honestly I am so dated on car audio that it would be like asking me a question about home audio and I would then recommend the best stuff from 1987-1994...I can say one thing though...the Levinson system in the Lexus LX 470 is pretty dismal compared to "real" car audio systems in my opinion fwiw. I haven't heard the McIntosh car stuff but I'm gonna have to say that those thieves are pretty savvy these days...who knows...they might look in your car...see McIntosh...and say "oh yeahhh....I'm gonna git me a whole lotta crack"...lol
I have no idea where you live...but I would recommend going into a good car audio place where there are rooms of varying levels of equipment...skip the el cheapo room...get an idea of what sounds good to you and just try to keep it simple.
All I had in my Boat (I'm using that particular system as you have a convertible) was an Alpine Head Unit, Soundstream 4x50 amp, 1 pr of Boston Accoustic pro6.1 which was a 6" mid and a separate 1" tweet...and dual 10" subs (can't remember brand) in an isobaric chamber (refers to how the enclosure is built...like a bazooka...but with another sub behind the one that you see...or so said the guy who gave it to me) 2 channels ran the mid/highs and the other was bridged to run the sub. Whole setup ran me less than 2k.
It got plenty loud and was clean also...I could even hear it while wakeboarding....now my neighbor...he was the guy that installed the system...he had a 13k system in his mastercraft...you could listen to that one while parasailing...lol...boy the neighbors were glad to see him move!
wish you luck on your hunt!
oh...ok...one other bit of advice...sorry about the long windedness...one way to avoid having your system stolen...is turn it down a few blocks before you park your car...wherever...i speak that as a former victim myself...twice...lol...and being that I was auto insurance adjuster and dealt with tons and tons of stolen stereos...make sure that you get the special rider on your policy if needed...the company i worked for...one of the big uns...didn't cover aftermarket stereos that weren't installed in the factory locations...so that amp under your seat or in the trunk...your sub...or anything else that wasn't in a "factory" cutout wasn't covered.
and don't think that it won't get stolen...cause it probably will.
you suuuure you wouldn't rather just upgrade your home rig? hehehe
I have no idea where you live...but I would recommend going into a good car audio place where there are rooms of varying levels of equipment...skip the el cheapo room...get an idea of what sounds good to you and just try to keep it simple.
All I had in my Boat (I'm using that particular system as you have a convertible) was an Alpine Head Unit, Soundstream 4x50 amp, 1 pr of Boston Accoustic pro6.1 which was a 6" mid and a separate 1" tweet...and dual 10" subs (can't remember brand) in an isobaric chamber (refers to how the enclosure is built...like a bazooka...but with another sub behind the one that you see...or so said the guy who gave it to me) 2 channels ran the mid/highs and the other was bridged to run the sub. Whole setup ran me less than 2k.
It got plenty loud and was clean also...I could even hear it while wakeboarding....now my neighbor...he was the guy that installed the system...he had a 13k system in his mastercraft...you could listen to that one while parasailing...lol...boy the neighbors were glad to see him move!
wish you luck on your hunt!
oh...ok...one other bit of advice...sorry about the long windedness...one way to avoid having your system stolen...is turn it down a few blocks before you park your car...wherever...i speak that as a former victim myself...twice...lol...and being that I was auto insurance adjuster and dealt with tons and tons of stolen stereos...make sure that you get the special rider on your policy if needed...the company i worked for...one of the big uns...didn't cover aftermarket stereos that weren't installed in the factory locations...so that amp under your seat or in the trunk...your sub...or anything else that wasn't in a "factory" cutout wasn't covered.
and don't think that it won't get stolen...cause it probably will.
you suuuure you wouldn't rather just upgrade your home rig? hehehe