Lexus RC350 F Sport Audio Upgrade For St. Louis Client

A client from St. Louis contacted JML Audio about doing an upgrade in his 2015 Lexus RC350 F Sport audio system. We arranged a time for him to come by the facility with his vehicle for an audio consultation. Our team spent time on looking over the vehicle and listening as he explained his goals for the upgrades. We took significant time on getting to know the client better and what he liked and disliked about the current audio system. We listened to audio equipment in our showroom with him so we could better understand his musical tastes.

We took all of this information and worked up a solution that we thought best suited his unique needs, and he liked our proposal, so we scheduled a time for him to drop off the vehicle.

Proper Usable Signals

As is the case with many modern vehicles, we left the original stereo system intact in the dash and added an Audison Bit One processor to the audio outputs of the factory system. The bit One allows us to remove any equalization added to the music by the Lexus engineers, as well as sum the musical signal back to a full-range signal. These two functions are critical if you want to end up with a great-sounding stereo system.

The Audison bit One DRC remote

Bit One DRC Remote hidden in the OEM console

The processor also gives us dedicated channels for every speaker in the vehicle and allows for individual controls for 30 bands of equalization, crossover settings, output levels and digital time delay. When all of these settings are tuned by a well-trained installer, the results are extraordinary. The BitOne has an external controller called a DRC, and we mounted it in a convenient spot in the center console, making it easily accessible by the driver. The controller allows for adjustment of subwoofer output level, as well as different presets for the custom tuning.

Power By Audison

Audison Voce Uno and Quattro mono and 4-channel amps

Now, the musical signal travels to a pair of Audison amplifiers: a Voce AV QUATTRO and a Voce AV UNO. The Quattro four-channel amplifier is tasked with powering the front component speakers while the Uno mono amplifier is tasked with powering the subwoofers.

Custom Fabrication

Hidden amplifiers to retain cargo space

We fabricated a custom metal amp rack to mount the amplifiers and processor securely in the spare tire well and, when finished, fit underneath the false floor panel, keeping them hidden from view while allowing for lots of cargo space and easy servicing in the future.

Vocal Perfection

When it came time to choose front speakers, we used the Hertz Mille Legend series, using their ML1800.3 7” woofer in the front doors in the stock locations, mounted on custom machined composite speaker mounts. In the stock tweeter locations in the dash, we mounted the ML280.3 1.1” tweeter, again using a composite speaker mount that we machined in-house.

Another shot of the tweeters mounted in place

Custom mounts for allow the tweeters to fit in factory locations

Sound deadening lowers the noise floor for an less noise and clearer vocals

Delivering Clean Bass

Our team went back to Hertz for subwoofers, choosing a pair of their HX300D 12” subwoofers. We designed a custom ported box for the subs to maximize sound quality and output, and made a trim panel to flush them into the trunk. As you can see in the pictures, we used red leather around the subs that matched the interior of the vehicle. For a finishing touch, we added the Lexus and F Sport logos.

Clean shot of the custom sub enclosure

Custom fabrication blends well matching the black, red and chrome theme

Lowering The Noise Floor

We added our Stage 3 environmental package to the front doors to dramatically lower the road noise coming into the vehicle while also eliminating the possibility of rattling or vibration that may occur from adding high-performance speakers. In the trunk, we added our Stage 2 environmental package to achieve the same benefits as the doors.

Optimal Tuning For Clarity

Once the installation was finished, our team of experts sat in the vehicle with their laptop and began the intense task of tuning the sound system, looking for every last ounce of sound quality. This is one of the things that separates JML Audio from the competition. We feel that our clients should get all of the performance they paid for, rather than a preset block of time to tune the vehicle. Many shops will shortchange the client for the sake of saving a few dollars, but that will never happen here. Our unwavering goal is to deliver the best-sounding audio systems our clients have ever experienced.

For the finishing touch on the audio system, we installed an AudioQuest Diamond iPod/iPhone cable for the most accurate musical transfer.

Heat and UV Film Treatment

Once the audio system was completely finished, we installed our heat-reflective window film on all of the windows, including our clear film on the windshield. The client now has a vehicle with 360 degrees of protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays, as well as drastically reduced heat entering the vehicle. The end result is a car that is more enjoyable to drive while helping reduce the possibility of skin cancer for the occupants.

Completion For This Lexus RC350 F Sport Audio Upgrade

When the client came to pick up his Lexus, he was thrilled with the installation. He marveled at the quality of the fit and finish, and how everything looked like it came from Lexus as a factory option. Once we cranked it up for the first time, he was grinning from ear to ear. His music came through crystal-clear, and he now heard nuances in the music he never heard before.

Give Us A Call Today!

It would be our pleasure to arrange a time for you to stop by our facility with your vehicle for an audio consultation. Our team will work one on one with you to design and build the audio system you have always wanted. You can contact us HERE for more information.