This is for all of those people seaching for a replacement subwoofer that was damaged because either you or one of the kids turned the bass up to loud or played some of that more modern music on your Mark levinson Stereo system and the subwoofer speaker now makes a rattling noise in the back .
This will work for any make or model subwoofer lexus offers.
Go find/borrow/buy an electric glue gun or heavy duty bathroom tub/tile 100% silcone clear caulk (home depot or lowes).
I prefer the glue gun. Pull off or pry with screw driver or puddy knife the subwoofer top grill where you suspect the noice is coming from. Inspect the cone around the speaker. lightly push down on the speaker's outside cone edge. you will find using a flash light and a good pair of reading glasses will help. Observer that in almost all cases the speaker will be torn around the outside edge. This is the weakest part of the factory subwoofer. Mine was torn for about 2 inches along the edge and was very hard to see tear. Take your glue gun, insert glue stick and let it warm up. Now go all the way around the entire outside edge of the speaker cone with glue meeting outside edge with the foam part of the speaker, cover the paper part of the speaker from the form part of the cone to the outside wall of the speaker. Fix any other tears with the glue gun.
Push the speaker cover back on and it will be as good if not better then new.
This is a simple repair for an expensive speaker that will last for a long time. No other replacement speaker will sound as good as the factory speaker without potentially damaging your Mark levinson amplifier. Believe me I know because I have tried others.
schuppin@worldnet.att.net let me know how it went!!!!!!!!!!
Tools :
Screw driver
Sears electric glue gun and glue.
cost:
Nothing but 10 minutes of your time.
$5.00 bath room caulk but go the glue gun route instead
Hello...I'm new to the forum and just wanted to say thanks for posting this useful information.
I recently downsized (meaning I no longer wanted monthly payments) to an '01 LS430 from an '07 LS460 with the ML and I almost didn't want to drive the LS430 because the sub was blown (previous owner adjusted sound to come through front speakers only and just got used to it).
Since I have the UL model with the rear beverage cooler, I was told that if I wanted the best sound quality, a custom enclosure with a new sub/amp was my best solution (as opposed to an aftermarket shallow mount, free air sub, with an additional amp). This would have run me about $750.
Luckily I found this post and I had a glue gun in my toolbox. Although it's a bit challenging to get to the area of the sub closest to the seat because of tight quarters, I was able to get a nice bead of glue around the edge that touches the metal frame. I (impatiently) let it dry for a few minutes and it now sounds perfect...no more annoying rattle (and yes...before finding this post, I did try putting a couple of microfiber cloths between the speaker and the grill cover, but all this did was stop the rattle and wipe out all bass entirely) :)
At some point I may want to go the custom enclosure route with a larger sub, as I got spoiled with the system in my LS460, but for now, this works great.
Mark Levinson Subwoofer Replacement And/or Repair
in 90 - 00 Lexus LS400
Posted
Hello...I'm new to the forum and just wanted to say thanks for posting this useful information.
I recently downsized (meaning I no longer wanted monthly payments) to an '01 LS430 from an '07 LS460 with the ML and I almost didn't want to drive the LS430 because the sub was blown (previous owner adjusted sound to come through front speakers only and just got used to it).
Since I have the UL model with the rear beverage cooler, I was told that if I wanted the best sound quality, a custom enclosure with a new sub/amp was my best solution (as opposed to an aftermarket shallow mount, free air sub, with an additional amp). This would have run me about $750.
Luckily I found this post and I had a glue gun in my toolbox. Although it's a bit challenging to get to the area of the sub closest to the seat because of tight quarters, I was able to get a nice bead of glue around the edge that touches the metal frame. I (impatiently) let it dry for a few minutes and it now sounds perfect...no more annoying rattle (and yes...before finding this post, I did try putting a couple of microfiber cloths between the speaker and the grill cover, but all this did was stop the rattle and wipe out all bass entirely) :)
At some point I may want to go the custom enclosure route with a larger sub, as I got spoiled with the system in my LS460, but for now, this works great.
Thanks again!
JF