2007es350

I can easily tell the difference between 192 and 256. I also use the 256 data rate for my recordings onto the HDD.

Luxofreak

You bought a car without knowing it didn't have the ML sound system?.... That's strange, and it's even more shocking that the sales man couldn't tell the difference. Did you see the spec sheet when you signed the papers?....

jc3103

I knew it didn't have the ML system, however the salesman told me that the hard drive on the navigation system did the recording. He said the only thing extra that I would get for the extra 4 grand, with ML, was the better sound system. (amp, speakers, etc.) I think most people would believe the salesman knew what he was talking about.

Mike_TX

Not sure what you mean, but why not rip them to MP3 format and compile a huge number of songs on a single CD? You can even edit out the dogs while you're at it and save only the "good" songs.

Forgive me if I'm telling you what you already know, but you can rip the songs off commercial CD's using everything from Windows Media Player to a number of freeware programs available on the internet. And it's completely legal and ethical to make copies of your own CD's for your own use.

That way, you can reduce the number of CD's in your stack and put a couple thousand songs on a set of 6 CD's!

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jc3103

I just don't like the idea that I didn't get what I thought I was buying. Would you?

clemgrad85

Mike....I'm not arguing with using MP3 format, I will be doing that with the MP3 library I have accumulated....however....I have the HD available, and so might as well use it. It is quite convenient, I was able to record the songs to the HD that I wanted (not recording the "dogs"), and now I have them available without taking up any CD space (only 6 CD spaces, correct?). I haven't put an MP3 CD into the player yet, so not sure how it shows up, maybe it lists the tracks? I still have much investigating and playing with the system before figuring all this out. Anyway, not knocking your idea/plan at all, but, if I have the CDs available to burn to the HD, I just don't see why I shouldn't do it.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

nah, i think playing mp3 cd isn't the issue. it's about how he was mislead the information

INHOCJP

I agree, the salesperson definitely screwed up here. Seems like he needs some more training

I wonder how the dealership will rectify the situation...are you willing to pay the difference for a LS with the ML system? In any event, good luck and let us know how the dealer responds.

Mike_TX

You may be able to, but you're apparently part of a tiny minority of folks who can. In fact, most people cannot reliably tell if a song has been MP3 encoded, much less at what bit rate. Here's a fun article where Maximum PC ran some A/B comparison tests, and their music-loving subjects were stumped:

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/do_...off?page=0%2C0

Here's a quote that sums up the results:

"With the possible exception of the USB Key that survived a washing and drying cycle, no other Maximum PC Challenge has ever surprised us as much as this one. It’s downright humiliating, in fact, that in many cases, we were unable to tell the difference between an uncompressed track and one encoded at 160Kb/s, the bit rate most of us considered the absolute minimum acceptable for even portable players." [Emphasis mine.]

I've seen several tests like this, and even though this one isn't the most scientific, they all ended up with the same result - most people, even including many professional musicians, simply can't tell the difference. MP3 encoding is just that good, at least if it's 160 kbps or better and good equipment is used to encode and play it.

Just FWIW.

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Mike_TX

Completely agree, Rom - I was just talking up the merits of MP3 v. the HDD.

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daryll40

There are TWO issues here...one is just how good and how useful the HDD thingie is.

The more important issue is that either there was willful bait 'n switch or, more likely, an idiot salesman who made a huge mistake by not knowing his product. Even if the original poster decides the hard drive thingie is not that useful after all, he has been damaged and should either INSIST on a different car with the hard drive (at no additional cost) OR some other compensation ($2500 to $5000 in my mind sounds right for this error).

jc3103

Well, I have contacted the salesman and the salesmanager a number of times. Neither are taking it very serious. Offered to buy me dinner. Wondering if next step is Lexus corp. or GM. Any ideas?

daryll40

Both. Be aggressive. This is serious.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

buy you a dinner? i would almost take that as an insult.

daryll40

You need to contact your state Attorney General as well. I am SURE that as soon as they dealership gets your attention they'll reluctantly remedy the problem.