Old Oiler

I don't think there is any "animosity" towards the Mark Levinson system. True it is the best out there, but you have to remember, it is Levinson in name only. It is actually a Harmon International product. I don't even think Madrigal Labs (under the Harmon umbrella) is manufacturing it.

My feeling of what has happened in all the news groups about the differences is from people making remarks about "how superior" it is to the stock system. Then you have all of the people with the stock system that feel like they've been shafted because they 1) either could not get it or 2) decided against it or 3) did not want to spend the money.

While it cost about twice the stock system, I do not think it sounds "twice" as good.

If Mark Levinson the man, were making a system for auto's I don't think anyone except the ultra wealthy would be able to afford it. Madrigal charges these prices for the Mark Levinson home equipment.

Go check out http://www.redrosemusic.com/about.shtml sometime for the "real" Mark Levinson.

I think what has caused the "animosity" are these threads that run in ad infinitum between the "haves and have nots" of the ML system which only spur the "have nots" to feel like they've got a second class system.

I don't see this mess between the 250 and the 350 owners. Everyone should be happy with what they have, because personally everyone has one of the best cars on the road if you're a Lexus!

Cheers,

Old Oiler

jdanon

I wanted ML, but unfortunately it's not available in the Northeast. The only option was to special order it which means waiting 4-6 months and taking delivery in the winter. Not sure why Lexus plays these games with only offering mostly 250 AWDs to begin with and then not allowing for any options like ML while other parts of the country can get it on their cars.

15951

I understand what you're saying, but if anyone is that bent out of shape about it, they should have special ordered their vehicle like I did. It's lame to not get a particular option and then spend time trying to devalue it in forums.

jdanon

I would have loved to do a special order, but to me no option is worth waiting more than 2 or 3 months when I only keep cars for maybe two years at a time anyway.

Old Oiler

It's sort of like the chicken and egg, who started it first the people with the ML or the people without it. I don't really understand why these quibbles start in the first place. I think people should be happy from the mere fact that they can afford any Lexus in the first place.

All of this quibbling about who has what compared to the next is nonsense. We are a community, not a bunch of foes.

Enjoy your Lexus and hopefully everyone else that may not have gotten everything they wanted can too!

Cheers

Old Oiler

Koofteh

Weird question: I don't have ML but I still have a small speaker in the center of the front console on top near the windshield. I thought that was the ML's 14th speaker?

llamaboiz

i said it once already and i'll say it again, OF COURSE ITS GONNA SOUND BETTER THAN STOCK, ITS A UPGRADE.... DUH!

If you wanna talk about dollars vs performance over stock then things can become interesting because its all Point of View. If it was free dealer upgrade? HELL YEA i'd be a damm fool to say no. So the question is would i pay more money for it? well i didn't and i have no regrets. Course everyone who paid for it loves it over stock, its a upgrade after all, BUT ITS STILL A STOCK system when you come right down too it. 300w ISNT really something to brag about especially when its spread around 14 skprs...

BUT this not a thread about ML vs aftermarket custom set up, its stock vs an upgraded FACTORY set up.

Old Oiler

Well said!

Old Oiler

Ella

ML is a 5 month wait in NY State!

HARSH!!!

MLevinson

+1 - that was my wait, but it was well worth it IMO

Technique

Wow... Strong bumping skills we have here...

JensBoo

I personally think if anyone is "bent out of shape" about not getting an ML system, they should just go get a sub and amp and Voila! You will have a better sounding system than ML. 300 watts isn't anything to go waiting 5 months or so for.

I love the stock personally Stock plus my sub is sweet too.

iceman1117

I 2nd that...After I got my sub it sounds ALOT better. I think the highs are pretty good, all it needs is some extra bass.

jdanon

I think some people are content not modifying their cars in any way. It's funny because I used to always put in my own sound system the first week I got a car. Now that I'm a little older and have less time for tinkering, I'm willing to pay for whatever options you can get on a car even if I won't use them all the time or to their full abilities. Plus I don't want the regret that a lot of the non-nav buyers have within a month of driving off the lot wishing they had spent the extra to get the nav.

JensBoo

I hear you. We installed a switch on mine so that when I don't need the boom-boom to wake the neighbors, I just shut it off and enjoy the stock stereo. It works great. No regrets here. I would like to hear the ML though, just to see what all the hype is about.