Splashman

I too am having trouble with DVD- Audio playing in my GS450h with ML. I disabled the auto start and some discs play fine. I still have others that exhibit weird behavior or won't play at all. Rush - Moving Pictures will only play the "menu music" which lasts about 20 seconds and then the disc stops. Nothing happens. The Eagles - Hotel California says it's reading the disc and then goes to track 1 and stops. One thing that really frustrates me about the playback is the lack of display of what codec is playing. As DVD-audio disc contain a Dolby Digital track along with a loss less track there is no way of knowing which is playing by display as far as I can tell. The disc starts without allowing access to choose the codec to play. Anyone who plays movies at home knows to go to setup to choose the proper codec as the disc doesn't always default to the preferred or best option.

MarkGS

Thats a curious problem. Do these discs play correctly when the parking brake is set (similar to the problem resolved with the Auto Start feature set to Off)?

I have the same Eagles - Hotel California DVD-A and it plays wonderfully. I'm using the ML out of a 2012 LS 460. I don't have the Rush DVD-A, but would be curious to know more about this title. Does it contain a video layer or is it strictly audio with a menu of different audio formats? If it is a menu based system, can you select one while the brake is set so you can select from the menu, then play while the brake has been released and the car is out of Park?

I used to have a ML system in a 2008 GS 460 (3rd Gen) and it didn't decode DVD-A correctly (missing instruments in the track), but did decode DTS very, very well. So I ended up re-purchasing many of my DVD-As in DTS just so I could enjoy them on the ML system. While the 2012 LS does decode DTS, it appears that the 2013 Lexus models with ML will not decode DTS (this is only from what I have heard from other 2013 model owners with ML). My guess is that the DTS standard has been considered a less popular format and being eliminated to reduce the number of issues to deal with in decoding audio.

MarkGS

I appreciate your attention to this mystery. Hopefully, you'll get to the bottom of this.

I think it is true that there are not many DVD-A audiophiles as Lexus owners. For a long time, I thought I was the only one who enjoyed the ability to listen to 5.1 discrete audio in a car. The previous generation of ML in the 3rd gen GS did not decode DVD-A correctly (in fact, not even in 5.1 as advertised). Seems no one else had a concern over the deficiency in the ML system in the 3rd gen GS. I auditioned the ML system in the 2013 GS and found all decoding issues with DVD-A found in the previous generation, were resolved. Playback was good for DVD-A...at least until you released the parking brake

In actuality, the cabin of a Lexus is a great listening environment and the ML system is a great audio compliment for this vehicle. I think if more realized the potential of DVD-A over a ML inside the cabin of a Lexus, we would have more interest in resolving the issues found.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you learn.

Splashman

The Rush DVD-A does have a video layer. My wife just got her 2013 GS 350 AWD with the standard system. The DVD options allow you to choose the codec you are listening too! Why can I do this on the standard option system and not on the upgraded system? Maybe I'm missing something? Have others with the ML system found the option to switch audio formats?
I just tried the Rush DVD-A in my wife's car. It plays without a hitch. Are these problems limited to the ML system?

GVVTS

Yes, I can confirm that the ML in the 2013 GS will not play DTS encoded discs (DVD or CDA).
No, I have no idea why Lexus went this route.

Though I don't know about the ROW cars, our GSs (North America) will only display western characters, ASCII and two of its supersets, ISO-8859-1 and "MS-JIS". 20 characters max.

Sorry on both accounts.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

you sure about this? seems contradicting to the part catalog

http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-cat...S350-2013.html

rear suspension:
there is only one sway bar part number for the rear, 4880530070, and it's for all setup, rwd, awd, fsport or luxury

http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-cat...S350-2013.html

front suspension:
there are 2 part numbers, one for rwd (4881130800) and one for awd (4880430010). again there is no specification for luxury or fsport, meaning that it's the same part for either setup.

if parts are different between luxury and fsport, they should be listed separately

GVVTS

This is taken directly from the Lexus USA website regarding the GS 350 F-Sport:

*F SPORT SUSPENSION AND LEXUS DYNAMIC HANDLING*
"Taking the performance benefits of the all-new platform on the GS to the next level, the GS F SPORT includes multiple unique systems. Among them, its Adaptive Variable Suspension features aluminum components with optimized bushings, thicker anti-roll bars and special F SPORT tuning for even greater steering response and reduced body lean."

I'm sorry, but I have not been provided any additional information. Even our training website (e-Showroom) doesn't provided anything further.
If I get a chance I'll see if any of our Technicians know anything else.

kssod

Thanks GVVTS, a lot of good information.
Regarding the ML, so no surround sound from encoded discs like DVD-A, DTS DVD, HDCD. What then is the purpose of the 7.1 system. What about the base audio system.
Regarding SAT radio (XM), did I read the post correctly that the presets are just a radio station #, and not the name of the station also?

GVVTS

It's only DTS encoded discs that won't play, unless they are also encoded in Dolby Digital.

The only formats guaranteed to work are: linear PCM, Dolby Digital and MPEG audio format
DVDs. Other decoded types cannot be played.

These types of discs can not (or might not) be played:
● SACD
● dts CD
● Copy-protected CD
● DVD audio
● Video CD
● DVD-R
● DVD+R
● DVD-RW
● DVD+RW
● DVD-RAM

I am still trying to get over to the Lexus training facility to get all the answers regarding disc compatibility and playback.

kssod

There are many inaccuracies on te Lexus USA website. For example the brakes description for the AWD ad the RWD are reversed.

kssod

My test audio discs: Dire Straits Brothers in Arms DVD-A, and Santana Supernatural DVD-A

Splashman

Can someone confirm if DVD-audio discs are playing the lossless track or the Dolby Digital track? When I choose a track while a disc is playing I see two options. The Dolby Digital or the 2.0 PCM track.

MarkGS

My 2012 LS w/ML shows "DVD Audio" when it is playing. And this is on media that does not offer any other tracks.

I don't know if this helps, but I thought I would at least offer this information.

Splashman

Thanks for the info. I don't have any discs with just a DVD-audio track. Some discs such as Steely Dan -Gaucho sounds incredible with definite surround separation but others such as Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road or Frampton Comes Alive sound as if they are cd's with little separation. They made me question whether I was listening to a lossless track.

kssod

Tested Dire Straits Brothers in Arms DVD-A disc on a ML and it worked fine, even showed the cover art. The ML is definitely worth the cost compared to the premium. Spent extensive time with settings and the ML just sounds better IMO. Surprised that there is no separate setting for the subwoofer, and also no capability of burning a disc to the HD. Why no multi disc changer, can one be added?
Disappointed that the presets do not show the name of the XM station only the #, and also when scanning XM cannot see the stations in a list format like on the BMW drive. Is this correct, or is their a software upgrade to show this?
Also, could not seem to get voice commands to respond to play a preset, or XM station.
On my Acura I can say (Play XM channel 164). Does the voice commands offer this?
IS there a list of all the voice commands available for the GS with nab and ML?
Is there a owners manual available in pdf?