ive heard both, ive had both, and ive had a lot of conversations about this. it is my humble opinion that the old Nak stereo in the Ls400 flat out blows the pants off of the newer ML Ls460 systems.

thoughts?

 

I've ML in 03 SC430 & Nak in 07 GX470. Granted the room/car dynamics, number of speakers, etc. is different but I do like the sound coming out of my Naks.

 

Wide variety of factors involved. The best system that I've listened to was a ML equipped LS430 many years ago. That's when they were using horn loaded compression drivers. That particular LS430 ML sound system was SLIGHTLY better than my Dynaudio equipped GS400, which was basically a straight speaker swap out at that time. We're talking about a few percentage points...and something that the average ear will be able to dismiss.

Now the worst sound system that I've listened to would also go to the ML. That was in a GS430. Very muddy, no dynamics, no definition. I took apart one of their amps to find that there was more technology in a $80 "best buy" amp than in the ML amp of the GS430. The older ML amps were known to overheat and fail as they were cooled by a 1 inch diameter fan. The only advanced piece inside the ML amp was the Analog Devices SHARC processor used for DSP duties, but everything else was a "house of cards" regarding construction, component choice, airflow cooling, etc.

Speaker wise - once again the ML disappointed in many aspects. ML brand hyped about their quality of speaker components, low distortion, etc, but at the end of the day their durability and sound quality were quite lacking.

As for the original question - Nak vs ML? All depends on which cars, which years.

 

We're talking about a few percentage points...and something that the average ear will be able to dismiss.

 

I currently own a 98 GS400 with Nak and a 2012 ISF with ML.

Overall, I say the NAK is better. The only thing the ML does better is clarity. The Nak is very good for clarity but the ML is crystal clear. The problem with the ML is the sound is weak and not well balanced. The NAK fills the cabin with very nice rich dynamic sound. The system has a very good balanced sound between bass, mids and highs. When I first got my GS almost ten years ago I was totally blown away by the NAK as a stock audio system. It still sounds great but after listening to my ML I sometimes wish the NAK had the ML clarity. On the other hand when I listen to the ML after listening to the NAK I wish the ML had more power, more bass, and better balance. Actually I feel that way about the ML even without listening tot he NAK.

 

I just got my mint '92 SC400's disc player working and WOW, the sound that comes through is amazing! I have been listening to the FM stereo for so long (with a broken antenna drive cable) that I had forgotten the clarity of CD's. This isn't even a NAK, just a Pioneer "Lexus premium sound" stock setup with factory 12 CD changer (thats always on??)