brociouz

iTrader: (65)

Buy ML for the mids and highs, but don't expect mind blowing bass - you'll have to go aftermarket for that. The 6 disc DVD changer and center channel are nice additions too.

GilIS250

iTrader: (10)

I plan on getting a some 12W6v2 and a 500/1 I don't need to blow people ears or have a vibrator for car... just the extra kick most of us look for...

CleverName

I like the ML over my Audi Bose system by far, however neither of them hold a candle to the mid-leve Alpine I put in my Stratus.

For factory, im glad Ihave the ML.

V

felixsc300

iTrader: (5)

I actually never heard the ML in person, but I'm not much of an audiophile so the standard system works wonders for me.

OTOH the standard premium system in my IS blows my G's Bose out of the water.

someboy

iTrader: (6)

Personally the sound system in a Scion TC sounds better than my Mark Levinson when playing music, the bass in the TC sounds way better. While ML is good for watching a movie in the car, but seriously i never watch movies in my car, so in my opinion it's pretty pointless to get it.

Also, ML breaks pretty easily if you like to blast your music and when it does, your gonna have a hard time getting lexus to cover that under warranty because they will just keep saying they can't find anything wrong with your sound system. How do i know this? My friend's ML broke and he has been at lexus for over 3-4 times, they keep refusing to fix it for him and saying nothing is wrong with it when clearly you can hear the speakers are malfunctioning.

kumquatism

iTrader: (10)

^^Really? i always thought the bass in my tC kinda sucked. I had the 06 model though, which did not come with the sub in the back. It would not go very low at all, and when it tried, it sounded like it was dying. The mids and fronts were okay, nothing I'd call fantastic. The first thing I did on my tC was put a head unit and a 12" subwoofer in the back because I was sick of hearing the fronts try to hit bass notes.

When I got the IS, I was pleasantly surprised by the system (basic, no ML). Sounds significantly better than most other "premium" systems I've heard (BMW Harman Kardon, Acura ELS, Infiniti Bose, just to name a few).

Then again, I've never heard the ML system before, and that might be the difference. I've heard so many (not so pleasant) stories about the ML sub.

ColtH

iTrader: (1)

I love my ML. However the ML subwoofer sucks.. I now have two 10" in a ported box in my trunk. leave the rear arm rest down and open the little door threw to the trunk and your system now sounds worlds better

anthrax144

The ML system is crisp and clear at all levels. The bass won't blow you away but it's very respectable. Watching DVDs on long drives (for the passengers obviously) is a major plus and the sound is spectacular!

lexuslivin

The more I listen to my is250's premium/standard sound, I'm disappointed. Vocals sound like high pitch whining and overall music isn't very enjoyable compared to my home stereo system.

kumquatism

iTrader: (10)

Can't really compare car audio to home...at home you have nearly no space constraints, providing proper enclosures for all your speakers. Speaker placement is vital to audio. Car speakers have to be relatively shallow and have very very few options where to put them (please tell me, aside from the door panel, where else can you really put speakers?), where as bookshelf and floorstanding speakers can be placed in the perfect location for wherever you're sitting. Not to mention you're sitting offset to the left in the car, which throws off the acoustics a bit.

There's so little you can control with car audio, but honestly, the IS250 system is probably one of the better factory car audio setups (that I've heard). If you've heard better, please do tell. I'd love to test out other systems.

I have fairly decent home audio setup (Paradigm mini monitors), as well as a fantastic headphone setup (AKG k701 + Canamp), and yes, car audio does not compare. But you can't expect it to either.

Nezumi

I love the ML system and am VERY glad I got it over the normal option. I have to second everyone's assessment that the ML isn't bass-heavy. If you want something that is going to shake everyone around you and drown out mids and highs, you won't get it.

What you WILL get however, is clean, extremely crisp sound where you can turn the volume up quite high without much distortion.

It depends on what you listen to, but ML was definitely worth it for me.

sirjamesb

Does anyone know the specs on the ML system?