Hey all,

Recently purchased a 2017 IS350 F Sport with Mark Levinson. I think there is something wrong as after reading for some time before making my purchase there were nothing but good things to say about the ML sound system. I am not sure if I am missing some sort of setting or what is going on but even at max volume it seems like my iphone in the cup holder would be louder, also if i swap the sound to only come from the rear the music is almost non existent. Is there something I am missing here or is there a fault and i need to take it to the dealer? Thanks for any and all help!

 

Just a small bit as well, I’ve read on the forums about all the “issues” people feel the ML system has in regards to the front staging and all that.... I don’t feel that’s the issue here as even as I sit in my car now playing with suggested settings from others at max volume I don’t feel like it is as loud as it should be or maybe it just doesn’t really get that loud as it takes away from the music not sure. Others have stated their sweet spot is around 25-30 on the volume, if mine is at 25 I can’t even hear it over the wind outside the car doing 45 on the road.

 

Why not just take it to the dealer under warranty? If it really is only as loud as your phone in cup holder then there is something definitely wrong.

 

Well there is my welcome to the forums lol after doing more reading... and coming from an apple carplay system... I find that the music is reliant on the volume of my phone.

 

Here’s a good thread if you want to upgrade to CarPlay

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...unit-from.html

 

I recently noticed a bunch of issues with my ML system, which is strange since this is my 3rd IS with ML since 2014. But yeah, basically with the fader completely to the rear speaks the sound is crap. The front speakers sound pretty good. If you don't play with the settings the sound is OK, but if you fool around it isn't.
Try different audio sources also...

 

I ran into the same thing with phone calls. Couldn’t figure out why I could hardly hear the other side, even with the car’s control cranked way up. Turning up the phone’s volume control solved it. I had thought, like other bluetooth devices, changing its volume just manipulated the phone’s control. Lesson learned.

 

I just upgraded my 2015 IS350 F-Sport (with ML Sound) to a 2017 with all the same features and am having the same issue with the rear speakers being almost silent. I thought it had to do with using Bluetooth vs usb connection (which does make a difference with the overall sound quality) but almost no change with the rear speakers.