pbus cable plugged into the blue colored square 10 pin port that is part of every pioneer stereo that accepts a remote cd changer since 1994. all avic pioneer units have a pbus port either on the back of the unit or as part of the avic brain box array of connectors. its always a blue colored port. look on your avic brain box. there is a blue colored port on it i am sure.

 

where do i get the said expansion board that will interface with the p-bus cord? or how do i go about converting it?

 

you would have to send the cd changer uint to me and i will convert it for you and return it. i have been providing this service for clublexus members since the start of the 2nd generation gs came out in 1998. this service is for lexus owners who appreciate the quality of their factory changer over the present pioneer aftermarket cd changers.

 

gotcha. PM sent.