Mark Levinson or aftermarket?
#31
Driver School Candidate
One thing you should definitely be aware of is the "drivers side door woofer bug". The bass from the ML system will vibrate the snot out of the switch bank in the
drivers side window switches, and this vibration sounds horrible and it makes you think something is wrong with the speaker. If you get some panel removal tools from amazon for like 10 bucks, you can pop out the module and wrap it with electrical tape, and plug it back in and reinstall it. It's a 5 minute fix, but it will stop you from thinking the speaker is blown. I think this is a huge source of complaints for this system, but people don't know where its coming from, etc. Good thing is it an easy fix and its night and day improvement...
-Mike
drivers side window switches, and this vibration sounds horrible and it makes you think something is wrong with the speaker. If you get some panel removal tools from amazon for like 10 bucks, you can pop out the module and wrap it with electrical tape, and plug it back in and reinstall it. It's a 5 minute fix, but it will stop you from thinking the speaker is blown. I think this is a huge source of complaints for this system, but people don't know where its coming from, etc. Good thing is it an easy fix and its night and day improvement...
-Mike
#32
Driver School Candidate
#33
#34
I had a previous car done by Simplicity in Sound here in NorCal - top end tuners. It was a mid-range build for them ($5K) and sounded great. I'd say ML is close enough for me. I didn't feel any need to do anything to it. The bass is decent for stock, the articulation and soundstage are good. And it is integrated and easy to deal with.
So I'd favor the ML system. Plus if you switch cars, anything non-stock to me decreases value in resale. I've sold previous cars and when I omitted upgraded sound equipment, I got better offers. The ML system adds value to the car, an aftermarket system IMO decreases value.
So I'd favor the ML system. Plus if you switch cars, anything non-stock to me decreases value in resale. I've sold previous cars and when I omitted upgraded sound equipment, I got better offers. The ML system adds value to the car, an aftermarket system IMO decreases value.
#35
IMHO any 4GS from 13+ with ML will do this... they may have fixed this in 16+, but I know my 2015 has it... noticed it on the 3+ hr ride back from NJ when I picked up
my car at the end of this summer.... the good thing is it's not really a big deal its a 5 minute fix... there's even a youtube video that discusses it...
Use a high quality electrical tape like Scotch Super 33 or 66.... never have to worry about it breaking down, or getting schmoo on things... stretches well. I wrapped mine like 4 times with super 33... not a peep after!
-Mike
my car at the end of this summer.... the good thing is it's not really a big deal its a 5 minute fix... there's even a youtube video that discusses it...
Use a high quality electrical tape like Scotch Super 33 or 66.... never have to worry about it breaking down, or getting schmoo on things... stretches well. I wrapped mine like 4 times with super 33... not a peep after!
-Mike
The following 2 users liked this post by drgrant:
MikeLucky (01-17-18),
Pacman9270 (01-17-18)
#36
IMHO any 4GS from 13+ with ML will do this... they may have fixed this in 16+, but I know my 2015 has it... noticed it on the 3+ hr ride back from NJ when I picked up
my car at the end of this summer.... the good thing is it's not really a big deal its a 5 minute fix... there's even a youtube video that discusses it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mGFSpsloJ4
-Mike
my car at the end of this summer.... the good thing is it's not really a big deal its a 5 minute fix... there's even a youtube video that discusses it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mGFSpsloJ4
-Mike
Miss you in the 4GS forums buddy. Hope that RC is still working well for you
~ Im2bz2p345
#37
Don't forget to give credit to ItzFilyO for the great video and simple DIY. I'm sure it has helped countless individuals here.
around here somewhere... just couldn't find it offhand...
-Mike
The following users liked this post:
Im2bz2p345 (01-18-18)
#38
Driver School Candidate
IMHO any 4GS from 13+ with ML will do this... they may have fixed this in 16+, but I know my 2015 has it... noticed it on the 3+ hr ride back from NJ when I picked up
my car at the end of this summer.... the good thing is it's not really a big deal its a 5 minute fix... there's even a youtube video that discusses it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mGFSpsloJ4
Use a high quality electrical tape like Scotch Super 33 or 66.... never have to worry about it breaking down, or getting schmoo on things... stretches well. I wrapped mine like 4 times with super 33... not a peep after!
