EQ settings for Mark Levinson
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: TX
EQ settings for Mark Levinson
I know that everybody has different sound tastes, but does anyone have any recommended settings for the best sound balance overall. I have my new 2010 set at Treble +3, Mid +1, and Bass +2 and 2 back for sound. Again I know that people have different tastes, but does anyone have any that they like for the best sound from their ML system.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 42
Likes: 1
From: michigan
eq settings
the normal human ear hears midrange frequencies more easily the high or low frequencies so technicallly the bass and treble should be in the + settings and the midrange should be flat or negative. i have low end hearing issues so i rise the bass to compensate.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Another point to consider is that the human ear is progressivly less sensitive to bass and treble as the overall volumn is reduced. Some home sound systems have a control called "loudness" that increases the bass and treble leaving the mid range unchanged. This control is very useful at lower volumns. If you play your audio system at lower volumns and/or have, like me, older ears then you might try leaving the mid range at 0 and increase both bass and treble.
Trending Topics
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: CA
From an audio standpoint, the music industry spends a lot of money for engineers and mastering to provide a clean spectrum. It is always preferred to not bump up bass, mid or treble when listening to CD or FLAC files. Also, set the fade to center and pull it back just a little (towards the rear of the vehicle) instead of dead center of the vehicle to notice a better audible spectrum. The ML system is designed to be clean (very low distortion)...depending upon your music preferences, only adjust EQ settings if something is blatantly overpowering in the music. Happy Listening
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 345
Likes: 9
From: WA
In my opinion, most listeners that boost the bass and treble don't really want more bass or treble -- they really want a bit more volume.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,657
Likes: 45
From: Maryland
This. Everyone in the process, from the artist to the recording engineer to the maker of the recording equipment to Toyota and Mark Levinson, has gone to considerable effort to make what comes out of the system accurate. EQ isn't something that should routinely need to be done on quality audio equipment. It's more a way to try to mask the most glaring flaws a bit. After lots of listening to the Levinson system I find it has a bit of a hot spot around 100 Hz, but I just live with it, because turning the bass down would attenuate other low frequencies too much.
In my opinion, most listeners that boost the bass and treble don't really want more bass or treble -- they really want a bit more volume.
In my opinion, most listeners that boost the bass and treble don't really want more bass or treble -- they really want a bit more volume.
I will also add there is no such thing as an eq preference. It's needs to be flat by the relative weighting for your ear and the EQ is used to help you get it there. It cannot be tuned by ear but once it's in tune it will make the biggest difference in the sound quality.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 60
From: CA
Being able to control EQ, fading, and balance is an advantage for those who have hearing issues. I'm no expert, but reportedly the ML option on 2010+ models have a weaker base response, another good reason to boost the bass, IMO.
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 775
Likes: 7
From: WA
I leave mine like this
Treble: 1 notch below max
Mid: Right dead at center
Bass: 1 notch below max
I keep Surround turned OFF and also the adaptive volume turned OFF.
This way, watching concerts on DVD that are already 5.1 surround sound absolutely fantastic at any volume levels.
Older CDs that were recorded and mixed in analog mixing consoles sound incredibly crisp and dynamic, while newer productions that are completely brickwalled and heavily compressed don't sound so good, as they are produced without any dynamic range at all, thanks to the iEverything "revolution" that in my opinion literally destroyed audio production quality.
The ML system (2007 model) still manages to reproduce it how it is, and recent productions are indeed "exaggerated" on all frequencies out of the box to compensate for the low quality of the iEverything devices, but it's a sign of the times I guess....
Anyone that is old enough to have listened to the analog era of audio will know what I'm talking about... Crispness, dynamic range, clear / natural punch are things of the past.
Treble: 1 notch below max
Mid: Right dead at center
Bass: 1 notch below max
I keep Surround turned OFF and also the adaptive volume turned OFF.
This way, watching concerts on DVD that are already 5.1 surround sound absolutely fantastic at any volume levels.
Older CDs that were recorded and mixed in analog mixing consoles sound incredibly crisp and dynamic, while newer productions that are completely brickwalled and heavily compressed don't sound so good, as they are produced without any dynamic range at all, thanks to the iEverything "revolution" that in my opinion literally destroyed audio production quality.
The ML system (2007 model) still manages to reproduce it how it is, and recent productions are indeed "exaggerated" on all frequencies out of the box to compensate for the low quality of the iEverything devices, but it's a sign of the times I guess....
Anyone that is old enough to have listened to the analog era of audio will know what I'm talking about... Crispness, dynamic range, clear / natural punch are things of the past.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 5,371
Likes: 526
From: BC Canada
While I understand that leaving the recording "pure" and unmolested by attenuations of any bass or treble on my part, those same recording were not recorded with highway noises, tire and wind noises hurtling down the freeway at 80 mph. If I were listening to the same recording in my livingroom or through my Sennheiser headphones, then I agree.
Soooooo......
Treble +2 or 3
Bass +3
Midrange 0
Fade is set in dead center.
Soooooo......
Treble +2 or 3
Bass +3
Midrange 0
Fade is set in dead center.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 390
Likes: 45
From: TN
The report is true. The ML bass response in my '11 is weaker than earlier models, including my '06.
