Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio sounds terrible on the GX 550 Luxury +
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Obviously we all listen to different music but I am a big treble and bass guy. I think it’s great at producing low end bass.
I listened to Into the Mystic by Van Morrison and was kinda blown away at how good it sounded. For me, the treble and bass are fantastic. My only disappointment is how the back seats stuff sounds.
what is everyone running for music source?
I’ve only tried using Apple CarPlay so far.
Bluetooth? What about high res Audio sources?
Wireless vs wired CarPlay?
I suppose some people use androids?
This is far from a BAD audio system. Not convinced, yet, that it’s an elite system though which is how it’s been marketed.
I’ve only tried using Apple CarPlay so far.
Bluetooth? What about high res Audio sources?
Wireless vs wired CarPlay?
I suppose some people use androids?
This is far from a BAD audio system. Not convinced, yet, that it’s an elite system though which is how it’s been marketed.
Been using wireless CarPlay
Im using only wired, iphone, completely turned off wireless carplay (fyi, even if you hard wire your phone, it will default to wireless unless you turn it off in the phone settings.)
I use either amazon music with hi res enabled or qobuz. The internal DAC is pretty good, but theres some ML funny business going on with converting normal spotify audio.
The ML 21 upgrade was $1140 in my OT+…considering I moved up from Toyota JBL w sub, the base is lacking some but if you dial in the controls in infotainment and adjust volume it sounds pretty darn good ….worth the $$$$ to me… depending on your musical preferences
I will be listening to Slayer Decade of Agression Live dialled up to 11 in my new black GX OT here in Australia when it arrives 
,
We don’t get the upgrade sound system but I doubt it would make that much difference for this music, will wait a year for after market sound system to be coded and swap across for some big sounding system, not worth paying 2000AUD for an ML system that I see so many complaints about. My wife has a new Merc C200 and the sound system is sick and this is an entry model, wake up Lexus your supposed to be playing with the big boys!
, We don’t get the upgrade sound system but I doubt it would make that much difference for this music, will wait a year for after market sound system to be coded and swap across for some big sounding system, not worth paying 2000AUD for an ML system that I see so many complaints about. My wife has a new Merc C200 and the sound system is sick and this is an entry model, wake up Lexus your supposed to be playing with the big boys!
Just wanted to add my two cents, after reading this entire thread;
I just went out to my OT+ with ML21, turned of sound leveling button, but left surround on, fully centered, and adjusted treble to max (let’s call it +5, with -5 being the polar opposite) mid to about +2 and low to +1. I played Save it for a Rainy Day by Kenny Chesney (a song with very distinct clear highs and low lows) and ran the volume from the left front seat from 14 to 38. Sounded fantastic throughout volume range.
Settings same, left seat second row, as clear but not as loud, however, felt bass in left foot
.
Opened rear hatch, got in and faced forward, so theoretical left seat “third row”, even less loud, as clear, but bass in back and behind.
Turned surround off, all same settings, seemed to have a little more sound throughout, but noticed more sound lower to the floor in second and “third” rows.
Surround back on, same settings, Pneuma by TOOL. All findings the same.
Wanted to further research mysterious bass felt in foot on second row and back on “third” row. Flashlight to confirm that there is indeed a speaker in the large rear deck enclosure, and if you raise the gate just enough to put your ear to it and a hand on the backside of the gate, as if holding the gate to your ear, can confirm a bass sound and vibration from aforementioned rear deck enclosure.
I think the system just isn’t bass heavy and lots of folks are convinced that bass is the main component of a great system. Truth is, to some it may be and to others, perhaps not. With bass, what you hear and feel are often times very different (think Beats by Dre studio 3 or Sennheiser PXC 450, et al…a lot of bass “sound”, very little vibration).
I’m happy with the system. I adjusted the centering one or two clicks, back and forth and was indifferent about the change, so I just put it back to center. I think with a little tinkering everyone will end up being happier with it than just hoping with a familiar adjustment will sound the same, maybe?
Despite the flaws we have all found in this truck, I love it for what it is. This 250 series Land Cruiser was designed to be a tough, dependable and capable suv, badged with an L or a T with a sombrero, premium, luxury or overtrail, + or not. I’d put the capability and reliability up against most if not all. I’ve had nine variations of land cruisers since 1999, one being a 1997 LX450 with 392,000 miles on the original powertrain, sunk to the left front window on a collapsed beaver damn (I attached the pic) come out and drive me six hours home at 72 mph without doing a thing but spraying the mud off of it. Will the new 250 do that? I dunno, but I bet they didn’t bet the new 80 series would either, way back when.
