tallcaguy

Thanks RPA. Excellent thread. I've attached a map of speakers. Is this everything? I ask because there's a mention of A pillar speakers. I have to shove the front/rear balance almost all the way back to get "balanced" sound. Problem maybe weak audio output from front speakers. At least that's the place to start. I'm not going to worry about one blown dash tweeter. Not worth pulling the dash. Had the subwoofer completely rebuilt (foam, cone and coil). It sounds great. Just want to get the rest of the system working well. Had ML in our 96 ES300. It was incredible sound. Hope to get my 04 LS sounding as good!

tallcaguy

Modern Luxury Package includes the 240 watt ML system w/ 11 speakers. I"m probably missing something but only see 9 on the "map".

rkw77080

For Mark Levinson, the repair manual shows that each of the "so called" front tweeter is made up of 2 speakers wired in parallel (as shown within a box in the diagram below), in other words, a 2-way speaker. So the 9 physical speakers you counted are actually 11 speakers.

BTC89LS400

So is it really that easy to replace the tweeter speakers?

Because I think the two up front are about to/are giving out. So I wanna make sure I can replace them easily because my dad is like, being a dad about the car and not letting me do projects.

rkw77080

Of the 9 speakers in a LS430, the tweeter speakers are the most difficult ones to replace. This project involves tearing down the dashboard (removal of many parts) to reach them from beneath.

tallcaguy

Ok haven't be able to figure this one out. In the 6 months I've owned the car, the ML system has been disappointing. Had the subwoofer totally rebuilt and that helped. Clarity if a solo acoustic musical was incredible. However, straight up rock n roll sounded "flat" no matter how I adjusted the system. Today I loaded a CD. Worked mechanically but no sound. When I started to turn up the volume, got a very loud (full volume) "POP". Loud enough my ears hurt. I figured the system had just melted down. However the amp was replaced 5k miles ago with brand new OEM Lexus. Then the music started playing. It sounds better than it's ever sounded. I now understand why some owners like the ML. At moderate (or a little higher) volume, sound is "rich" and totally fills the car. I adjusted the L/R and F/R balance to check each speaker. Best ever. It's never been intermittent. Since the "gun shot" it's worked fine. Anyone have any idea what happened?

bradisrad

Hey I just bought a 2004 lexus Ls430 UL w/ the Mark Levinson stereo and am trying to install a subwoofer and amp but I cant find the wiring diagram. you have a great post here but the link to the wiring diagram doesnt work! Please Help!!

bradisrad

Yes it is thanks!!

Rossntwk

yes, I was told by 2 different Stere install expert companies that this could not be done. One simply said it couldn't be done & the other said they'd have to work around the ML Sy's and do several add ins but I didn't accept that. Instead I ended up doing it all myself.
Find yourself a good DD head unit (I opted for Pioneer AVH 4201 NEX which is excellent) and you WILL need the Beatsonic kit. It has the critical converter unit between the NAV & the new unit (just bypass the brake switch if you want to have video while car is in motion). Also, only connect the front 2 speakers to new unit. Rear & woofer will still run from NAV controls. Most steering wheel controls will

Rossntwk

*still work but not Mode. You can always get a separate SW controller.

Rowdiggty

has anyone used an aftermarket amp instead of the mark levinson, along with using the factory wiring for signal from the factory radio and factory output wiring to the speakers? Id like to upgrade the amplifier while using all the factory signal and speaker wiring along with the factory radio.

banjojimmy

I appreciate your posts on ML issues. Here's a weird one: on my just-acquired '02 430UL...Volume **** does nothing, but Tuning **** controls volume! Radio tuning is possible with the up/down rocker switch only. Also audio select button functions are all scrambled. For example, press CD and you get AM radio! It is possible to hear AM, FM and Cassette, but NO CDs, which is my main problem. The changer will accept & eject but no audio is present. Balance & tone functions [for radio/cassette] are working on the touch screen. FYI the Nav chassis has been removed from the trunk...just the plugs hanging there. (I could care less about the lousy Nav system, just wondered if it may affect the audio portion.) I am contemplating just sticking in a doubleDIN aftermarket stereo where the changer resides if I can't easily correct these faults. I would wire its outputs directly to the car's speakers and bypass the ML amps entirely, right? I'm thinking that is the simplest way to go. I've been a TV engineer (& car nut) for nearly 50 years and have seen plenty of odd device malfunctions, but this one is a classic. What would you do?

jayclapp

I would suspect that the previous owner(s) have managed to screw things up.

clp71220

saving this for later

Dreamer38

Hello friends! Need help! Stock Mark Levinson audio on my LS430 2001. My problem is that passenger side would produce more sound then the driver side, another words, front left and rear left speakers are sounds weak... From time to time sounds properly. What's maybe?...