-Mike
my car at the end of this summer.... the good thing is it's not really a big deal its a 5 minute fix... there's even a youtube video that discusses it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mGFSpsloJ4
Use a high quality electrical tape like Scotch Super 33 or 66.... never have to worry about it breaking down, or getting schmoo on things... stretches well. I wrapped mine like 4 times with super 33... not a peep after!
-Mike
Reinstalled panel and tuned up the audio...
then went to my go to sound check song...
Turned the volume to 45 and it was ON.
System sounds awesome and I just saved hundreds of dollars because I didn't have to replace what I thought was a blown speaker.
Very, very happy. Thanks for the info.
Last edited by MikeLucky; 01-18-18 at 08:24 AM.
#39
Driver School Candidate
What exactly am I supposed to hear? I don't really hear any rattling or wheezing from the door, maybe the previous owner did something to it.
What I find strange is how high I have to set the volume. Is that normal? I usually have to listen at 35-40, which seems abnormally high to me. You don't even get boombastic, high volume music at those levels.
What I find strange is how high I have to set the volume. Is that normal? I usually have to listen at 35-40, which seems abnormally high to me. You don't even get boombastic, high volume music at those levels.
#40
Driver School Candidate
What exactly am I supposed to hear? I don't really hear any rattling or wheezing from the door, maybe the previous owner did something to it.
What I find strange is how high I have to set the volume. Is that normal? I usually have to listen at 35-40, which seems abnormally high to me. You don't even get boombastic, high volume music at those levels.
What I find strange is how high I have to set the volume. Is that normal? I usually have to listen at 35-40, which seems abnormally high to me. You don't even get boombastic, high volume music at those levels.
When I was sound testing it last night and had it at 40 or above it was pretty darn loud. Definitely could hear it outside from anywhere near my yard/house.
#41
Mine sounded like a blown speaker whenever I got the volume above 25 or so. If you aren't hearing it then it's not a problem for you.
When I was sound testing it last night and had it at 40 or above it was pretty darn loud. Definitely could hear it outside from anywhere near my yard/house.
When I was sound testing it last night and had it at 40 or above it was pretty darn loud. Definitely could hear it outside from anywhere near my yard/house.
As far as "where the volume goes" it all depends on how hot the track is and the source etc. For example I have a couple Boz Scaggs albums and for some reason, whoever engineered his albums, the audio levels aren't "hot"... so you end up cranking the **** up... and low 40s requried to get it loud. Most of my music I can't go above like 30ish though. It was kinda freaky though- because my JBL system in my Camry LE with the sub maxed out at 45 or something though... basically if you had it on 40 you were gonna go deaf lmao.
-Mike
#42
Driver School Candidate
It's worth noting that not all music will trigger the resonance which vibrates the switch panel. Sometimes even deep bass would not trigger it... the bass had to hit certain frequencies to get the switch panel to resonate. I think the reason it showed up pretty quickly in my car is I listen to a wide variety of music... Like even Peg by steely dan would trigger it, in between some of the bass lines etc. What was really weird is some EDM would trigger it, others would not. Depends on the tracks within the mix, etc. On the other hand some music tracks wouldnt trigger the distortion at all. It's pretty obvious to me though that the system was fitted to this car without a whole hell of a lot of testing.
As far as "where the volume goes" it all depends on how hot the track is and the source etc. For example I have a couple Boz Scaggs albums and for some reason, whoever engineered his albums, the audio levels aren't "hot"... so you end up cranking the **** up... and low 40s requried to get it loud. Most of my music I can't go above like 30ish though. It was kinda freaky though- because my JBL system in my Camry LE with the sub maxed out at 45 or something though... basically if you had it on 40 you were gonna go deaf lmao.
-Mike
As far as "where the volume goes" it all depends on how hot the track is and the source etc. For example I have a couple Boz Scaggs albums and for some reason, whoever engineered his albums, the audio levels aren't "hot"... so you end up cranking the **** up... and low 40s requried to get it loud. Most of my music I can't go above like 30ish though. It was kinda freaky though- because my JBL system in my Camry LE with the sub maxed out at 45 or something though... basically if you had it on 40 you were gonna go deaf lmao.
-Mike
#43
Driver School Candidate
I hate to bring this up again, but what exactly is being taped together? In the video above, it wasn't really clear where to apply tape or what two pieces need to be firmly fixed together. I just recently got my 4GS and I've realized that I have a small rattle as well.
#44
Driver School Candidate
Watch the youtube in post 35 of this thread. Shows it very clearly.
#45
Driver School Candidate