Just curious if anyone else have this problem?

When i am listening to music through XM/AUX/Bluetooth the volume is noticably quieter than if i was listening to the regular radio. Anyone else notice this? Is it suppose to be like this?

For example; i will be listening to music on volume 50 with XM which is a good volume, and then i will switch to radio without touching the volume dial, and immediatly i have to turn it down because its too loud...

I have a 12 isf premium sound/nav without mark levinston.

Thanks for the help.

 

I've noticed the same behavior in my '08 with the Mark Levinson sound system but don't have an explanation for it. Just didn't want you to feel like you were alone out there

 

Looks to be a common problem:

(read past the initial post and you'll see what I mean)

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...r-volumes.html

 

I notice it also.

 

Pretty common... Radio, SAT, iPod, and CD are at different volume levels.

The sound quality of SAT is low compared to many other cars though - that's my biggest complaint!

 

SAT quality is pretty crappy in this car. I signed up for a free trial and I am not pleased. I had an ES350 loaner than sounded much better with SAT. It seems for me my car saves the volume levels based on which mode I am on. So when I switch from BT to DVD or Radio it holds my last volume setting. Granted, you do have to crank the volume up in this car. I'm used to most radios around 20-30 level and this car you have go to 40-50.

 

I noticed the terrible SAT quality as well. FM actually sounds much better... Volume levels do change when you switch modes, but on BT or USB, I often find myself turning the volume around 50, which makes me nervous since the max volume is only 60something.

 

Ya the radio in the ISF, even the Mark Levinson sucks. There a couple of different threads on this.

That's the most disappointing thing about this car...I have learned to ignore it and just enjoy the car. I wish to keep mine stock...so I wont be making any changes...

 

+1 on that^^

I was very surprised when I got the car how poor the sound was. The ELS system in my Acura was far far better.

 

I think my '12 radio sucks compare to my brothers '08. I'll have to see next time we meet, setting the same radio station and listening from car to car.

 

I have the aftermarket sat settup running through all stock controls and it sounds better than fm on my 08

 

Could not agree more ^^^

 

Screw the radio, listen to the V8 sound instead

 

Radio is poor in all cars I have owned. The ML sounds great with cd or aux.

 

I think if you can ignore the need for thumping bass, the stock ML system is quite clear. Classical and easy listening stuff is generally clean sounding. R&B and hip hop is not as good.

Caters well to those who want to listen to Bach while hitting the Lexus beep on WOT. (Don't know if such person exists but each to their own).

It seems also to be sensitive to the quality of the recording fed to it. Low quality compressed music is really exposed on the system.