I purchased the 2019 LS about a week ago and overall love it. As earlier reviews had stated, the infotainment system is a bit awkward, but I'm getting more adept at navigating this.I am disappointed in the sound system. I would have expected more depth of sound from the ML upgrade; my 2013 LS with ML had superior sound. I've noticed for music, regardless of source (XM or iphone music), the volume has to be turned up really high to sound halfway decent and even then, I can't get the bass just right. I've adjusted surround, fader, bass, treble and can't get the sound the LS deserves. I've seen similar comments on the ES, but not much on the LS. Has anyone had similar experience?

 

Yes, same problem on a 2018. The 2014 and 2017 models had better bass.

 

Try turning off the 3-D simulation. It sounds significantly better without it.

 

Which ML sys do you have? I have the 23 speakers ml option in my LS 500 F-Sport. Sounds pretty clear and loud. But I could tell, the Bose sys in my Stingray was much louder but not as clear. Both sounds nice nonetheless.

 

As an audiophile the 4LS ML system is massively inferior to the 5ML. Main difference for me is 3D sound.
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I absolutely adore the new ML system on the 5LS. Superior to the Burmester Advanced system on the S and the B and O advanced system on the A8.

That's how much I love the new 5LS ML system.

 

This is what I did for my parents in their '18 LS. It helps. The system does have a flatter response. Most car systems have peaks in response to boost certain frequencies, like bass. My mom was complaining that not all the speakers work, so I plugged in my flash drive and played music with a little more bass, she definitely smiled! Much better than standard FM radio she listens to. Their whole "Clarifi" system that supposedly makes radio better is a bit of a joke to me, the radio still sounds like crappy old radio.

I have never been a fan of the Bose system in the stingray It's like a one note wonder in the bass department and I hear a lot more distortion when it is turned up compared to the ML system in the ES/LS/RX.

 

I have the 23 speaker ML sound system. The only source I haven't tried is the CD player and flash drive. To my ears the XM sound is pretty poor.

 

XM is compressed quite a bit -- I think it's 32 Kbps. A stock CD is 1411 Kbps. It will never sound very good. You also have DVD Audio on the ML system and that might sound better -- IFF you can find DVD Audio discs.

 

You haven't tried the two sources that actually sound good lol give them a try. Radio/XM does not sound nearly as good.

 

XM sounds like crap. That's why I never subscribe in any of my cars. I just use Bluetooth audio from my LG G7 phone. It sounds amazing. The DTS X3D surround built in.

 

the base BOSE sys in the stingray is just ok. The optional 10 speakers one is pretty good.

 

Yeah, I have the upgraded one in my Vette. The LS system is better, our RX is better, the ES is better, my old GS was better lol...

 

lol. I guess GM only spent money on the performance aspect.

 

100% agree. They go for quantity over quality--hundreds of highly compressed stations. Most people don't notice the difference though.

 

Yeah they did! And it sure is fun! Just beats me up driving every day, my poor back is ready for something comfortable again lol