vtp86

Hi all, I recently got a GS350 and my parents have an RX with the Mark Levinson sound system. Do any of you guys notice that the volume seems very weak for the Mark Levinson sound system or is it just me? I put the volume to 12-13 and it just doesn't seem that loud, and I can barely hear the speakers on the front doors near the feet. I don't have the ML system for my GS350 and it still seems louder than the RX. I checked the sound distribution and it's all centered. Is something wrong with my parents car or is everybody else having the same issue?

dchar

The RX is a bigger space with different speaker placement, so you can't really compare the sound levels between the GS and RX.

WineGuy

These car audio systems aren't like the amplifiers in 'Spinal Tap' where everyone was in awe that they "went all the way to 11". The volume level range on my RX350 ML (min-max) is 0 - 63. The wider range of numbering allows much better fine-tuning of volume to a desired level.

Had you bothered to search and read other threads on this, you'd have noticed that people express their desired listening levels from normal at 30-ish, to rocking out at 50. (example: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ml-system.html)

aznkorboi

Well, because it has an amp you need to kick it up to a louder volume to really get the full sound of the speakers. Also, I tend to put the sound stage further back since the speakers are pretty sharp and crisp in the fronts with surround on. Try turning it off and see if that helps.

vtp86

That's true, I guess I just found it surprising I have to turn the volume up to the mid 20's to hear the music given that it was an ML.

vtp86

Yes, the search would have helped. I'll definitely do that next time. Which amplifiers are you referring to for 'Spinal Tap'? Were those the amplifiers in the previous gen Lexuses?

vtp86

I'll try that next time I'm in the car. Thanks for the suggestion!

WineGuy

You're completely missing the point. There is no rule that says a setting marked "30" on one system is necessarily louder than one marked "5" on another different system. Number settings exist only to assist a person in making adjustments relative to conditions they are already familiar with using that same system (e.g.- when I set it to 50, it's louder than I want now, so I'll set it to 35). As I said, the ML system uses a wider range of numbers, which provides more granular adjustment; if a system goes to to a max of 10 and you want slightly louder than 5, you must go to 6, whereas if max is 100 and you want slightly louder than 50, you can choose 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56...

The fact that this simple concept can be misunderstood by those with simple minds was written into a famous scene from the movie 'Spinal Tap'. In the comedy parody on some easily-misled rock stars, a company had sold them guitar amplifiers "that go to 11", tricking them into thinking that meant they were louder than all others that only had a max setting of 10. ( )

ggebhardt

on my RX I found the same. Move the center balance back until you can hear the speakers in the rear, then increase the volume as required. Do not pay attention to the number on the volume and they are just a guide. I use the same with my 2016 LX and am very happy with the sound.

vtp86

No, I got your point, I just didn't know that the RX ML system had a broad range, and didn't blast it at peak levels to find out either. I just do remember that our previous 1st gen LS400 with ML system's volume was at 7 and it was really loud already. It was just a simple misunderstanding as I was just driving the RX for the first time.

Bravo1010

I play my ML at the max of 65 all the time. I like listening to it loud and agree the volume is a guide an expect the stero to perform at 65. If it did not then the max should be set lower. Very impressive sound system.

ericsan13

Can't tell if you're joking or not...playing it on max would give me hearing damage.