Is the Mark Levinson system worth it?
#16
Pole Position
Thread Starter
If you're in the market for one of these cars, this is not going to be the deciding factor on whether or not you purchase one or not.
I will say this, I thought it sounded just ok when I first bought the car, but after I added a simple 250W amp and 10" JL sub, it rounded out the system very nicely. It has that perfect blend of sounding great when I'm sitting in the car and driving, with bass deep enough that I can feel it but yet being almost dead quiet with the windows rolled up if you're standing a few feet from the car outside of it. No trunk rattles or annoying people in the cars next to you.
Thx
#18
I believe that I am one of the very few who have nav/backup camera without ML. That said the base system is alright. It could use some bass, but it's better than the factory upgraded system in my M3 and Corvette. I'm not a huge audio person though. It plays my ipod/cell music just fine. In fact, I'm driving a RC350 right now as a loaner car, and it doesn't sound any better than mine.
#19
I'm confused about the comment of no bass.
I've listened to XM Radio channel BPM and the bass is so forceful the mirrors are shaking... I don't know, maybe the system varies by car??
I've listened to XM Radio channel BPM and the bass is so forceful the mirrors are shaking... I don't know, maybe the system varies by car??
#20
Your #1 Lexus Vendor
iTrader: (8)
lol no way, i could play a bass only frequency on full volume and the bass would do nothing lol.
__________________
Your #1 Dealer for Aftermarket Performance Products
Orange County, CA
Email: info@merakiautoworks.com
Text/Call: 213 394 2886
Website: www.MerakiAutoworks.com
Your #1 Dealer for Aftermarket Performance Products
Orange County, CA
Email: info@merakiautoworks.com
Text/Call: 213 394 2886
Website: www.MerakiAutoworks.com
#21
The ML in my 08 was much better than my current 2011. I took my 11 in to see if something was wrong with the stereo and service guy told me the 08 was much louder and they were dealing with too many blown subs so they changed the stereo in the newer models. Not sure if he was telling the truth or not but my 11 is def a below avg system for a car of this sticker price.
#22
Huh that is interesting. Yeah like I said, it's really really bassy.
I was surprised when I picked up the car and was pounding BPM for awhile. One the strongest bass I've heard in an OEM car that's for sure.
Perhaps they did change it.
I was surprised when I picked up the car and was pounding BPM for awhile. One the strongest bass I've heard in an OEM car that's for sure.
Perhaps they did change it.
#23
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
You would be correct on that assumption, however I didn't say anything about this being a make or break deal on the IS F, merely wanted some guys opinions on the question posed. Maybe it should've read, of those that purchased their cars new and had the option to check the box off for the ML system, what would be the strengths and weaknesses of the ML system?
On this quote above, did you add any sound insulation (dynamat or something of the sort) when you put in the 10" JL sub to prevent any trunk rattles? Also to go off of what one of the other posts said does the sub have to be a 8ohm sub to match the factory system??
Thx
On this quote above, did you add any sound insulation (dynamat or something of the sort) when you put in the 10" JL sub to prevent any trunk rattles? Also to go off of what one of the other posts said does the sub have to be a 8ohm sub to match the factory system??
Thx
As for impedance of the sub, I have mine connected through the source for the existing sub through a converter, and my sub is running off of my amp at 4 ohms. I'm pushing 250W rms to the sub in a custom ported enclosure and it sounds great in my opinion. No, I didn't use any dynamat or other sound deadening... the Lexus sound deadening is enough to keep my car from rattling at the level of bass I'm pushing. It has a very muffled almost imperceptible sound when outside of the car with the windows up, and a clean sound inside the car.
I used to be a car audio freak, but I got out of it over 10 years ago. I just want something that sounds decent with all types of music and am not big in to signal processing and fine tuning. ML fits that bill when an aftermarket sub is added.
#25
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is the Mark Levinson system worth it???
Well, just read the horror stories and you be the judge. But don't go crying about the Lexus dealers. No matter what brand car, they're all scheisters, that is a given.
Mark Levinson is made by Harman, previously Harman Kardon. Used to be well respected in the audio world.
If you guys want to voice your displeasure, Drop Harman an email: CSupport@harman.com
Well, just read the horror stories and you be the judge. But don't go crying about the Lexus dealers. No matter what brand car, they're all scheisters, that is a given.
Mark Levinson is made by Harman, previously Harman Kardon. Used to be well respected in the audio world.
If you guys want to voice your displeasure, Drop Harman an email: CSupport@harman.com
#27
As stated earlier it's hard to find an F without ML. Buying a new one, i don't think it's worth it at all to upgrade to it.
'11 ML system here. It's decent, no bass and yes i do have to crank it up to listen to it. So i went and installed (2) 10"s in the trunk. Much happier now but i think soon I'm going to go out and redo my whole system.
So no, not worth it at all as you can put in a much better system yourself
'11 ML system here. It's decent, no bass and yes i do have to crank it up to listen to it. So i went and installed (2) 10"s in the trunk. Much happier now but i think soon I'm going to go out and redo my whole system.
So no, not worth it at all as you can put in a much better system yourself
#29
It all makes sense now why the 2011 year has the worst stereo. The addition of the DRL lights is sapping the strength of the ML stereo or at least this is what I will tell people who don't know any better.
#30
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Basically it's a good system, but not better than what you would build if you bought a quality component system, a sub and an amp.
As for impedance of the sub, I have mine connected through the source for the existing sub through a converter, and my sub is running off of my amp at 4 ohms. I'm pushing 250W rms to the sub in a custom ported enclosure and it sounds great in my opinion. No, I didn't use any dynamat or other sound deadening... the Lexus sound deadening is enough to keep my car from rattling at the level of bass I'm pushing. It has a very muffled almost imperceptible sound when outside of the car with the windows up, and a clean sound inside the car.
As for impedance of the sub, I have mine connected through the source for the existing sub through a converter, and my sub is running off of my amp at 4 ohms. I'm pushing 250W rms to the sub in a custom ported enclosure and it sounds great in my opinion. No, I didn't use any dynamat or other sound deadening... the Lexus sound deadening is enough to keep my car from rattling at the level of bass I'm pushing. It has a very muffled almost imperceptible sound when outside of the car with the windows up, and a clean sound inside the car.