Mark Levinson sound system
02-29-24, 09:00 PM
#31
I’ve noticed that the upper speaker in the driver door next to the handle (and I’m assuming the passenger door as well) barely put out any sound, if at all. Is that normal function? When I put my ear to it, I can’t discern any audio coming from it, and everything seems to be coming from the speakers on the dash. I have sound center/center or just one back. This is the case in both surround and non-surround mode. I imagine the system would sound more full with these speakers outputting meaningful sound. Can anyone else confirm how their system performs in this regard?
Try different songs. Open the door and go out and listen to it as it's easier to differentiate from outside and away from other speakers. Or just put your hand on top of it, should be vibrating. To make sure it's working, swing the sound to the driver side so that side should be blasting all the sound.
Since this is happening to multiple people. might be a systemic problem with some TX.
03-02-24, 09:45 AM
#32
I just got a new Lexus TX 350 with the ML sound system, and agree with many of the comments here. I do also think that it sounds much better on Spotify, with both system tuning adjustments and EQ settings. It seems its strength is in its clarity for things like vocals. HD Radio performance isn’t that great.
A couple of questions:
I’ve noticed that the upper speaker in the driver door next to the handle (and I’m assuming the passenger door as well) barely put out any sound, if at all. Is that normal function? When I put my ear to it, I can’t discern any audio coming from it, and everything seems to be coming from the speakers on the dash. I have sound center/center or just one back. This is the case in both surround and non-surround mode. I imagine the system would sound more full with these speakers outputting meaningful sound. Can anyone else confirm how their system performs in this regard?
There is a speaker (or is it a sub?) in the trunk on the left side labeled JBL instead of Mark Levinson. Is that how everyone else’s system is?
A couple of questions:
I’ve noticed that the upper speaker in the driver door next to the handle (and I’m assuming the passenger door as well) barely put out any sound, if at all. Is that normal function? When I put my ear to it, I can’t discern any audio coming from it, and everything seems to be coming from the speakers on the dash. I have sound center/center or just one back. This is the case in both surround and non-surround mode. I imagine the system would sound more full with these speakers outputting meaningful sound. Can anyone else confirm how their system performs in this regard?
There is a speaker (or is it a sub?) in the trunk on the left side labeled JBL instead of Mark Levinson. Is that how everyone else’s system is?
03-06-24, 03:14 PM
#34
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We have a 2018 Lexus IS350 with ML and it sounds amazing. When we ordered the TX luxury we went with the ML system and to be honest it does not sound as good as in our IS. I am kind of disappointed and would have gone with the base sound system had I knew the drop of quality on the Lexus' ML system.
03-07-24, 10:04 AM
#35
We have a 2018 Lexus IS350 with ML and it sounds amazing. When we ordered the TX luxury we went with the ML system and to be honest it does not sound as good as in our IS. I am kind of disappointed and would have gone with the base sound system had I knew the drop of quality on the Lexus' ML system.
03-07-24, 10:06 AM
#36
I just returned from a 1,000+ mile road trip and must say I've become much more disappointed with the ML system. Great clarity but trying to adjust everything to enhance the bass just ends up wrecking everything else and the sound is just too bright for me.
At high volume levels, the sound quality improves at the expense of not being able to have a conversation in the car.
I had the ML system in my LS460L and my 2021 RX450h - both fabulous. I love the clarity and bass in my RX450h. It does not require a high volume to perform well and always seems to have the appropriate amount of mid-bass "punch".
I'm very disappointed and haven't come across a decent way to add or replace the subwoofer. Even if you can do that, you still need to integrate a new subwoofer which isn't easy.
What a shame to have crapped the bed on what should have been a fabulous system.
At high volume levels, the sound quality improves at the expense of not being able to have a conversation in the car.
I had the ML system in my LS460L and my 2021 RX450h - both fabulous. I love the clarity and bass in my RX450h. It does not require a high volume to perform well and always seems to have the appropriate amount of mid-bass "punch".
I'm very disappointed and haven't come across a decent way to add or replace the subwoofer. Even if you can do that, you still need to integrate a new subwoofer which isn't easy.
What a shame to have crapped the bed on what should have been a fabulous system.
03-07-24, 11:08 AM
#37
I just returned from a 1,000+ mile road trip and must say I've become much more disappointed with the ML system. Great clarity but trying to adjust everything to enhance the bass just ends up wrecking everything else and the sound is just too bright for me.
At high volume levels, the sound quality improves at the expense of not being able to have a conversation in the car.
