Mark Levinson vs Standard Audio System
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
Who is going to listen to audiophile quality music on a mobile system any how? For me dedicated system is at home for music listening. For family to watch movie another HTPC with 7.2 system. Even when mobile system is compared, my Audi B&O system sounds better than ML system on Lexus I had. Likewise HK system on my wife's Mercedes.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,047
Likes: 135
From: AB
Yes & no - I realize the Lexus systems are not top shelf, but they are at least middle shelf. The RX is so quiet on a highway trip, that I can tell a big difference in the sound between XM, iPhone via Bluetooth & iPhone via Lightning cord. There is a huge difference between Bluetooth & the Lightning cord playing the same song. So, as long as the cost is reasonable & one spends a decent amount of time behind the wheel, I think it’s worth exploring.
displayed in Korean language on wife's Mercedes. She likes this feature. My back is in engineering and advanced level amateur musician all my life. So I like to listen to good music. Still playing in local concert band but hearing and eye sights are not as sharp as they used to be nearing age of 80, LOL! Time to pass my horn to grand son. My son is an engineer too, his hobby is playing piano, tenor sax, guitar, drum, he has sharpest ears among us. He is nuts on Bimmers, only car he drives. Daughter plays flute, graduated conservatory grade 12 piano. Some times I worry about her hands when she goes out rock climbing. She needs her hands to play music and perform surgery. Does not care much about cars, still drives old beater Subaru Forester since med. school days. Wife plays electric organ.
I pick up the car tomorrow. Should i cancel the deal and find one with ML. Is it a deal breaker? Is the standard 12 speaker that bad?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
Its up to you, but I listened to both & didn’t feel the ML was worth the extra cash. It’s better, but if all comes down to how much you are willing to spend. For me, I couldn’t justify it. Hope that helps.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 345
From: Ontario, Canada
One interesting thing on Mercedes system is it displays foreign language text when playing Korean pop songs. We're native Korean transplanted here more than 50 years ago. Song title, singer's name and picture all
displayed in Korean language on wife's Mercedes. She likes this feature. My back is in engineering and advanced level amateur musician all my life. So I like to listen to good music. Still playing in local concert band but hearing and eye sights are not as sharp as they used to be nearing age of 80, LOL! Time to pass my horn to grand son. My son is an engineer too, his hobby is playing piano, tenor sax, guitar, drum, he has sharpest ears among us. He is nuts on Bimmers, only car he drives. Daughter plays flute, graduated conservatory grade 12 piano. Some times I worry about her hands when she goes out rock climbing. She needs her hands to play music and perform surgery. Does not care much about cars, still drives old beater Subaru Forester since med. school days. Wife plays electric organ.
displayed in Korean language on wife's Mercedes. She likes this feature. My back is in engineering and advanced level amateur musician all my life. So I like to listen to good music. Still playing in local concert band but hearing and eye sights are not as sharp as they used to be nearing age of 80, LOL! Time to pass my horn to grand son. My son is an engineer too, his hobby is playing piano, tenor sax, guitar, drum, he has sharpest ears among us. He is nuts on Bimmers, only car he drives. Daughter plays flute, graduated conservatory grade 12 piano. Some times I worry about her hands when she goes out rock climbing. She needs her hands to play music and perform surgery. Does not care much about cars, still drives old beater Subaru Forester since med. school days. Wife plays electric organ.
P.S. My ML didn't show any foreign language
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,449
Likes: 948
From: IL
On my MB 2008 E350 I had a Mark Levinson that was OK nothing more, IMO not better than the standard system on my RX350 (2017) Luxury package (canadian) I couldn't justify $1,800 more for the upgrade, I find the standard to be more than sufficient when driving.
P.S. My ML didn't show any foreign language
P.S. My ML didn't show any foreign language
Here's the findings from an independent test that was done a few years ago:
The System: American hi-fi brand Mark Levinson has been making car audio systems exclusively for Lexus for 15 years. Their systems are available across almost the entire product lineup, but the 15-speaker, 835-watt application in the RX is one of the best iterations, and it’s a relatively low-cost option (for hi-fi, anyway) at $2,830 ($3,260 if you spec a bigger infotainment screen).
The Verdict: The biggest surprise of the bunch, the Mark Levinson system in the RX350 managed to give us the best clarity and vibrancy of any system, without revealing some of the audio track’s imperfections. There was little distortion when the system was fully cranked. Highs came in crisp and vibrant and bass was powerful and well rounded. What’s more, the Mark Levsinson system can be had for less than the Meridian or Naim system in their respective cars — so it’s particularly impressive from a value standpoint.
Link --> https://gearpatrol.com/2016/02/04/fi...-audio-system/
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 345
From: Ontario, Canada
ML in a Benz?
Here's the findings from an independent test that was done a few years ago:
The System: American hi-fi brand Mark Levinson has been making car audio systems exclusively for Lexus for 15 years. Their systems are available across almost the entire product lineup, but the 15-speaker, 835-watt application in the RX is one of the best iterations, and it’s a relatively low-cost option (for hi-fi, anyway) at $2,830 ($3,260 if you spec a bigger infotainment screen).
