I got a 1997 lexus ls400 as my first car today and I have a few questions. Audio is super important to me and I bought the car witgout testing it. The picture I am attaching I am asking wtf are these wires for? It really doesn't look like any speaker wire I've ever seen... but I think that's all it could be cause the audio sucks... there is 0 bass.

 

Could be for the in car phone. That'd be my guess.

 

Nope, my car wasn't equipped with one.

 

But it's most likely prewired for one.

 

your LS400 should have considerable bass, because it has a built in sub and sub amp (integrated into the main amp unfortunately) so before ripping the whole system out and starting from scratch, you might want to get the factory system working and see what you think. - I am also into audio, but the factory system is pretty decent, decent enough that I haven't taken the time and expense to replace it! - however it is not going to rattle all of the neighbors windows within a 1/4 mile, if that is what you are looking for, but you can definitely feel the sub!

And I agree with the other comments, those do not look like any part of the audio wiring I have ever scene, my guess is also mobile phone. Club Lexus member Kansas would know for sure.

 

I'm much more familiar with the 98-00 LS400 phone system but that is where the phone ECU would have been installed on a 95-97 LS400. .I see you also have the optional golf tee. ;-)

 

i have a 97. the phone system, which is indeed prewired for the car regardless if it had it or not, is simply a coaxial cable for the antenna which is imprinted onto the back glass.

as mentioned the harness does not look factory. just look at that poor attempt at a ground, using a self-tapping screw which has rusted. also that looks like an ethernet cable which predates your car! regardless it is an aftermarket harness. looks like the previous owner has some aftermarket equipment installed in the past, which could explain the lack of bass.

 

Mine came with that too. Over 30 optional golf tees in my trunk.

 

Definitely not OEM wiring, I am presently stripping out a 1997 LS and found nothing like that in the trunk.
If you have no bass response 1st thing to check is the sub speaker itself.

 

Right - not OEM. If a phone ECU was never installed, the prewire cables for one are still attached to a bracket attached to the bottom of the tool box receptacle.