2023 Audio System Improvement
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
2023 Audio System Improvement
While looking over the US and Canadian versions of the 2023 LEXUS 2023 ES250, ES300H, ES350 XXX MULTIMEDIA OWNER'S MANUAL I saw a change in the audio system support that audiophiles will like.
Audio playback with 2019-2022 model year systems, WAV (LPCM), FLAC, ALAC. and Ogg Vorbis [really just bit rate down conversion] with "Sound source of 48kHz or more is down-converted to 48kHz/24bit." With the 2023 model year system that has changed to "Audio sources higher than 96kHz/24 bit are down-converted to 96kHz/24bit."
With the 2023 audio system, sampling frequency down converting really is only applicable to the WAV (LPCM) and FLAC formats since those are the only ones where sampling frequencies higher than 96kHz are supported for input files.
Audio playback with 2019-2022 model year systems, WAV (LPCM), FLAC, ALAC. and Ogg Vorbis [really just bit rate down conversion] with "Sound source of 48kHz or more is down-converted to 48kHz/24bit." With the 2023 model year system that has changed to "Audio sources higher than 96kHz/24 bit are down-converted to 96kHz/24bit."
With the 2023 audio system, sampling frequency down converting really is only applicable to the WAV (LPCM) and FLAC formats since those are the only ones where sampling frequencies higher than 96kHz are supported for input files.
#2
Thanks for the info. I expect the audio CODECs would apply to music on a USB drive. From what I've read, Android Auto and Apple Carplay have their own limitations, which are 48/24 or 44.1/16 (CD quality).
Another potentially nice thing I noticed in the 2023 multimedia manual is that it supports the LDAC Bluetooth protocol, which supports much higher quality than the other supported CODECs (SBC or AAC), but that's only if your phone supports it and you're using Bluetooth5.0+ audio with a strong signal.
Another potentially nice thing I noticed in the 2023 multimedia manual is that it supports the LDAC Bluetooth protocol, which supports much higher quality than the other supported CODECs (SBC or AAC), but that's only if your phone supports it and you're using Bluetooth5.0+ audio with a strong signal.
#3
Lead Lap
Your input and knowledge is greatly appreciated. However, I would guess that about 90% of our members have no idea what you're post means... myself included. When I went for the ML audio system in my Ultra Lux ES, all I wanted was exceptional sound when I turned on the radio... Seems that Toyota has listened to complaints regarding their sound systems and made improvements which is good for everyone... Too late for the earlier buyers though...
#4
Instructor
Thread Starter
The 2023 version of the manual tries to separate out the "...specifications of the music data that can be used..." from a specific input source; however, with the exception of USB memory/flash drives and BlueTooth audio sources, the 2023 manual is clear as mud as to what audio formats are really supported for wired USB or wireless Wi-Fi connections in non-Apple CarPlay or non-Android Auto scenarios, Integrated Streaming with Apple Music or Amazon Music, or various streaming sources operating in the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto ecosystem.
From the Apple support article About lossless audio in Apple Music :
Can I listen to lossless audio using CarPlay?
You can listen to lossless audio with CarPlay using a USB connection. Streaming lossless audio in a car over a cellular network will consume significantly more data.
You can listen to lossless audio with CarPlay using a USB connection. Streaming lossless audio in a car over a cellular network will consume significantly more data.
So, in general a CarPlay system doesn't have the limitations you're citing.
Also, some time ago I ran across a discussion in which an Apple CarPlay third party audio app developer stated in general the output audio quality achievable through CarPlay is constrained/limited to what the vehicle's audio system supports.
Apple does have some CarPlay minimum vehicle system requirements. I'm not sure what the present day audio [subsystem] requirements are, but the publicly available data Apple presented during the Apple WWDC 2016 "Developing CarPlay Systems, Part 1" presentation (from Presentation Slides (PDF) slides 56 and 57 showing "Key Vehicle Requirements"):
Speaker and Microphone Requirements [slide 56]
Main audio
• Used for media, telephony, and Siri
• Output up to 48 kHz, 16 bit, stereo
• Input at least 24 kHz, 16 bit, mono
Alternate audio
• Used for notifications
• Must always be mixed with main audio
• 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 16 bit, mono or stereo
Speaker and Microphone Requirements [slide 57]
Wired CarPlay
• LPCM
Wireless CarPlay
• AAC-LC for media
• OPUS or AAC-ELD for all other audio
Main audio
• Used for media, telephony, and Siri
• Output up to 48 kHz, 16 bit, stereo
• Input at least 24 kHz, 16 bit, mono
Alternate audio
• Used for notifications
• Must always be mixed with main audio
• 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 16 bit, mono or stereo
Speaker and Microphone Requirements [slide 57]
Wired CarPlay
• LPCM
Wireless CarPlay
• AAC-LC for media
• OPUS or AAC-ELD for all other audio
...
Another potentially nice thing I noticed in the 2023 multimedia manual is that it supports the LDAC Bluetooth protocol, which supports much higher quality than the other supported CODECs (SBC or AAC), but that's only if your phone supports it and you're using Bluetooth5.0+ audio with a strong signal.
Another potentially nice thing I noticed in the 2023 multimedia manual is that it supports the LDAC Bluetooth protocol, which supports much higher quality than the other supported CODECs (SBC or AAC), but that's only if your phone supports it and you're using Bluetooth5.0+ audio with a strong signal.
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LexFinally (11-14-22)
#5
Instructor
Thread Starter
#6
Let's put this in perspective. 48kHz/24bit is pretty amazing sounding. I doubt anyone here could tell the difference between 48kHz/24bit and 96kHz/24bit playing through their ML audio.
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