I have to agree with dards242 I to have upgraded every sound system in each car that I have owned and ML is indeed crisp and clear I do find bass is ok up to have way point then it starts to fade away abit but other than that it's very nice sound system. My last car was premium pkg ISx50 with non ML radio it was just ok not bad but not great either. If you were to install a similar after market headunit, amp, and speakers you would spend anywhere from $2500 on the low end to $5000 on high end installed. You would have a system with more bass and higher sound out put but at 2 or 3 times the cost of ML.

If you want more bass then you can do like I'm doing as well as several other guys here just install decent aftermarket sub,amp and capacitor cost once again anywhere from $500 on low end to $1000 on higher end. So to answer your question is it worth $1500 depend on how important audio sound quality is to you? if it is then yes it's worth it if not then maybe no. The ML also offer you higher trade in and resale value something to think about.

Here are some pics of the sub, amp, wires, cap etc I'm installing

 

^^^ That a boy, I only rocked JL stuff, they are one of the best without getting stupid like Macintosh or something. My Type R has JL c2 components all the way around with a 300/4 slash v2. (1) 10"W7 with a slash 500/1 v2 is more perfect bass than any sane person needs...Even the 8"W7 with a slash 250/1 is a great way to add clean perfect bass to your whip! As far as factory the ML is a great factory package. The best factory stereo I have heard is the Bang & Olufsen option in the 2010 Audi A8... I was blown away, it is the best system i have heard factory or aftermarket period. It is incredible, the whole car is pretty fly Audi is really stepping it up in that class.

 

I couldn't criticize sound systems to the level a dedicated audiophile, but I find the ML system to be notably better than the standard system (dealer loaners). It's not as dramatic with MP3's, depending on the quality, but on the other end of the spectrum, having played some DVD audio on it, the difference was night and day (granted these are rare, but it shows off the system, nicely).

My one criticism of the system, at least in the 06 IS350, was that the sub was pretty fragile, and had to be replaced once, while showing similar symptoms on the new replacement, not too long after. To note, I don't blast music at all, and it seemed to be a common issue with a lot of other members. Thankfully, the F seems to be holding up well, but it's too soon to tell.

 

^^^ I played with the sound settings quite a bit in the 40s to max and I think if you have the bass turned up anymore than 60% and have the volume above 45 on the regular the sub will pop quickly... mine isnt blown but i turned the setting down. The amp quality for the speakers in the ML system is way up there. I think if you plopped the correct aftermarket speaker into the factory holes it could sound better without an amp upgrade, because you could turn up the settings and turn the volume to max.

 

I wouldn't be surprised as ML is an amplifier company first and digital source company second and do not make drivers that I know of. I'd love to see some Focals dropped into the stock positions.

http://www.marklevinson.com/products.aspx

 

Not worth it, it sounds the same from my 250 to my f if u want bass I would just get a sub.

 

ONe more thing. I have been driving a loaner IS while my F is in the shop and the ML stereo is definitely better than the standard, however the ML is not the end all be all, but I would not spend the $2,500-$5K for an aftermarket system my self. Best best is probably to get the ML and ad a supplemental sub in the trunk.

 

not worth it in anything except LS460( I've owned IS350 w/o ML, IsF w/ML, test drove RX450h with ML but bought one without and LS460 with ML).

 

Not an audiophile, but I think the ML audio complements the car nicely... Well-mannered most of the time, yet thunderous when necessary.

 

my .02 on the subject...

The ML system isn't designed to have the biggest or lowest bass but rather to be one of the clearest sounding systems on the market. It also has the lowest THD (total harmonic distortion), a 300-watt system at less than 0.1% THD, 20-20,000 Hz.

The system defiantly has the audiophile in mind with its 7.1-channel architecture. It's not intended to have the hard hitting or extremely loud-end bass that it sounds like some of you are looking for.

Cheers,
CRC

 

^^ That 20Hz - 20kHz is for the amp. The sub in the ML can't produce anything close to 20Hz.

I still like the ML for what it is. As others have said, adding an extra sub would be a quick way to give it an extra kick, if that's your thing.

 

One thing I am very frustrated about with the ML is that you can't search alphabetically for an artist on your ipod and play it directly ... you have to scroll down by 5 rows until you get to the song or artist you want to play . Voice command works only for sat . Please correct me if I'm wrong about all this .

 

Dont buy it just buy mb quartz

 

too much bass ruins songs, its not how the creator meant it to be herd

 

Too bad the creator doesn't take care of spelling like he(?) does music, eh?