Vaistech ML Plus (ML+) Review - Buy Recommendation from former SL2i user!!!
#46
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Yes we should be able to do that. But we won't be able to have swiping because our resistive touch screens. I was hoping Lexus would have capacitive touch screens in the next gen models, but it seems they went backwards to more primitive mouse tech from the 1980s.
#48
okay related to this...i'm planning on buying this product but I also want to add a 15" sub or 2 12" which ever would sound nice in the 06 gs. can anyone recommend anything. how this can be done in a proper clean way. thanks
#50
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Get a premium 12" sub and be done with it. Image Dynamics is my favorite. I had two 12" JL W3v2's in my old IS300. They both crumbled after five years' use and I replaced it with one Image Dynamics 12" IDQv.3 and it hits just as hard and with much more accuracy. Plus, you get to save trunk space.
#51
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The VaisTech website says ML+ is Gen 6 compatible: http://www.vaistech.com/products/product_comparison.php Am I missing something?
seems like it will be available next month
#53
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Apparently this is an Apple limitation - Apple doesn't support external interfaces for video.
#54
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Ahhhh... that probably explains why it stopped working on my SL2Vi after I stupidly updated to 4.0.2 and why it'll probably never work. I used to be able to FF when I still had iOS 3.x. Might still be worth upgrading to the ML+ to get the better video quality though.
#55
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1. iPhone/iPod volume has nothing to do with "line out" or "USB Audio" outputs. It is only works for your headphones or bluetooth audio.
3. I do not recommend you to use "Sound Check" functionality (turn it OFF and keep it this way) on your iPod/iPhone, unless you want to get additional distortions. This technology same as ASL. Dynamic volume adjustment can not give you quality sound. Same thing about EQ. EQ settings on your iPod/iPhone designed for your headphones, not for Lexus or Toyota amplifier. They have own EQ controls...
5. You can not compare two audio sources, unless you are playing exactly same song (same volume, same digital gain settings, and etc.).
3. I do not recommend you to use "Sound Check" functionality (turn it OFF and keep it this way) on your iPod/iPhone, unless you want to get additional distortions. This technology same as ASL. Dynamic volume adjustment can not give you quality sound. Same thing about EQ. EQ settings on your iPod/iPhone designed for your headphones, not for Lexus or Toyota amplifier. They have own EQ controls...
5. You can not compare two audio sources, unless you are playing exactly same song (same volume, same digital gain settings, and etc.).
Thanks for the advice. 0n your para. #2, I had already reached the conclusion that both the EQ and the Sound Check settings on my iPhone's iPod should be set to OFF; but thanks so much for confirming that my conclusions were indeed correct. With respect to your comment about the ASL setting via my Lexus stereo control, are you advising that I should set that to OFF also?
With respect to your para. #5, I wasn't trying to compare two settings, as in they were ""wrong" and I was trying to fix them, I am merely trying to adjust default volumes so that when I cycle through modes on my Lexus stereo (particularly when cycling from Vaitech's iPod Out to the native Lexus FM1 and FM2) that I wouldn't be blasted out of my seat or fry my speakers. To get the loudness I like in iPod Out (playing on my non-mark Levinson sound system), I have the volume set to 45. To acheive my preferred loudness in FM, my car speaker volume is only set to around 30. Thus, when I've been playing music in iPod Out, then switch to an FM mode, the 45 volume setting plays my FM music at a hair-raising level. Don't have the same problem in iPod Video out because the Vaistech loudness control isn't greyed out, and I have it set to +9 to match the FM mode loudness, and thus no manual adjustment of my car radio volume is required. So now we've come back full circle to my original question: why is the iPod Out volume adjustment greyed out so I can't make the same type of volume adjustment as I am allowed to do via iPod Video Out. BUT, now that Vaistech has replied that iPod Out volume adjustment is greyed out on purpose (although I'm not very clear on their explanation of "why"), I have applied the volume fix you suggest, via the iTunes program, and have set all my iPod music to play at a higher default percentage (150% of normal). I had applied this wholesale increase in music volume via iTunes once before, then later undid it, because if you are not 100% consistent at applying the "150% of normal" setting to all new music, as it comes in; then you end up with stray songs being played at the lower, normal volume. (Remember, I have Sound Check set to off, for better music quality). Since I can't find a default way to set iTunes to always save new music at the level 150% of normal, I guess their is no elegant solution of my problem. I'll just have to make sure I never forget to make the "150% of normal" adjustment on every new piece of music I purchase via iTunes, or load via other sources.
