2019 ES350 Garbage Sound System
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,593
Likes: 3,411
From: NJ
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 446
From: oh
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 446
From: oh
I have never been a fan of the front-bias of the base (non-ML) audio system in my early 2019 ES350, nor the way the fader behaves. I’ve been lurking here and hoping/praying for a fix from Lexus, so I’d like to express my gratitude to “mcomer” for posting the TSB.
Armed with the TSB, I visited my Lexus dealer on Saturday. They ordered the part without a fuss and they installed it today (4 days after it was ordered). The results in a moment. My theory going into this was that I’m probably going to get the exact same amplifier that is in the most-current 2020 ES350. Therefore I would expect the fix to make my early 2019 sound like the current 2020. This wouldn’t be a cure-all, since people complain about the 2020 as well.
As luck would have it, they gave me a brand-new 2020 as a loaner (900 miles on the odometer), so I spent an hour playing with the fader while listening to some CDs that I consider to have excellent sound and stereo separation. The fader in the 2020 is most definitely better than my 2019 (pre-fix).
Drum roll……….My 2019 sound is now better. Not great, but better, and a noticeable improvement in how the sound transitions when you push the fader to the rear. My 2019 fader now functions and sounds EXACTLY the same as the current 2020 ES. So the current 2020 sound is going to be “as good as it gets” without going aftermarket.
If the TSB applies to your VIN, get it done!
For those who worry about the dealer having to take the dash apart, don’t. The amp is under the driver’s seat under a plastic cover. According to the TSB, the repair takes 0.3 hours (18 minutes).
Armed with the TSB, I visited my Lexus dealer on Saturday. They ordered the part without a fuss and they installed it today (4 days after it was ordered). The results in a moment. My theory going into this was that I’m probably going to get the exact same amplifier that is in the most-current 2020 ES350. Therefore I would expect the fix to make my early 2019 sound like the current 2020. This wouldn’t be a cure-all, since people complain about the 2020 as well.
As luck would have it, they gave me a brand-new 2020 as a loaner (900 miles on the odometer), so I spent an hour playing with the fader while listening to some CDs that I consider to have excellent sound and stereo separation. The fader in the 2020 is most definitely better than my 2019 (pre-fix).
Drum roll……….My 2019 sound is now better. Not great, but better, and a noticeable improvement in how the sound transitions when you push the fader to the rear. My 2019 fader now functions and sounds EXACTLY the same as the current 2020 ES. So the current 2020 sound is going to be “as good as it gets” without going aftermarket.
If the TSB applies to your VIN, get it done!
For those who worry about the dealer having to take the dash apart, don’t. The amp is under the driver’s seat under a plastic cover. According to the TSB, the repair takes 0.3 hours (18 minutes).
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,593
Likes: 3,411
From: NJ
Pit Crew
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 131
Likes: 54
From: WI
When you do get it done please be sure to get the TSB # from them along with the amp part #. I just had my ES in for its 5K and talked at length to the Diagnostic Specialist at my dealer. He was well aware of the sound issue with the ML system but he was emphatic that at this time there is no fix for the ML system. He's aware of the TSB shown earlier in this thread. He said the only system with a fix is the Base stereo model with the Pioneer amp listed in the TSB.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,593
Likes: 3,411
From: NJ
When you do get it done please be sure to get the TSB # from them along with the amp part #. I just had my ES in for its 5K and talked at length to the Diagnostic Specialist at my dealer. He was well aware of the sound issue with the ML system but he was emphatic that at this time there is no fix for the ML system. He's aware of the TSB shown earlier in this thread. He said the only system with a fix is the Base stereo model with the Pioneer amp listed in the TSB.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 446
From: oh
When you do get it done please be sure to get the TSB # from them along with the amp part #. I just had my ES in for its 5K and talked at length to the Diagnostic Specialist at my dealer. He was well aware of the sound issue with the ML system but he was emphatic that at this time there is no fix for the ML system. He's aware of the TSB shown earlier in this thread. He said the only system with a fix is the Base stereo model with the Pioneer amp listed in the TSB.
For those of you eagerly waiting to see how Mike's situation turns out, there's nothing stopping you from making the same request of your own dealer, just as Ltvscout did. Don't count me in that category because, as I've stated before, it's not an issue for me. Nonetheless, I'd be interested in getting clarification on the issue.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10
Likes: 5
From: ca
This is exactly what I'm looking for to help my stock Pioneer system live up to what it should be. I went straight to youtube and watched a couple videos about it and searched it out on Amazon, etc for pricing and reviews. This should do the trick nicely! Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10
Likes: 5
From: ca
samcjung, Where'd you get the sub and Lc2i? I like your setup. Back in the day I dedicated half my trunk to a large speaker box. Now I just want good clean bass AND trunk space. Besides, since the invention of cell phones, my friends don't need to hear me booming down their block anymore to know I'm coming. lol