i don't want to change the satellite system in the car since i paid so much for the damn car i should have mentioned, my brother changed his to an alpine system but he not driving a lexus lol. i was interested in the cowon X9 as well but i need someone else experienced opinion?
Thanks
Well that's exactly the thing, if you spent that much on the car why not do it right and avoid a cable running to a device on the passenger seat or hung somewhere on the dash? I mean, what's the point in a beautiful, clean dashboard if you'd have that on it? What specifically do you need from a DAP that you can't get out of that system?
1) If it's the storage, doesn't it have a USB input? (I'd be surprised if Lexus doesn't have this, my brother's FR-S/86 and my Dad's Toyota minivan both have that)
2) If it's the SQ, you can just get an integration processor and an amplifier. These processors have all the sound-shaping options necessary to simulate equidistant listening, particularly time alignment for each tweeter and midwoofer plus the sub, so it applies delays to the driver's side speakers and the sub and you get better imaging on the dash, the difference being that the inputs on these can be from the speaker output of a stock receiver you don't want to remove. With proper installation of the drivers if you're willing to go that far (like the photo I posted) you can have a concert happening on your dashboard with potentially near pinpoint accuracy if done right. In a car, the listening environment (relative space between ears and each speaker, reflections off the windshield and dash, etc) has much, much, much more to do with SQ than a cheap 16-bit DAC on your stock receiver vs a 24-bit DAC on a DAP. No highres, but trust me the listening environment in a car gets in the way of the music a heck of a lot more. The amp then becomes necessary because the processor will apply crossovers before the amp, and you'd need at least 4channels of amplification when using these processors.
Don't dismiss this option based on warranties without doing research first. Ask your dealer about specifics and join a car audio forum to talk up local enthusiasts near you. Not only can they direct you to an installer who won't hack up your car, they can also help in directing you to the right person to talk to at the dealer so they'd understand what you're trying to do. Over here I've inquired several times (before the possibility of taking my PhD abroad was an option, and I was looking to get a new one here), and a few brands' reps can clarify that if I do that to the sound system, the only warranty I'm voiding would be the specific components that were touched -
not the entire electronics system on the car. They even offered to install the electronics (the processor, or the receiver and dash kit if I go that route) and lay down all wires to the locations of the amps and speakers (and have the custom installer only doing fabrication of the fiberglass mounts) so it'll be covered by warranty against electrical fires (something that thankfully I haven't heard of actually happening, but the dealers were extra careful). The worst responses was a blank face from salesmen who don't understand what I'm trying to do because USB was state of the art to them, followed by a manager who jokingly asked if they can display the car when done (the latter isn't actually bad, I really wouldn't mind lending it for a few days if they'd lend me a service car). Unfortunately, life plans went a different direction
In the US from my experience Toyota was very friendly with these especially if it's a Scion (followed by Subaru), but that's the US marketing strategy as they try to one-up Honda and Mazda with younger buyers. Won't hurt to research and ask around over there though.