I had the ML system in my LS460L and my 2021 RX450h - both fabulous. I love the clarity and bass in my RX450h. It does not require a high volume to perform well and always seems to have the appropriate amount of mid-bass "punch".
I'm very disappointed and haven't come across a decent way to add or replace the subwoofer. Even if you can do that, you still need to integrate a new subwoofer which isn't easy.
What a shame to have crapped the bed on what should have been a fabulous system.
At high volume levels, the sound quality improves at the expense of not being able to have a conversation in the car.
I had the ML system in my LS460L and my 2021 RX450h - both fabulous. I love the clarity and bass in my RX450h. It does not require a high volume to perform well and always seems to have the appropriate amount of mid-bass "punch".
I'm very disappointed and haven't come across a decent way to add or replace the subwoofer. Even if you can do that, you still need to integrate a new subwoofer which isn't easy.
What a shame to have crapped the bed on what should have been a fabulous system.
All the manufacturers are doing this. BMW guilty of doing the same on their latest models by dropping the B&W quality down to HK and the HK is now just as bad as the prior gen base systems on the latest 5 series. I'm sad that Lexus is doing the same
Last edited by G30540i; 03-07-24 at 11:16 AM.
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zorax2 (03-07-24)
03-07-24, 12:04 PM
#38
Glad I found this thread as I'm looking at a TX500 to replace my wife's unreliable X5. I noticed right away my wife's mid grade Harmon Kardon on her X5 is superior to the TX500 ML system that we tried during the test drive. I was very surprised as usually ML is at the level or better than the higher end BMW B&W systems. It was very tinny sounding and reminded me of the crappy base X5 system
All the manufacturers are doing this. BMW guilty of doing the same on their latest models by dropping the B&W quality down to HK and the HK is now just as bad as the prior gen base systems on the latest 5 series. I'm sad that Lexus is doing the same
All the manufacturers are doing this. BMW guilty of doing the same on their latest models by dropping the B&W quality down to HK and the HK is now just as bad as the prior gen base systems on the latest 5 series. I'm sad that Lexus is doing the same
03-07-24, 01:30 PM
#39
Plastic oil pump on B58 went bad. $3000+ repair. 2020 and newer have metal oil pumps now. BMW cheaped out and went with their typical "willbreak" brittle plastic with the 2019 X5's (other B58's are also now being affected as the 3 series guys are now coming up with the same failure) on such a critical engine component. Many G05 X5's of our vintage are also now getting AC evaporator leaks that require the whole dashboard removed which escalates to the $6000-7000 price range.
03-07-24, 07:27 PM
#40
Plastic oil pump on B58 went bad. $3000+ repair. 2020 and newer have metal oil pumps now. BMW cheaped out and went with their typical "willbreak" brittle plastic with the 2019 X5's (other B58's are also now being affected as the 3 series guys are now coming up with the same failure) on such a critical engine component. Many G05 X5's of our vintage are also now getting AC evaporator leaks that require the whole dashboard removed which escalates to the $6000-7000 price range.
03-15-24, 12:40 PM
#41
I used to have a 2016 IS300 without ML system. And the sound is amazing and definitely one of the best car audio systems I've ever tried. But the ML system on my new TX350 is so different. My feeling is the similar to most people - less bass, lack of surrounding feeling... I'm now using Sportify equlizer to make the bass sounds better and lower the mid a little bit. It's much better I have to say, and I feel I'm getting used to the sound system.
03-16-24, 02:08 PM
#42
Finally got the the sub and amp installed and im really happy with it. I went with an 8" kicker sub in the stock box and the bass is there when the volumes low now and when turned up it hits really hard for using the stock box. There is a lot of rattling when the bass is turned up too much but at about mid level its pretty rattle free and hitting harder than I wouldve expected. All in with install, sub and amp it cost me $550 Canadian and it was worth every penny.
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Rancherman (03-17-24)
03-17-24, 02:05 PM
#43
Driver School Candidate
Kicker sub and amp add to ML TX stereo
Finally got the the sub and amp installed and im really happy with it. I went with an 8" kicker sub in the stock box and the bass is there when the volumes low now and when turned up it hits really hard for using the stock box. There is a lot of rattling when the bass is turned up too much but at about mid level it’s pretty rattle free and hitting harder than I wouldve expected. All in with install, sub and amp it cost me $550 Canadian and it was worth every penny.
03-20-24, 09:36 AM
#44
https://www.kicker.com/50CWCD84
https://vibeaudio.co.uk/product/powerbox400-1m-v7
Stock sub compared to kicker
Last edited by stunt66; 03-20-24 at 09:39 AM.
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