Have you tried turning off the surround? I know it sounds counter intuitive, but it supposedly works. Then set the faze 2 spaces to the back. I also adjusted bass up 3 spaces, and treble down 4 spaces, though these settings are subjective.

 

I know some folks recommend surround off - that setting sounds awful in both of our cars.

 

Yes, when I first got my 2016 I found the sound system to be terrible. In the original flat settings the sound was so bright it hurt my ears. I thought something was wrong and took it back to the dealer. They had an employee come out and go through the sound adjustments. I was able to get an improvement, but still wasn't happy. I had to adjust treble -3, mid -2, and bass +4 (I like an unnaturally heavy bass). Turning off the "surround" produced slightly more separation to my ears. The sound is still a bit bright, but very clear (more adapted for jazz and hard rock, neither of which is my choice of music). Anyway, I have learned to live with it and find some of my music satisfying. Why the heck doesn't ML use an equalizer for such an expensive system? I never found a quality component not to have a pretty good sound at flat settings until this system. Incredible!!! I will be getting a new 2020 next year and I was hoping there would be a change, but I guess not.

 

What’s even more aggravation is how much variation I quality there is in the ML from car model to car model. The ML in the RC is 17 speakers and sounds much fuller than the ML in the RX and ES. The RX ML, despite being a much larger cabin, has fewer speakers than the one in the RC. Hardly makes any sense.

 

Im speaking for myself & MY car. Others that’s heard it agree. “I don’t sit in the back seat so don’t know” I have a ES Sport 350 with a ML in it & the radio sound is not that great but if I play Sirus XM or from my phone (Digital music) it’s the best boom & sound I’ve ever heard in a vehicle. I had to set the equalizer but after, it’s awesome! I have a HS250 with premium sound and it also sounds good but not the boom power as my ML👍🏻🙏🏻💪🏼I will check the back. Most passengers I’ve had in back seat seems to never like the radio booming in their ear. Still that’s no reason not to put sound in the back as good as the front if I wanted it. I keep surround sound on. It’s all about one’s opinion

 

I was extremely underwhelmed by the ML in the current gen ES. The sound signature and clarity are fine, but the output power is really weak.

 

Sounds like amp problems. Who make mark levinson? Never heard of him until I got Lexus

 

When I set the volume to 40 it's too loud. I wish the bass hit harder, I have it maxed out. Otherwise it sounds great to me.