grayson73

What sounds better, specifically for pop music:

1. Stock Mark Levinson system
2. Stock non-Mark Levinson system with aftermarket subwoofer and amp?

ehaze

2. and change the speakers.

radio shack speakers will sound better than the ML crap.

grayson73

Which speakers to change? There are 12 in the non-ML system, correct? Also, can I use the existing amp for the speakers and just get one 2-channel amp bridged for the sub?

trancein

Stock sound system with the Dolby 5.1 turned on sounds awesome, clean and crisp.

grayson73

Non-ML system?

RomanTPA

Dolby 5.1? What system and year GS you have?

trancein

2014, go to your menu in audio system and check the Dolby 5.1 button, its night and day diff.

RomanTPA

Oh, I have a 16, from what I understand they have changed the infotament system in 15 or 16

yardie876

There will always be a better aftermarket system than what a car manufacturer's can offer, in this class anyway. With that being said though, the ML is phenomenal IMO. It's super crisp when listening to high quality music (HD FM too). It really depends on if you want to spend a nice chunk of money to gut your brand new car out and add an aftermarket system.

Gen2IS26

I wish Bose would do an audio system for Lexus.

spoogenet

Sorry, no amount of speaker or amp upgrades will make pop music sound good. Oops, I did it again!

Good sound is a matter of matching good speakers with good amplification and equalization. High quality components doesn't guarantee a good match.

My understanding is that the ML system has built-in amps for each speaker, which to me sounds more complex to upgrade. If you really want the best sound, change everything out. And change from pop music.

spoogenet

Bose? Not to be condescending, but Bose can only make certain things sound decent. In the world of audio they aren't known for good quality. Their marketing group has done a good job bamboozling the average folk. I would take the upgraded Toyota JBL system over a Bose any day.

mikulexus

What's the price difference from the ML upgrade and the aftermarket? The Levinson sounds great IMO. I work on music at home with KRK VST monitors and I like to hear my drafts in the car to see what I'm missing. For just daily listening, ML is more than enough but again, it will depend on whether you can get the aftermarket at a significantly lower price, right?

trancein

Also the ML are 16 ohm speakers they are matched with their amps perfectly.

Ready4aGS

The ML is $1380 as an added on option. Is it worth the upgrade?