Hi guys, I have a 2010 LS with the ML stereo. I have had a couple of aftermarket stereos in the past and although I think the ML is very nice on the highs and in the midrange, I thought it was a bit lacking in the bass department. I decided to leave all the ML equipment intact and simply added a JL Audio amp and 10 inch subwoofer that was mounted in the trunk. It cost me less than $600 and the result to my ears is fantastic. The added power on the low tones rounded out what is now as good a stereo as I've ever had. I recognize car audio is a subjective subject and I respect you guys that feel the stock ML should not be messed with. However, for those guys that like me felt the low end could be improved I thought you might be interested in what I found to be a cheap and effective upgrade.

 

pictures please

 

I have a stock stereo and would be interested how you did yours and a parts list if you care to post that.

 

There's already a lengthy post somewhere here from Pmiller who did the exact same thing. It was posted in the last few weeks. Do a search. Involves a separate amp, line level w/volume for bass and a 10" sub. Very easy mod.

 

Most modern car audio systems are just fine in the upper bass, mid and high regions, it's mostly the lower bass where they are necessarily deficient (size, cost, weight). And it's not just Bass-Heads that benefit from a decent subwoofer installation. My last car was a BMW 530i (E39) with the standard audio system. With a couple of BMW (Nokia) 10" dual voice coil subs from the M5 under the rear deck, and a 75wpc amp, the sound system was transformed!

The "subwoofer" in most Lexus cars (and pretty much any other brand) should really be referred to as a "woofer". Installing a decent and well set up subwoofer, as described above, will add to any type of music: classical, rock, folk, jazz, whatever floats your boat! Having said that, I must admit that the standarad ML system in my LS460 is good enough that I probably won't go to the effort, cost and unknowns of adding to it.

 

Yeah the mid's and high's are crystal clear and not worth upgrading in my opinion but I added a 12inch kicker with a 1800W amp wired down to 4OHMS to reduce heat and producing 750wRMS. Overall my sound system professionally installed was about $800

 

Would be nice to see this set up and some type of write up on it