Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by Percy

Replace the tweets with MD100s, and the midwoofers with MW160s. That's for the front. Rears will also receive the same treatment, provided that they are the same driver array. As for the sub, the MW180 might do the trick nicely.

Percy

Originally Posted by 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

Originally Posted by Peter_Klim

Exactly! This ML system is NOTHING in quality to what ML makes from home audio!

The car system is overpriced crap. Speakers with no coss-overs other than a cap, and flimsy parts and they sound like crap. I'm not taking about loudness (SPL) but Sound Quality (SQ).

You will ALWAYS be able to get a FAR SUPERIOR audio system for a MUCH lower price than any system any car manufatuer can provide.

Originally Posted by dashan

Hi, Percy,

Could you please advise on how to put an MW180 on rear deck (IB) of an LS400 and make it sound good?

Thanks

Originally Posted by LexHes

So i bought my 2IS used and i am unsure if it is ML or not.. How can i tell visually? I have the 14 speakers and the sound is great. Any visual way of knowing?

Originally Posted by Electric

Is there anything guys who dont have the ML system can do to improve their sound system? I wanted the ML but it wasnt available on just about any IS in NJ at the time I was shopping (and I needed a car ASAP). I have the Navi but no ML :-( I must say so, the non-ML sound system is pretty good.

Originally Posted by Percy

It usually says "mark levinson" on the display or main unit. Would be very surprised if they stopped printing ML on the unit.

Originally Posted by LexHes

ps. So without ML, there is no way to play DVD's with the Hack huh?

Originally Posted by Percy

Bolt on some Dynaudio speakers in the place of the stockers. I've had Dyns in the car for over a decade now...and they're still going strong. The ML speakers don't last very long at moderate to high levels. Do a search on the CA/CE board - you'll find lots of problems with the ML amps, speakers, subs, etc.