Mark Levinson Not Good
03-19-24, 09:34 PM
#1
Mark Levinson Not Good
Took delivery of a new 2024 ES300h this afternoon. Anybody else think the 17-speaker Mark Levinson system sucks? Specifically the Fader. With the dot in the middle, very little sound comes from the rear, and what does is tinny. In order to get immersive sound I have to put the button halfway between the middle and the bottom. My Expedition Max XLT with the base sound system sounds better, as does my 25 year-old BMW 528i. I have a >$30K audio system in my home theater, and this Mark Levinson is the worst system I've heard, especially given the cost.
03-20-24, 05:48 AM
#3
Lead Lap
There are literally scores of posts regarding this subject that started back in gen 6 cars and continued into gen 7. Many have suggestions for improvement, component swaps, and more. I would suggest you do a search and look them up for more information.
03-20-24, 05:51 AM
#4
MP3 from my Pixel Pro 7, but very much doubt that's the problem. I played with the fader a bit more last night and it's better. I'm not overwhelmed, but it's okay. I expected a more immersive sound with the fader centered. It decreases the level much more in the front than it increases it in the rear.
I remember Levinson amps and preamps for home audio from back in the 90's, so expected better. Although I run a Bryston 4B SST2 in my home theater. Not familiar with Levinson speakers, but passing off 7 two-way speakers as 14 is bunk. Does that mean my pair of B&W 800D2's are 8 speakers?
No way in hell am I swapping components. I've looked at a couple of those threads and am not going to take apart a new car to swap speakers. Lexus needs to up its game.
I remember Levinson amps and preamps for home audio from back in the 90's, so expected better. Although I run a Bryston 4B SST2 in my home theater. Not familiar with Levinson speakers, but passing off 7 two-way speakers as 14 is bunk. Does that mean my pair of B&W 800D2's are 8 speakers?
No way in hell am I swapping components. I've looked at a couple of those threads and am not going to take apart a new car to swap speakers. Lexus needs to up its game.
Last edited by Paddler213; 03-20-24 at 05:54 AM.
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SonOfABisc (03-20-24)
03-20-24, 05:53 AM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Here we go again
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03-20-24, 07:13 AM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Took delivery of a new 2024 ES300h this afternoon. Anybody else think the 17-speaker Mark Levinson system sucks? Specifically the Fader. With the dot in the middle, very little sound comes from the rear, and what does is tinny. In order to get immersive sound I have to put the button halfway between the middle and the bottom. My Expedition Max XLT with the base sound system sounds better, as does my 25 year-old BMW 528i. I have a >$30K audio system in my home theater, and this Mark Levinson is the worst system I've heard, especially given the cost.
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scubapr (03-20-24)
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03-20-24, 07:16 AM
#8
Instructor
Different systems can play lower quality sources like mp3 better than others. Try a good quality source like cd to flac or wav file to make your judgement on this system.
03-20-24, 07:39 AM
#9
Traditional accuracy seems to be the primary design factor for the Lexus ML systems. Front-based soundstaging, neutral freq response, low distortion, accurate timbre. Not attention grabbing immersive sound with high displacement bass. Give it some time with some uncompressed sources and then decide if the ML setup is worthy.
03-20-24, 08:18 AM
#10
I can't stand bloated, flabby bass. I want accurate reproduction of the sound as it was recorded, which in audiophile terminology is referred to as "The Absolute Sound". Which is unattainable in a moving car, of course.
Last edited by Paddler213; 03-20-24 at 08:22 AM.
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scubapr (03-20-24)
03-20-24, 08:59 AM
#11
MP3 from my Pixel Pro 7, but very much doubt that's the problem. I played with the fader a bit more last night and it's better. I'm not overwhelmed, but it's okay. I expected a more immersive sound with the fader centered. It decreases the level much more in the front than it increases it in the rear.
I remember Levinson amps and preamps for home audio from back in the 90's, so expected better. Although I run a Bryston 4B SST2 in my home theater. Not familiar with Levinson speakers, but passing off 7 two-way speakers as 14 is bunk. Does that mean my pair of B&W 800D2's are 8 speakers?
No way in hell am I swapping components. I've looked at a couple of those threads and am not going to take apart a new car to swap speakers. Lexus needs to up its game.
