rj4510

If your ML doesn’t thump hard enough, easy fix. Throw a sub box or tube in the back. If your non ML isn’t clear enough...we’ll, how much cash you got?

I have the ML in my GS and the wife has the standard in her RX. She thinks the ML isn’t full bodied enough and I think her system is muddy. There you go. No two shall agree. My argument still goes to my first sentence though!

bob67

One issue is that the ML uses 14 speakers, so to drive those 14 speakers to get the full benefit of their great sound, means powering up the system to a higher volume than usually desired for such an enclosed space as a car interior. Yes, the ML sounds great at high volumes, so if you can stand the volume, it's great! Personally I like the regular audio system with 10 speakers, which at lower volumes, sounds just as good as a 14 speaker system.

bclexus

That was nicely explained ... and I totally agree.

Afrosheen

Pretty sure mine went off to auction after a lease return here in North Texas. F sport, fully optioned, rwd, rear wheel steering, ml, the works. Black on red interior, dark headliner. Returned it in Dec of 2016 so I'm sure it's long gone by now. It was a 2013, born in September. Also had them pay for the awesome huper optik nanoceramic tint.

Like others have said, expand your search to F Sports. The local dealers here like to load them up. You'll never see an F Sport lacking options from this state.

Cwang

Agreed. The '12 Fsport I have was only available with one optional extra, that being the ML upgrade...Can't imagine why anyone would order one without...

JDR76

OP, I suspect by your threads/comments in the new ES forum that you are no longer considering a GS?

UDel

ML is not a very popular option with just about all Lexus models, it is expensive, it is even pretty rare on the LS. I looked for a GS and LS for a while and it was not common to see ML on either car aside from Long Wheelbase LS460's. I listened to a ML in one GS I test drove and did not find it worth seeking out or a must have or something I would pay extra for, no real big difference in sound to me. The stock system sounds good to me. If you listen to mostly satellite radio you will notice no real difference, the regular sound system may seem better for satellite and FM broadcasts because it seems to sound a little better or as good at lower volumes.

TOPENDMS

Whoa ... no one ever says Bose is garbage.

Mike728

Correct, the saying is Bose Blows!

The only thing they make worth buying is noise cancelling headphones.

dingyibvs

Bose isn't bad, they just tend to be overpriced for their sound quality when it comes to their speakers.

As for ML, you'll need good source material to really take advantage of it, as is the case with most higher end audio equipment. I personally feed FLAC from my phone to a portable DAC via micro USB and then to the auxillary input on my RX450h. ML is quite amazing for that. I keep my phone charged via a wireless charger/phone holder, and I keep my DAC charged via the car's USB port. It's a bit of a complicated system, and I can see how most people may not want to go through the trouble to set that up.

BTW, I'm looking for a GS450h, but they're so damn hard to find especially since I want ML and luxury package so it limits me to 2013s. I'm thinking of just getting a 2016 GS350 now. May join the club soon!

MikeLucky

True statement. I am deaf in one ear so the ML works very well for my tastes as I have to have it loud pretty much all the time. I am also a huge fan of lots of base and the ML at high volumes is just a nice, tight, clean bass (once you fix the driver's side window control bank) that actually comes from not just the sub, but also the door speakers so it's really immersive in my experience. I was all set to add a sub to my system but after a few months I realized I would have to drop some serious money to get better sound than the ML system.

Even my audio guy said as much. He also said that one thing most people don't consider is that if you have a sub in the trunk it's a bit of a quandry for a car like the GS. The GS is designed to keep outside noise outside. To get good benefits from a sub in the trunk, you now have to specifically compromise the sound barrier to enjoy the bass fully, but you are also at risk of letting in a lot of other sounds that you don't want coming in.

mpbIS350

Curious where folks have their settings on the ML system for bass, treble, mid. I have a 2019 GS and can't seem to get enough bass/low end thump...to me sounds like it's coming out of a coffee can. Oddly my 2016 IS with ML sounded better than my 2019 GS with ML.

PlPete

Not 100% sure but I have my highs about 2 -3 tabs to the right, Mids in the middle or 1 tab to the right and Bass 3 tabs to the right. I'm new to Lexus and ML but I noticed these settings will produce somewhat different results based on the audio source. Satellite radio sounds more bass heavy than my Spotify bluetooth stream for example. I'd imaging the Bluetooth connection has a lower audio quality. CD should produce the highest and best sound, which is why we still have one in our cars. Less compression on the audio files. I might look into tossing some high bit-rate mp3s on a USB drive to see what things sound like.

LexinOnEm

iTrader: (1)

my 13 350 has every option from that year except the ML system lol. i even have the seats control setup,

Jay1

Just bought 2018 cop GS350 AWD with Mark Levinson and would not spend any money for the upgrade vs std system.