Dearjohn01

Hi guys,

I've been streaming apple music over Bluetooth using my iPhone 6 and I've been noticing some poor low MP3 sound quality or stretched audio tape sound. If I use the USB cable everything sounds perfect. Do you guys know anyway to improve ML Bluetooth streaming quality?

Thanks

yardie876

Not sure what's going on there. I exclusively stream via Bluetooth and the sound quality is excellent.

Dearjohn01

I think you drive 2013 GS F-Sport w/ ML, correct?
I recently went from 2013 GS F-Sport w/ ML to 2015 GS F-Sport w/ ML.

I never had any problems with 2013 ML/Bluetooth, but Lexus made some changes to 2015 ML settings. I have very sensitive ears and i can pickup the slightest changes in sound and 2013 XM radio and surround sound setting sounded better than the 2015 to my ears.

2015 XM radio sounds like lowest MP3 quality with high pitch noise. Ugh. I'm not renewing my XM service.

When I play Someone like you by Adele from Apple Music over the Bluetooth, the piano intro sounds slightly distorted like stretched audio tape. But when I play that same song over the USB, no distortion at all. It sounds like Bluetooth or the Music app is catching up with the streaming delay and distorting the music.

I guess iOS 9 is coming out today so maybe apple will fix this.

5PM

Has XM ever sounded great? I've never heard it sound as good as a strong FM station. Fine for talk, lame for music.

islandbeef

Dumb Question: does the NAV require XM for Traffic? I'm "this" close to shutting down XM/Sirius all together.

yardie876

2013 GS does require xm for traffic unfortunately.

ItzFilyO

My XM traffic 1 year trial subscription is out already and I haven't renewed it. I currently have no XM subscriptions and I do kinda miss it though.

Dearjohn01

Ok. I've compared both '13 and '15 ML audio system and figured out why it's been bugging me. '13 surround sound On focus the front speakers to the driver while adding rear speakers to give depth, ocasually causing slight ms echo/delay in the rear speakers. Some people might like it, and some won't even notice. On '15, surround sound On enhances the front speakers a lot more and completely removing that slight delay in the rear speakers. Almost thought the rear speakers weren't on at first.

To me, '13 and '15 ML sounds totally different.
'13 sounds like you are listening to music in a room vs '15 sounds like you are listening to music with very high end earphone. You don't feel the massive bass but you can hear/feel it in your ear without any distortion.

I updated my iPhone with iOS 9 today and the Bluetooth streaming got slightly better. I think I just need to let the music buffer fully to avoids stretched tape distortion.

Overall, I am happy with all the refinements that Lexus did on '15 GS 350.