I remember Levinson amps and preamps for home audio from back in the 90's, so expected better. Although I run a Bryston 4B SST2 in my home theater. Not familiar with Levinson speakers, but passing off 7 two-way speakers as 14 is bunk. Does that mean my pair of B&W 800D2's are 8 speakers?
No way in hell am I swapping components. I've looked at a couple of those threads and am not going to take apart a new car to swap speakers. Lexus needs to up its game.
Doubtful the type of files used will have much to do with the fader response you are experiencing though the MP3 files might sound better on a boombox than they would sound on a more resolving system. But to repeat I have no experience with the Lexus ML system other than during a test drive which is insufficient in evaluating how it will sound with lossless files and various recording masterings. As an aside I would never rely on SiriusXM to evaluate a sound system as they are less resolute than MP3 even. It could be that the ML system is more resolving which can make poor recordings sound worse not better.
Last edited by ndunn; 03-20-24 at 09:06 AM.
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LexFinally (06-12-24)
03-20-24, 09:03 AM
#12
Took delivery of a new 2024 ES300h this afternoon. Anybody else think the 17-speaker Mark Levinson system sucks? Specifically the Fader. With the dot in the middle, very little sound comes from the rear, and what does is tinny. In order to get immersive sound I have to put the button halfway between the middle and the bottom. My Expedition Max XLT with the base sound system sounds better, as does my 25 year-old BMW 528i. I have a >$30K audio system in my home theater, and this Mark Levinson is the worst system I've heard, especially given the cost.
To further troubleshoot, and discard the sound source processing "Pixel Pro 7", copy some MP3 (that you are very familiar) to a USB JumpDrive and use the car USB ports to play them. If there's a difference, it could be a setting in the Pixel. For example, on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra I had to disable the Dolby Atmos Sound processing to get the best audio on my ML System (at least to my ear preference).
IMHO you can't compare a good home audio music listening setup to the ML or any other for that matter. The best car audio system I've listened recently is the new Acura ELS Studio 3D; and even that can't compare to my < $1k (2.1) desktop stereo setup let alone my living room HT/Music setup.
03-20-24, 09:10 AM
#13
Are the MP3 high quality ones 256k+? Also, try setting "Surround" to Off on the ML.
To further troubleshoot, and discard the sound source processing "Pixel Pro 7", copy some MP3 (that you are very familiar) to a USB JumpDrive and use the car USB ports to play them. If there's a difference, it could be a setting in the Pixel. For example, on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra I had to disable the Dolby Atmos Sound processing to get the best audio on my ML System (at least to my ear preference).
IMHO you can't compare a good home audio music listening setup to the ML or any other for that matter. The best car audio system I've listened recently is the new Acura ELS Studio 3D; and even that can't compare to my < $1k (2.1) desktop stereo setup let alone my living room HT/Music setup.
To further troubleshoot, and discard the sound source processing "Pixel Pro 7", copy some MP3 (that you are very familiar) to a USB JumpDrive and use the car USB ports to play them. If there's a difference, it could be a setting in the Pixel. For example, on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra I had to disable the Dolby Atmos Sound processing to get the best audio on my ML System (at least to my ear preference).
IMHO you can't compare a good home audio music listening setup to the ML or any other for that matter. The best car audio system I've listened recently is the new Acura ELS Studio 3D; and even that can't compare to my < $1k (2.1) desktop stereo setup let alone my living room HT/Music setup.
I'm wondering has anyone experimented with a standalone cd player connected through the USB port?
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scubapr (03-20-24)
03-20-24, 09:11 AM
#14
Lead Lap
Took delivery of a new 2024 ES300h this afternoon. Anybody else think the 17-speaker Mark Levinson system sucks? Specifically the Fader. With the dot in the middle, very little sound comes from the rear, and what does is tinny. In order to get immersive sound I have to put the button halfway between the middle and the bottom. My Expedition Max XLT with the base sound system sounds better, as does my 25 year-old BMW 528i. I have a >$30K audio system in my home theater, and this Mark Levinson is the worst system I've heard, especially given the cost.
Last edited by bc6152; 03-20-24 at 09:17 AM.
03-20-24, 09:15 AM
#15
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LexFinally (03-20-24)