The Verdict: The biggest surprise of the bunch, the Mark Levinson system in the RX350 managed to give us the best clarity and vibrancy of any system, without revealing some of the audio track’s imperfections. There was little distortion when the system was fully cranked. Highs came in crisp and vibrant and bass was powerful and well rounded. What’s more, the Mark Levsinson system can be had for less than the Meridian or Naim system in their respective cars — so it’s particularly impressive from a value standpoint.
Link --> https://gearpatrol.com/2016/02/04/fi...-audio-system/
Here's the findings from an independent test that was done a few years ago:
The System: American hi-fi brand Mark Levinson has been making car audio systems exclusively for Lexus for 15 years. Their systems are available across almost the entire product lineup, but the 15-speaker, 835-watt application in the RX is one of the best iterations, and it’s a relatively low-cost option (for hi-fi, anyway) at $2,830 ($3,260 if you spec a bigger infotainment screen).
The Verdict: The biggest surprise of the bunch, the Mark Levinson system in the RX350 managed to give us the best clarity and vibrancy of any system, without revealing some of the audio track’s imperfections. There was little distortion when the system was fully cranked. Highs came in crisp and vibrant and bass was powerful and well rounded. What’s more, the Mark Levsinson system can be had for less than the Meridian or Naim system in their respective cars — so it’s particularly impressive from a value standpoint.
Link --> https://gearpatrol.com/2016/02/04/fi...-audio-system/
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 310
Likes: 18
From: CA
I owned a 2016 RX350 with the ML and a 2017 RX450h without ML but with Premium Audio and I preferred the Premium Audio. The ML had amazing clarity but the volume had to be cranked 10-15 levels higher than the Premium system for me to hear it. I listen to the Premium at 25 or so and the ML was often at 35 or 40. The thing about the processing on the ML system is that it makes music you listened to sound different. I was driving a co-worker around and he was like "oh ,this is coldplay, he (Chris Martin) sounds different." Some may say that the ML is better for its clarity but i prefer the bass and volume of the premium system.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 345
From: Ontario, Canada
I owned a 2016 RX350 with the ML and a 2017 RX450h without ML but with Premium Audio and I preferred the Premium Audio. The ML had amazing clarity but the volume had to be cranked 10-15 levels higher than the Premium system for me to hear it. I listen to the Premium at 25 or so and the ML was often at 35 or 40. The thing about the processing on the ML system is that it makes music you listened to sound different. I was driving a co-worker around and he was like "oh ,this is coldplay, he (Chris Martin) sounds different." Some may say that the ML is better for its clarity but i prefer the bass and volume of the premium system.
Driver
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 121
Likes: 5
From: Michigan
I owned a 2016 RX350 with the ML and a 2017 RX450h without ML but with Premium Audio and I preferred the Premium Audio. The ML had amazing clarity but the volume had to be cranked 10-15 levels higher than the Premium system for me to hear it. I listen to the Premium at 25 or so and the ML was often at 35 or 40. The thing about the processing on the ML system is that it makes music you listened to sound different. I was driving a co-worker around and he was like "oh ,this is coldplay, he (Chris Martin) sounds different." Some may say that the ML is better for its clarity but i prefer the bass and volume of the premium system.
Last edited by Koetsu; Jun 4, 2018 at 12:59 PM. Reason: Fix English
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 200
Likes: 15
From: CA
took ownership of my 2016 RX450H. It didnt have ML. After reading this thread was thinking my sound would be SH^&. But turns out i have 12 speaker premium audio and im totally satisfied! Sirius XM has never sounded better. All you guys need to remember Sirius XM has the worse bitrate on their stations (went downhill 10 years ago) and was totally happy with the results!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 895
Likes: 56
From: IL
Blown away by the sound from the CD player
I've had my 2017 almost 6 months now. Finally decided to try the CD player. I put a CD in with MP3's on it. The sound was so much better than using Bluetooth or the Aux cable to my IPhone for the same songs. I am sure a commercial Cd will be even better. Will be sorry when they take CD players out of cars.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 129
From: Texas
I've had my 2017 almost 6 months now. Finally decided to try the CD player. I put a CD in with MP3's on it. The sound was so much better than using Bluetooth or the Aux cable to my IPhone for the same songs. I am sure a commercial Cd will be even better. Will be sorry when they take CD players out of cars.
Bluetooth uses a different audio compressor (SBC) since it cannot transfer that much data. So the phone’s MP3 is decoded and compressed with a looser compression scheme, then transmitted to the radio with Bluetooth. This compression scheme is nowhere close to MP3 and is lower bitrate, adding distortion to the sound.
Last edited by lexnewbi; May 30, 2018 at 07:35 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 37
Likes: 4
From: Ontario
I have the ML in my 16 RX and I definitely notice the difference compared to one that does not have that system in the loaner F sport 1 or 2 that I got. I noticed the difference in clarity between the 2 right away.
But IMO the ML isn't THAT much better for the money. The standard audio system is more than sufficient for me and not worth the extra $$$.
But IMO the ML isn't THAT much better for the money. The standard audio system is more than sufficient for me and not worth the extra $$$.