DVac3

What options should I order when I get the 250. Is there a speaker package and is it worth it?

nn432100

The stock system that comes in the car is pretty decent but if you can upgrade to the ML system, well worth the money.

MoLexus

The stock system is good infact I get alot of positive comments regarding the sound quality.

llamaboiz

Heres the deal:
stock: 13 spkrs/200watt
upgrade to ML: 14 spkrs (center one turned on)/300watt

Thing is its 2k more for 1 spkr + 100watts... BUT if you get nav then you SHOULD get the ML upgrade, only time it makes sense. NAV/ML is da bom. *so i've heard*

jejagua

I was told by my sales rep that an IS250 w/ ML is extremely difficult to come by. Is that true?

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

I'm not pleased with the stock system.The stock system would be so much better with rear deck mounted speakers instead of just rear door speakers.
You really can't hear the back unless you really lower the fronts.Lexus dropped the ball here.
Even an entry level Lexus should have a nice sound system.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

I'm of the complete opposite opinion.

ML is a fantastic upgrade to the stock system... and it's only $940 by itself.

If you want ML+Nav it's an extra $4000 instead of $940.

Much better off spending the $940 for the ML system alone then spending 400-500 on a much better aftermarket nav system.

Sure it'll sit ON the dash instead of IN the dash, but it'll do a lot more and cost $2500 less.

As to the stereo itself, I recently had a loaner without the ML system and it sounded like crap in comparison, even my wife who isn't nearly as big a sound nut as I noticed it.

I suspect if you'd never heard the ML system the stock system would sound pretty good, it's not like it's a 4-speaker KRAKO system or something... but the ML system is well worth the $940 upgrade.

shortbus19

iTrader: (1)

Personally I think the stock system is pretty darn nice. I listen to all types of music and it does a fantastic job at recreating all types of sounds. Im sure the ML system is damn good, but for the $ I question the worth. All Im going to do is add a 10" Boston in the trunk and Im good.

ReLexin

i'd go with the stock system, and take the 2 grand and by a crap lot of stuff for the car. Im happy with my stock system.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

If the ML system was actually 2 grand or more I probably would've just had a custom aftermarket system done.

It's only $940 though, and you won't get equal sound for anywhere near that cost with a modified stock system... probably won't even touch it for 2k unless you can fab your own mounting equipment and do all the install work yourself.

My last car had a several-thousand-buck system in it (alpine head unit and speakers, JL Audio amps and subs) and the ML system is awfully awfully close for a whole lot less money.

mikeho

I thought the 14th speaker on the ML was the sub?
Here's my count.
Front Center
LF tweeter, mid, and low (on the door)
RF tweeter, mid, and low (on the door)
LR tweeter (door), mid (door), and low (shelf)
RR tweeter (door), mid (door), and low (shelf)
That's 13. The diff in the speaker count would be the sub. Obviously, the ML speakers are better..

cmdace18

The front center spreaker on the stock sound system does not exist. Its just a cover.

On the ML, there would be a speaker under that center cover, uping the count to 14 total.

A sub is not a speaker. Hope that helps.

mikeho

So where's the 13th speaker??? I was looking at the ML flash demo. It has 14 dots. Besides the 4 sets of three channels (LF, RF, LR, RR), there's one in the back center and one in the front center.

In fact, I went to the ML website (http://www.marklevinsonlexus.com/overview.asp?model=is). Turns out, they DO count the sub as one of the speakers! I know that the non-ML system doesn't have a sub, so the front center speaker should be active. Has anyone put a stethoscope or their ear to it to see if it is active? If the center speaker on my non-ML system is just a grille, then I'm going to go complain because I have one less speaker than the specs say I should!!

tmag

I know others will correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading here somewhere that there is a sub, even on the non-ML system so that makes it 13, 3 per door and 1 sub.

cmdace18

CORRECTED:



Non ML System: 13 total speakers --

Front Center: Cover (no speaker)
Front Doors: 6 speakers
Back Doors: 6 speakers
Behind Back Seats: 1 Sub

1 Amp

13 Total


ML System:

Front Center: 1 speaker
Front Doors: 6 speakers
Back Doors: 4 speakers
Behind Back Seats: 2 speakers , 1 Sub

1 Amp

14 Total