Does anyone know if the 7th gen ES Pioneer system could play high resolution audio files? It could not on my current 6th Gen.

 

No, I believe the new UX will be the first Lexus with FLAC and ALAC support.

 

High-res digital music player such as the Sony NW-A45 is supporting many formats. including MP3, Redbook CD, FLAC and most of all the DSD(SACD). It plays through Bluetooth or Aux of your 6th or 7th gen ES 350. A good recording DSD file could amaze you regardless the Pioneer or Mark Levinson music system. Try it!

 

Through the aux would be the best for FLAC or DSF. I don't think the ES's Bluetooth supports aptX, which still only gets you CD quality.

This is a timely subject, though. I just checked out the 2019 Acura RDX today. It supports FLAC, up to 5.1! It even has speakers in the ceiling. I'm liking my ML less today.

 

Oooops. No. I meant 6th Gen 13-18. Sorry.

 

The most important point to understand about the Mark Levinson system is that there is actually two different styles of listening tastes.
On the one hand, we have the true "audiophile".
While on the otherhand, we have the "bass boomer".

True audiophiles want music to be reproduced 100% exactly like the original source.
True audiophiles often listen to instrumental music.

On the otherhand, the bass boomers want a booming/thumping bass!
Bass boomers want more bass than actually produced by the original source!

Mark Levinson is designed for true audiophiles.
For bass boomers, best try Bose etc.


PS.
It's like oversaturated oLED versus natural color accurateLCD/LED monitors for photography.
It's one thing to reproduce natural colors.
It's another thing to have enhanced oversaturated colors.
Many people love oversaturated colors - colors that are richer than in real life!

Oversaturated colors in video is roughly the equivalent to booming bass in audio.
The Mark Levinson natural reproduction of audio would be equivalent to the natural display monitor that reproduces the original colors of video...
.

 

Agreed. Though, Bose won't be good for bass either LOL I have the Bose in my Vette, it's very lackluster. Good thing I can hit the loud pedal and get all the music I need

 

 

I had a chance to hear the ML system in the ES 350 today. It definitely has some bass to it! But only on songs that are supposed to have it. It doesn't boost bass for rock/country, but if you play R&B or something with a bass line you can hear it bumping pretty good. I played the same songs from my same USB drive in a LS 500 today along with the ES 350 and they're both really nice systems.

I'm a bit disappointed though, there is NO USB drive in the center console. You have to open the cup holder to plug in the USB drive. One of the YouTube reviewers said there was one, but I did not see one in the F Sport nor the Ultra Lux today.

 

From my experience the ML system sounds the best at higher volume. So if anybody want to see how well it sounds compared to the pioneer system turn up the volume.

 

What did you say?

 

Hello-

I have an ES F Sport on order, due in a few weeks. The car I currently have has a Harman Kardon with an SD slot. The SD card has hundreds of albums with thousands of songs. I was able to speak "play the song _____."

I've transferred all the songs to a USB and played it in my current car, but I lose the ability to voice access them.

Does the ML have voice command for a USB device?

Thanks



Lee

 

It should be a simple task to copy the files over to a flash drive. What format are the files in?

 

Thanks Mike- I was able to get them onto a 32GB flash and they play fine in my current car. I thought the SD card was more convenient and accessible, because I don't think voice commands work with the USB input.

Lee

 

I would definitely agree with you, John.