Thanks for your input.
#57
Lexus Test Driver
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I got around to installing the VaisTech ML+ in my IS350 yesterday. So far, I'm very happy with the unit. I have Mark Levinson audio as well and the change from analog (I used to have an SL2i-UP) to digital audio is definitely noticeable, although batman75 seems to be more enthusiastic about it. All my music just seems to be more "crisp," especially with the highs and mids. Unfortunately for me, my excessive midpipe drone takes away from the audio experience just a bit.
The graphical interface is also very cool. It's much more intuitive and slick than the OEM-style menus of the SL2i-UP on other iPod kits. However, like others, I wish you could touch on the menu items to select them, instead of using arrows and an enter key.
I do have a few qualms though. First, I don't know exactly where to put the unit itself. I saw this VML installation in a 2IS, but the ML+ unit is much thicker so it doesn't fit in that area under the glovebox. Anyone know a good spot? For the time being, it's underneath the carpet where the passenger's feet are, bulging out like a tumor. There's some foam padding there I could cut into to make it more flush, but I'm going to wait to see if there's a better option before I bust out the box cutters.
Other issues/glitches I'm having:
1. The interface screen constantly has "static," kind of like an antenna TV station with reception problems.
2. The buttons (forward and back) to toggle between tracks on the steering wheel and dash ONLY go forward. I have to click on the back arrow on the nav screen to go back a track. This is a major glitch and inconvenience.
3. Every so often the buttons to toggle between tracks on the steering wheel and dash won't work at all, but the nav screen buttons still work.
4. Is it just me, or is the album art squeezed horizontally so that everything looks skinnier?
Anyone else having these problems?
The graphical interface is also very cool. It's much more intuitive and slick than the OEM-style menus of the SL2i-UP on other iPod kits. However, like others, I wish you could touch on the menu items to select them, instead of using arrows and an enter key.
I do have a few qualms though. First, I don't know exactly where to put the unit itself. I saw this VML installation in a 2IS, but the ML+ unit is much thicker so it doesn't fit in that area under the glovebox. Anyone know a good spot? For the time being, it's underneath the carpet where the passenger's feet are, bulging out like a tumor. There's some foam padding there I could cut into to make it more flush, but I'm going to wait to see if there's a better option before I bust out the box cutters.
Other issues/glitches I'm having:
1. The interface screen constantly has "static," kind of like an antenna TV station with reception problems.
2. The buttons (forward and back) to toggle between tracks on the steering wheel and dash ONLY go forward. I have to click on the back arrow on the nav screen to go back a track. This is a major glitch and inconvenience.
3. Every so often the buttons to toggle between tracks on the steering wheel and dash won't work at all, but the nav screen buttons still work.
4. Is it just me, or is the album art squeezed horizontally so that everything looks skinnier?
Anyone else having these problems?
Last edited by brociouz; 01-01-11 at 10:18 PM.
#59
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
I have Mark Levinson audio as well and the change from analog (I used to have an SL2i-UP) to digital audio is definitely noticeable, although batman75 seems to be more enthusiastic about it. All my music just seems to be more "crisp," especially with the highs and mids.
Anyone know a good spot? For the time being, it's underneath the carpet where the passenger's feet are, bulging out like a tumor. There's some foam padding there I could cut into to make it more flush, but I'm going to wait to see if there's a better option before I bust out the box cutters.
1. The interface screen constantly has "static," kind of like an antenna TV station with reception problems.
2. The buttons (forward and back) to toggle between tracks on the steering wheel and dash ONLY go forward. I have to click on the back arrow on the nav screen to go back a track. This is a major glitch and inconvenience.
3. Every so often the buttons to toggle between tracks on the steering wheel and dash won't work at all, but the nav screen buttons still work.
4. Is it just me, or is the album art squeezed horizontally so that everything looks skinnier?
#60
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
I am not sure how I disengaged it, I just fiddled with the buttons till it was off. And I haven't touched it since and the rear view camera is working normally now in sync with the reverse gear.
The documentation they provide on these features is pretty appalling. Doesn't explain much.