Hello -

If the online inventory of a certified used RX 400h does not say it has a Mark Levinson system, it doesn't have it, right?

It does have navigation and the Premium Plus Package, FWIW.

Thanks

 

Easiest way to tell is there will be a speaker grille in the center of the top dash if it has the ML system, if you have a picture of the interior.

 

Thanks.

Doesn't look like it, does it?





That said, should it be a deal breaker for me?

 

It's not that great of a stereo. Definitely needs more sub.

 

the Mark Levinson is a great stereo with very crisp and amazing sound quality if you are one who likes to listen to music and appreciates it. If you want the whole world outside your car to know what you're listening to then it is not your thing.

Not having the Mark Levinson is NOT a deal breaker. For $2000 you can change out the speakers and what not and have an amazing system later if you don't like it.

 

I have the ML system and its not all that great. It's underpowered. Its definately an improvement compared to a non ML car as I had both but you will get better sound with aftermarket speakers and amplifier.

 

I think the ML system is great and well worth the money. Definitely worth finding a car with one. I believe it offers other options to the car as well.

 

It's so interesting to hear so many polarized feelings about the RX stereo levinson or not. I found that at first my OEM non Levinson system was horrible. I was using the tape adapter by the way. Bass was so bad on the speakers I could not listen to some songs. Then I went with the bypass and use my iPod mini. Still not wonderful. Then I actually went and tuned the darn thing and I love it now. It's not bad. Bass is fine. I mean it's not a Bose system by any means but I do not feel the need do do allot of upgrades now that I fine tuned as much as I could.

 

For the price of the ML stereo you could build a much better system. I wouldn't sweat whether it had it or not. There isn't much fine tuning you can do. Bass, Treble, and Zone. Pretty weak controls. No equalizer.

The Harman Kardon in my Rover runs circles around it.

 

I changed the speakers, added custom kick panels, subwoofers in a fiberglass enclosure, amps, crossover, clean sweep and Soundlinq in my 330. I don't know what the final damage cost me but it was well north of $2k. It started with speakers (bad distortion) and just kept going I chose ML for the 450h to avoid going that route again. BTW, ML still lacks a decent sub. At least the speakers are better.

 

From having bought a non ML about 6 months ago, here is my experience. To get a ML RX400h with low miles, in the color, with the options you want - it is next to impossible (not impossible). The reason being that the ML RX400h were special orders and the owners had to wait 3 months from the date of placing the order to driving one!!!!! After extensive searching and locating one, the colors did not match what I was looking for and I had to pass.
Good luck.

 

My RX400h has the standard system and I don't like it. My previous vehicle was a Toyota Sienna Limited with the JBL System and it sounded really great compared to this standard system. I will be looking to update in the future. Is it better for the value of the vehicle to keep the original equipment system or add a aftermarket that sounds better??

 

^^Aftermarket equipment probably will not add value especially if you trade in. The dealer ripped out all of the stereo equipment I added in my 330 so they could certify it. If you do anything, make it simple so you can take it out when you're done with the car and sell here