I have standard audio and did not test drive an ML in this generation. Is the ML also set up very front dominant, like the base audio is?

 

Most auto sound systems seem to be owned/made by Harmon Kardon including ML. While Lexus appears to have exclusive rights to the ML name, I am not sure it means anything anymore. I find their sound quality average at best and failed to see any benefit to the premium charged. But I am sure it is a good profit center for Lexus. I doubt it cost them more than a couple hundred bucks to slap ML on some who knows what audio components.

For me nothing beats noise canceling ear buds in a car as the first step is to reduce all of the extraneous noise so you don’t have to blast the sound system to begin with.

Can you imagine Lexus offering an $1100 sound deadening package to make their cars quiet like they were in the 90’s? I’m sure those days are gone as they strive to meet EPA MPG requirements.

 

I like my ML stereo system.

 

I think most of the front dominant issue is because of the 17 speaker layout. But if you play with the fader & settings; and disable the surround option, you could get a nice balanced sound.

Base system is pretty good. The ML could be much better compared to the base depending on how audiophile you are.

IMHO ML is pretty good for what it's; and the bigger screen compensate the extra $!

 

It may not be the best car audio I have heard but I use TIDAL.. and "shocking" it does sound so much better than with the lower resolution Spotify.

It really sounds like a nice stereo system now and does a fine job handling the higher resolution files.

Granted, at home, my system is all Klipsch reference speakers, amplified and DAC'd by a Marantz with wave files or Tidal streamed through a HiFi Rose RS130.
But, I would rather put my money on a nice home system these days..
Aftermarket car audio got enough of my money in my teens/20s/30's... At 48.. Some things are less important to me than they used to be