Okay fellas, I got in an IS-F and took and out. I also tried out the ML stereo. I couldn't find the difference outside of the DVD feature which I probably won't use much. What am I looking for here? I put in a Killers CD and it pretty much sounded the exact same to me. Comments??

 

Mark Levinson is awesome...i love mine.

When I was shopping I was able to go from a non-ML IS350, immediatlely into a ML to hear the difference. Sound difference is incredible, there really is no comparing the two.

You get 6 more speakers than the stock setup, and they are amplified, whereas the non-ML aren't (I believe, someone correct me here if I'm wrong)

Mark Levinson also includes the ability to play DVD audio. The discs are less compressed than audio CDs, so clarity is much better. I own both versions of the first Blue Man Group album, and if you go back and forth between the two, you can really appreciate the difference.

 

You own two versions of the Blue Man Group?

 

Ok, you're wrong :P

Stock is 13 speakers. ML is 14. One extra.

Now, the location, size, and output of the speakers is different, but there's only 1 more of em. They're all "amplified" in that they're all driven by an amp, in both setups, but the ML amp has significantly more power.

Oh, and it's not ML that lets you play DVD audio...it's ML -with- navigation.

If you only get ML it'll still just have a CD changer... (but will still have the more/better speakers, the bigger amp, etc)


I have ML in my car (without nav) and I had a 250 loaner with the stock system during a service visit... and the difference is pretty night and day when you're going from one right to the other.

 

the ML upgrade is the shiiet. My brother has it in his ride and I don't .... trust me you hear the difference if you are a sound fanatic. It comes with 2 subs if i'm correct or it feels like it atleast

 

i think theres only one more speaker.. the center dash speaker.
i love my ML.. bass goes boom... sounds are crisp

 

The ML in the LS 460 is quite a system. The doors sound like they have subs in them without any rattles or distortion. I guess one should expect that due to the price of the car.

 

To be exact-

Factory (non-ML system)

Front doors: (x2 meaning one in each front door)

1" tweeter x2; 25 watts
2.6" midrange x2; 21 watts
6.5" woofer x2; 21 watts

Rear doors:
1" tweeter x2; 25 watts
2.6" midrange x2; 21 watts
6.5" woofer x2; 21 watts

Subwoofer- 1 8" sub, 35W


The ML system-

Center Dash 1 2.6" speaker; 25 watts

Front doors: (x2 meaning one in each front door)

1" tweeter x2; 20 watts
2.6" midrange x2; 25 watts
6.5" woofer x2; 25 watts

Rear doors: (x2 meaning one in each front door)

1" tweeter x2; 20 watts
4" midrange x2; 25 watts

Rear deck:
2.6" satellite x2; 25 watts

Subwoofer- 1 8" sub, 40 watts


The actual difference is more significant than the numbers, but that's the numbers

Note- those wattage numbers are the input rating of the speakers- The amount Lexus actually lists as coming from the stock amp is 194 watts total and from the ML amp is 300 watts total. Also of note- the ML speakers are all 8 ohm including the sub, the stock system is 4 ohms (the sub is 2/2 in the stock system)

 

If you can't hear the differece between the stock and the ML system, you are probably a person who thinks Bose is one of the best speaker companies out there.

There is a night and day difference. Bass has more depth and authority (my guess would be ~10Hz lower), mids are rich, highs are crisp, and soundstage is drastically improved. Others have gone much more in depth, so I will spare you a rant.

Of course...if you can't hear the difference, you shouldn't bother upgrading. The ML upgrade is for those who can hear the difference. Wish I had upgraded after hearing it...just didnt want to wait the 4 months for special order!

 

I waited the 4 months, but still couldn't get it. Unless I wanted to spend $6k on the only available package.

 

Lol, yeah, I like them...what can I say...one's a legit disc of course!

 

If it was a real special order there's no reason you shouldn't have been able to get it... either for the $940 for just the ML or the ~$4000 for ML with nav, depending which you wanted.

 

I talked to the dealer (hold the jokes Please)and said they couldn't do it. I special ordered mine and witht he manual there are only 3 packages. something, x-package, and Lux+prem that is $6k check the website.

 

I only messed with it for 1-2 minutes before I test drove the IS-F. It wasn't the primary reason for being in the car but I figured since I was in there I was bring in a CD and try it out. Oh, while driving I had the sound off completely in order to hear the car better.

 

Then the dealer lied. (or more likely didn't know what he was talking about)

http://www.lexus.com/models/IS/features/pricing.html

Click on IS250 manual on the right there.

The stereo and nav have -nothing- to do with the rest of the packages on the car, they're entirely separate options. Lux, X, and Sports likewise have NOTHING to do with nav or the stereo.

Note the $3990 for Mark Levinson with navigation. (That's MSRP too, could talk that down some).

The Mark Levinson without nav option isn't listed by itself anymore on the website because of me, but it's still available AFAIK, my 08 certainly was ordered with it.

(and the nav without ML also appears by itself on the options list down below)