jpilk99

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy an 01-04 LS 430 and would love it if it came with the Mark Levinson system. I found a really good looking deal on a "standard" model with the basic stereo, w/o Nav.

Can you 'swap' a Mark Levinson in and take out the factory standard stereo?

Thanks in advance,

Jay

daddykay24

You can swap out the standard factory system. But I wouldn't replace it with a Mark Levinson. There are a lot of options in an aftermarket stereo that would sound much better than the ML system.

C8V6C

Agreed...I would swap aftermarket personally

Playdrv4me

This may sound nuts, but I have actually grown to have a genuine appreciation for the Pioneer system in the base cars. I've now had two ML cars, and two without, and my Pioneer cars just seem to have a crisper, cleaner sound. In fact, I like the Pio almost as much as the famed Nakamichi in the LS400. The ML cars had a tighter, less boomy bass because they are pushing a little more power, but I didn't like ANYTHING about the mids and highs. Worse yet, the way I sit in the car the tweeter in the rear right door kept overpowering my soundfield and making it seem like I had too much balance to the right. I finally had to move the passenger's seat back to where it covered the speaker to alleviate this.

THEN you get into the poor quality of the ML drivers in regards to longevity with cold and heat. The last ML car we got had to have two or three door speakers attended to, and somehow we got lucky with the sub. If you're an audiophile and the Pioneer isn't enough for you, then you won't find the ML to be satisfactory for very long, and I definitely recommend a quality aftermarket upgrade with high end components. It CAN be done, and is a little easier on a base car as well.

jpilk99

Great input, all. thanks. I kept looking and looking for the Nav/ML ...and then started thinking that I don't really need Nav anymore due to iPhone with Nav.

Now I just gotta find a good, early, 430 that I can start building off of - if at all. VERY sad to appear to have missed out on an 01', light green with ivory interior, Lexus chrome 18's and 16's with Winter tires. 105k miles for $12k.

If anyone knows of a good deal out there, please advise,

Jay

warminwisc

I am nuts also my base stereo sounds decent also all the way up to high #62 and it is plenty loud never distorts. The base is a Pioneer system, huh thanks.

Playdrv4me

We're in the same boat. I don't really understand it either. I'm really not trying to start something, I genuinely am very happy with the Pio.

I remember vaguely something sort of like this happening with the 98+ GS300 and 400 when they came out, (or maybe it was when they had their final revision) where several reviewers recommended leaving the base Pioneer system alone and called it "the best base model sound system we've ever heard" or some such thing.

Jabberwock

The difference between base and ML version varies quite a bit from model to model.

In the LS430, at least the 2006 version, the base Pioneer system sounds really good, i think at least as good if not better than the ML system. The base system really amazing playing ipod tunes.

In the LS460 the ML system sounds way better than whatever stereo is the base system in the LS460.

Not sure if there is a base stereo version on the SC430, but the ML version in the SC430 04-08 sounds like crap - 6x9 speakers in the doors..argh...obsolete trash.

lextout

I wouldn't do it as with the base model you could swap out any speaker from any after market you like, as with the ML you would need a ML speaker.

warminwisc

I just bought an 012 Touareg TDI Exec. The upgraded stereo is Panaudio. I think the Base in my LS is as good as the top Touareg. Base Touareg I could not even own after living with the LS base, poop.

ippo

I saw a review on Youtube about the ML system in the LS460 and the guy also says it's a VERY good system.

lextout

The Toyota engineers made sure there that everything was in top order, not just the reliablity of the drive train but also the sound system. The ML feature was added so that the big boys that could fork over the cash and standard in the UL model.

Playdrv4me

I was having a discussion with one of my buddies the other day that it seems like in general Toyota base stereos are above par for their given categories. Some just ok, and some very good, but generally better than everyone else. Outside of the SC430 Jabber mentioned, which I believe ONLY came with that crappy implementation of ML if I'm not mistaken, they seem to be pretty decent.

Now that I think about it, the ML system in my other friend's Mom's GX470 was also terrible. It had a lot of problems to start with (wouldn't work occasionally, most of the time would have very weak power etc) but wasn't very good even when it was working. That truck in general was a real disappointment for them, but the ML in their 2003 LX470, which they still have now pushing 350k miles, has a very good sounding ML system. As said before, I guess it just varies.

Stu

Listen to the ML system before you do this. It does not sound better to me.

I was expecting planning to upgrade my Lexus audio with aftermarket gear, but a year has passed and I have not done it, even though I already have most of the components ... If my sound system fails, I will replace it with aftermarket gear, but for me it's not worth the bother now - and I actually think it sounds fine as is.

Gil Smash

You made me go search for a review of the ML system and this is the first that came up. Kinda funny they say it has no equal and then rate it as the 8th best haha.