2009 2010 Lexus ISF Mark Levinson - adding a line out converter , amplifier and subwoofer IS250

Tips for adding a subwoofer , line out converter and amplifier to a late 2009 Lexus ISF with Mark Levinson Audio system. May be relevant to the IS250 IS350 of same year.
Links below to some items I made up for this installation:
Custom 3d printed left side pocket , and amp tray:
/ nadda3dprints
Making T harnesses:
For Plug B - Subwoofer wires
www.aliexpress.com/item/32670...
www.aliexpress.com/item/12455...
For Plug C - front door woofer wires
www.aliexpress.com/item/40008...
For Plug D - remote wire
Mouser, Digikey, etc.
Female plug part 1473407-1 , crimp pins part 1674742-1
Male plug part 1318774-1 , crimp pins part 1123343-1
Wires I tapped:
drive.google.com/file/d/1KOjS...
NOTE: You can just tap the subwoofer wires only and see if its to your liking - it will still work.
If you have a single voice coil subwoofer, your wiring will only have Brown and Light green (MY10 Aus delivered ISF only had one pair of subwoofer wires). You can tap those and run it into both channels of input (daisy it across) into the LC2i
If you have dual voice coil, you could tap brown and light green into one input, and pink and light blue into the second input of the LC2i.
Diagram I made for the 2009/MY10, possibly 2011+ as well:
drive.google.com/file/d/1-zOy...
Non ML in the same year may possibly use the identical wiring schematic

[@tatertotsmcgee5110]

Finally, a good explanation of what I'm going to be doing. This is a proper tutorial. Thank you.

[@abranmcintosh525]

Pleasure working with you mate :)

[@Howiefied]

Just wanted to add, that you're awesome!

[@dillon410021]

thank you for this.

[@mizo8081]

Thanks so much!! Very very clean work

[@michaelmatangi8135]

Thanks so much for this. There’s very little info around about this. I’m attempting to install a Zapco dsp / amp, and run the components and a new sub from this. As you said in the video and described in one of your comments, I’m hoping to piece together the full frequency spectrum from the sub and left woofer output from the oem amp, and then use the dsp to manage the frequencies to each channel.

[@whitefoxcoupe2024]

Impressive

[@xTerminatioNx]

Very informative video. Thanks for all the info. Do you think the wiring diagram would be different for a 2008 ISF?

[@lexus9075]

I'm fairly certain that 2008 ISF, and pre-MY10 2009 model ISFs are different to MY10 wiring. Dont 100% quote me, but from what I found, these would likely be the wiring assignments for a 2008 and early 2009. Just cross check your amp to see if it adds up I guess: Front left door woofer, 2nd plug: positive white, negative red Front right door woofer, 3rd plug: positive brown, negative pink Subwoofer likely dual voice coil. 2nd plug: positive brown, negative light green, positive pink, negative light blue Remote wire: 4th plug, orange

[@ESBP626]

💯 ON POINT!!!

[@michaelmatangi8135]

You've said you utilized the signal from the sub and left front woofer for your new subwoofer, and it resulted in a good frequency spectrum for the bass. Have you done any other testing on the signal from the front 3-way components? I'm am aiming to replace the front 3-way components with new 2-way components (woofer and tweeter only), and I'm wondering if the woofer and tweeter has enough of the frequency spectrum to cover the mid too (which I won't be using). I only have 6 high level inputs into the Zapco, so don't have enough for all 6 front speakers and the sub. Cheers

[@five6263]

Awesome, thanks for this. Did you disconnect the OEM subwoofer or leave it connected? I've read an aftermarket sub sounds better with the oem disconnected.

[@lexus9075]

I left it connected personally

[@angeloper2985]

You did a great job!!. So just to clarify. You feed your LC with signal source from one sub front door and the rear deck sub source? Which front door signal source? Do you know how to obtain a full range signal? Any input is appreciate.

[@lexus9075]

Hi there, sorry for the delay in response. In answer to your first two queries - please see the links in the description and I have a photo uploaded showing exactly which signals I tapped - combination of the single rear subwoofer in parcel shelf & one front door woofer (front left door woofer) . The link in description for 'wires I tapped' will show the exact wires I used. In response to 'how to obtain a full range signal' - this appears to be the technical debate. From what I have read, I believe the front door woofers are probably the closest you will see in technical terms of them being 'full range' , but may not be as prominent as the power sent to that of the subwoofer channel signal. On the other side of the coin, the sub channel is more prominent, but has a reputation of missing some bass notes. Truthfully, I believe the only 'real' way to get a 'perfect' signal, would be for a more advanced DSP amplifier which can take numerous channels of input signals (e.g. doors, subwoofer etc.) and collaborate the signals together to cover all ranges. They can also be tuned by software/USB to a computer as to what it would output. This option for me seemed a bit costly, and I was happy in the end with what I achieved as-is with the LC2i. Per my video, my suggestion was to try the following as a test, before you complete your final connections 1. If you have a dual voice coil sub (brown, light green, and pink and light blue) - use those 4 wires for your 2 channels of input into the LC2i and test if youre happy with songs you are familiar with. 2. If you have a single voice coil sub (just brown and light green), try use those 2 wires and piggy back them into both of the 2 channels on the LC2i and test if youre happy If unhappy with the subwoofer signal alone, can try either option below 3. try front left, and front right door woofers for 2 channels of input into the LC2i OR 4. try a mixture , i.e. one subwoofer signal, one of the front door woofers as the 2nd. I just done trial and error , and per my video, I was in the situation of 'Option 2' above with a single voice coil factory sub. Tried it, wasn't happy. Then jumped straight to option 4 as a test - I was happy with the result, didnt mess about any further and just wired it in. Hope this helps.

[@Lordvoldemore]

@@lexus9075 I’m gonna attempt this at home, thanks man!

[@JohnnyBravo633]

Wow amazing it’s exacly the video I wanted! I got the mark levinson on my lexus NX and the subwoofer is clipping at low volume (around half volume) when playing music with low frequency range. At first, I though it was the OEM subwoofer than was distorting so I went aftermarket and plug a LC1.800 and use the high level from the factory sub to feed my amplifier and I was wrong.. the mark levinson channel for the subwoofer is clipping at very low volume! And they claimed that this amp is 1000 watts..? I was a little bit choc but then I ran some test yesterday and I found out that the front speakers are good at high volume so I’m gonna tap the front speakers and I think it may solve my problem. But I have a question, is it better the front or the rear for best signal ? I don’t have an oscilloscope but I’m guessing that they get the same signal but at a different voltage. Thanks!

[@lexus9075]

Hmm im not certain to be honest. Im not a professional :D All I can say is that on the Lexus ISF specifically, all posts online state the front door woofers push out a 'stronger' (or more powerful, forget the exact terminology) signal/range, than that of the rear door speakers.

[@Lordvoldemore]

What were your results? I’m having the clip issue at low volume so I’m upgrading the line out converter.

[@whatyouseeiswhatyouget1974]

At least he did not do the most ignorant actions that I had seen. People removing the OEM amplifier that is valued 2 times as much as a aftermarket amp and sub. In features, in vehicles models with touch navigation and internet access for the update on the OEM computer and vehicle navigation. Just so they can get a bass line. The amp does more than just music it’s a link in the chain of factory comforts and associated assorted of features. They don’t make videos showing what they created by being a tunnel vision nut