So I’m $82k into a truck that I am 100% sold on its legacy and I’m 100% fine with it.
Maybe Lexus/toyota oversold its luxury, or maybe they truly put lipstick on a pig, and a few folks won’t be happy owning a pig. But they’ve been pigs since day one and we all know the saying.
Cheers to my fellow owners…lovers, likers or not at all-ers. Just know that if you decide to keep it, you won’t always be disappointed in the little things. There will always be anomalies, but I’m willing to bet that in the long run it’ll always get you home!
Post Script: If you’d like a song to help you tune your system to your ear, try out Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, album Live Art, disc one, track three called Stomping Grounds. So.Much.Music
I just went out to my OT+ with ML21, turned of sound leveling button, but left surround on, fully centered, and adjusted treble to max (let’s call it +5, with -5 being the polar opposite) mid to about +2 and low to +1. I played Save it for a Rainy Day by Kenny Chesney (a song with very distinct clear highs and low lows) and ran the volume from the left front seat from 14 to 38. Sounded fantastic throughout volume range.
Settings same, left seat second row, as clear but not as loud, however, felt bass in left foot
.Opened rear hatch, got in and faced forward, so theoretical left seat “third row”, even less loud, as clear, but bass in back and behind
.Turned surround off, all same settings, seemed to have a little more sound throughout, but noticed more sound lower to the floor in second and “third” rows.
Surround back on, same settings, Pneuma by TOOL. All findings the same.
Wanted to further research mysterious bass felt in foot on second row and back on “third” row. Flashlight to confirm that there is indeed a speaker in the large rear deck enclosure, and if you raise the gate just enough to put your ear to it and a hand on the backside of the gate, as if holding the gate to your ear, can confirm a bass sound and vibration from aforementioned rear deck enclosure.
I think the system just isn’t bass heavy and lots of folks are convinced that bass is the main component of a great system. Truth is, to some it may be and to others, perhaps not. With bass, what you hear and feel are often times very different (think Beats by Dre studio 3 or Sennheiser PXC 450, et al…a lot of bass “sound”, very little vibration).
I’m happy with the system. I adjusted the centering one or two clicks, back and forth and was indifferent about the change, so I just put it back to center. I think with a little tinkering everyone will end up being happier with it than just hoping with a familiar adjustment will sound the same, maybe?
Despite the flaws we have all found in this truck, I love it for what it is. This 250 series Land Cruiser was designed to be a tough, dependable and capable suv, badged with an L or a T with a sombrero, premium, luxury or overtrail, + or not. I’d put the capability and reliability up against most if not all. I’ve had nine variations of land cruisers since 1999, one being a 1997 LX450 with 392,000 miles on the original powertrain, sunk to the left front window on a collapsed beaver damn (I attached the pic) come out and drive me six hours home at 72 mph without doing a thing but spraying the mud off of it. Will the new 250 do that? I dunno, but I bet they didn’t bet the new 80 series would either, way back when.
So I’m $82k into a truck that I am 100% sold on its legacy and I’m 100% fine with it.
Maybe Lexus/toyota oversold its luxury, or maybe they truly put lipstick on a pig, and a few folks won’t be happy owning a pig. But they’ve been pigs since day one and we all know the saying.
Cheers to my fellow owners…lovers, likers or not at all-ers. Just know that if you decide to keep it, you won’t always be disappointed in the little things. There will always be anomalies, but I’m willing to bet that in the long run it’ll always get you home!
Post Script: If you’d like a song to help you tune your system to your ear, try out Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, album Live Art, disc one, track three called Stomping Grounds. So.Much.Music
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I really appreciate this perspective, with you having owned so many similar similar vehicles over the years for a true Lexus comparison. Since my GX is my first Lexus, I simply assumed they have just been way behind the current trend in auto stereo systems. My last two vehicles were Tesla Model Xs with a fantastic (albeit unnamed) "premium" stock stereo system, and all of my home and office speakers are Sonos. The ML system in my new GX literally sounds like a bad joke. No amount of break-in period can make up for how bad this system sounds, even after modifying the settings in a best effort attempt to make it sound better. I did have a concern over the sheer number of speakers they were flaunting with the ML system - with the concern being that they would use inferior sized and quality speakers since there is "power in numbers." Unfortunately, I think this may be the case. Thankfully it's a great vehicle overall - but it is a great vehicle with a terrible sound system.
On a separate side note, I am still literally cracking up at the fact that there is artificial engine noise built into this thing. Can't wait to get that garbage turned off - I was initially shocked at how loud the engine sounds with acceleration, but I thought I was just accustomed to an electric vehicle. Interesting, Lexus. Interesting.
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