08 Audio
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: ca
Jfelbab, so true about the ML audio set up... The sound is very realistic, what I mean is their is no frequency over powering the other and beleive me I have gone the high-end aftermarket route before in my other cars. The sound processor makes everything natural sounding and doesnt give you those cheap crappy echo effects. Music with clear vocals is when the ML system truly shines. Though I think it does need a sub to give it some depth.
Stock audio systems try and give you boomy bass and pitchy highs as best as a set of 6.5 speakers can manage. Most people consider this as the measurement of a "good" audio system when cranked up and the OEMs know this that why the bass and treble are almost always exaggerated.
Stock audio systems try and give you boomy bass and pitchy highs as best as a set of 6.5 speakers can manage. Most people consider this as the measurement of a "good" audio system when cranked up and the OEMs know this that why the bass and treble are almost always exaggerated.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 13
From: Alaska
I have a professional sound meter and an audio test CD for optimizing audio. My ML is actually amazingly flat and even sounding. It lacks deep lows but it does well down to about 80Hz. The thing I found surprising is the smoothness across all the audio frequencies. Run a sweep tone and it goes from 20kHz down to 80Hz ± 2db. The only thing that would improve the core audio, IMO, is a sub to carry the freq span down to 25-30 Hz.
I've run the same tests on the JBL in the Highlander and it has lots of peaks and valleys in the spectrum. Speckwise there is no comparison. THE MK is clearly smoother, and less colored.
The problem is that these days many consumers seem to want a Boom Box sound in their cars and don't care for accurate reproduction of the audio. If you're one of these "thumper" types, then you don't need a ML. All you need is a few 12" Subs and a few hundred watts.
I see some nice affordable subs at www.partsexpress.com and some powered systems at www.Crutchfield.com.
I've run the same tests on the JBL in the Highlander and it has lots of peaks and valleys in the spectrum. Speckwise there is no comparison. THE MK is clearly smoother, and less colored.
The problem is that these days many consumers seem to want a Boom Box sound in their cars and don't care for accurate reproduction of the audio. If you're one of these "thumper" types, then you don't need a ML. All you need is a few 12" Subs and a few hundred watts.
I see some nice affordable subs at www.partsexpress.com and some powered systems at www.Crutchfield.com.
I never measured the base system in our RX330, but I though over all it was decent. What I find OEM systems have a hard time doing is imaging and sound staging. Part of the problem is because of the speaker location. I've really been out of high end car audio for many years now. I was heavy into it (No not booming bass) back in my early to mid 20s in the 90s. I am a big fan of equal path length speakers, and time alignement. I'm also a fan of fewer speakers the better (Multichannel reproduction is an exception). The OEMs have to learn that single point source is more ideal than 6 way speakers up front.
Anyway, more speakers is not better. The idea is to use the least amount of speakers that a given reproduction format permits. Obviously you need a center channel and a subwoofer (LFE) in a 5.1 Multichannel format, but you don't need 11-14 speakers either. OEMs are gettnig carried away with the amount of speakers they are placing in their cars. The idea is not to have the speakers engolf you in sound. The idea is for the speakers to disappear. If you can hear a speaker the system is flawed (Or at least the tuning).
Anyway, more speakers is not better. The idea is to use the least amount of speakers that a given reproduction format permits. Obviously you need a center channel and a subwoofer (LFE) in a 5.1 Multichannel format, but you don't need 11-14 speakers either. OEMs are gettnig carried away with the amount of speakers they are placing in their cars. The idea is not to have the speakers engolf you in sound. The idea is for the speakers to disappear. If you can hear a speaker the system is flawed (Or at least the tuning).
ive noticed that the stock system (not ML) in the RX's are pretty good in terms of imaging and not bad for most listening. what it does lack is low end production. i fixed that by putting in a sealed enclosure with two 12inch subs to make up for it. what surprises me is strength of the stock battery and alternator which have taken months of abuse and have not faltered.
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