RiNsE_OuT

Talked to dealer in Northern Va (Pohanka) and was advised they would not be getting any 350's with Mark Levinson anytime soon. Requires a special factory order and a very long wait. Can anyone comment on the stock sound system in the 350? Any better than the 330? or is the ML still worth the wait? The MP3 support would be enough for me to take the stock, but 132 watts seems pretty weak for a vehicle in this price range.

RX400h

132 watts is the RMS (Root Mean Square<----- I think thats what it means) 132 is not the total wattage of the system. I would think of it as the average wattage of the system. The total wattage is probably somewhere in the 350-400 range. But that is just a guess because they obviously don't publish it. The ML's 210 plays much louder without going into distortion/clipping, however the ML in the Rx doesn't give much added fidelity. Don't get me wrong though, it does sound excellent when broken in and tuned correctly.

Good luck with the 350

rxdriver

My opinion... ML is not worth the wait or the extra $2000+. The features (like MP3-CD's) are identical on tbe standard stereo and the ML. ML just changes the amp, adds speakers, and some of ML's professional audio tuning and speaker balancing. The standard system is very good, so unless you're an audiophile, you probably won't know the difference.

RiNsE_OuT

Thanks for the feedback everyone. If more power is all I'm after, would it be easier to just upgrade/replace the amp aftermarket?. I'm not that experience w/custom car audio installations, so I may be speaking out of turn. My guess is that the factory speakers are designed for the existing amp, and that I would probably need to upgrade or add new spkrs too, which would entail cutting holes where I don't want them cutting.

DigMyM35x

This may just be me, but it appears to me that the sound in the base system on the 350 is superior to the 330 on my wife's old 2005.

Could just be psychological as I'm not sure if they touched a darn thing, but there appears to be more "tweakability" with the nav screen addition and MP3 support so maybe there were some changes.

Anyway, I would have liked the ML but am fine with the stock system.

Jay

RX_330

IMO, I would wait for the ML. I'm part audiophile, so that's just me.

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

Obviously I haven't heard the ML in the new RX350, but the ML in the RX's is not the same as the ML in the GS,IS and LS where it makes a major difference compared to its premium system in those cars. Unless Lexus really improved on the ML package in the RX I wouldn't wait for it. If this were the GS, LS, or IS I would definately tell you to special order it and wait.

jayskinner

I'd check with Lindsay Lexus and see what they have to say. They tend to get more vehicles optioned in different ways, whereas Pohanka seems to get them optioned a certain way without ML, and plays the special order long wait game.

topgun04

I would think that there is some substantial change in the ML for RX. If you try to build a RX in N. Cal region using Lexus website, ML is not available also. So it look like a nationwide delay. Since GS has the ML with Gen 5 Nav integrated, it should not be an integration issue. So the only reason for the delay seems to be the ML radio. I would hate to spend 43-44k+ buying an RX now and find out a few months later that I really want the ML. Beside RX is new now and commanding higher selling price. Why not wait a few months until the dealers are more willing to bargain and may be get the ML for free.