Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio sounds terrible on the GX 550 Luxury +

[JustinB]

I wish the system would adjust to which way you like it. To me it gives out more treble and less bass. I have a 2014 GX and that baby thumps so I have a really good comparison and the new GX sucks with and lacks bass. Yea, I turned off surround and did all the techy details with no avail. I feel it lacks sub woofers

Definitely lacks subwoofers or at least feels like it. There’s no omnidirectional bass feeling. It’s all coming from the front doors.

I’ll say that in home audio Mark Levinson products are often associated with reference sound, which is supposed to be very “accurate”. More accurate does not mean more enjoyable.

 

[yesitsqk]

This is somewhat concerning to me. I’m hoping I’m happy with the ML that opted to get. I had a bang and olufsen in my old RS7 and it was fantastic.

 

[AGP]

This is somewhat concerning to me. I’m hoping I’m happy with the ML that opted to get. I had a bang and olufsen in my old RS7 and it was fantastic.

This is somewhat concerning to me. I’m hoping I’m happy with the ML that opted to get. I had a bang and olufsen in my old RS7 and it was fantastic.

Hate to share… but Lexus ML pre 2022 is worlds beyond the current premium (21+sp) system. I don’t know what happened. FWIW, we are a 2004,2009,2012,2021,2022 and 2024 Lexus GX and LX household and our two newest are complete fails on the sound system from prior AMAZING ML systems. It’s not a downgrade from my perspective but a flat out failure and disaster from my perspective. This is our 8th Lexus across GX and LX models (current garage is 2009 GX, 2022 LX and 2024 GX) and the 2009 ML system (all upgraded) is the best now. I traded in a 2016 XC90 for the ‘24 GX and the sound system feels like I went to a GM product.

 

[Mainelexus]

Think it sounds really good. Coming from a jeep with a McIntosh system and a super duty with the high end B&O system. Doesn’t get as loud as the B&O but sounds better. I think sound is so subjective and a few people complain and it becomes a thing. But everyone’s taste is different

 

[yesitsqk]

Hate to share… but Lexus ML pre 2022 is worlds beyond the current premium (21+sp) system. I don’t know what happened. FWIW, we are a 2004,2009,2012,2021,2022 and 2024 Lexus GX and LX household and our two newest are complete fails on the sound system from prior AMAZING ML systems. It’s not a downgrade from my perspective but a flat out failure and disaster from my perspective. This is our 8th Lexus across GX and LX models (current garage is 2009 GX, 2022 LX and 2024 GX) and the 2009 ML system (all upgraded) is the best now. I traded in a 2016 XC90 for the ‘24 GX and the sound system feels like I went to a GM product.

Ughhhhh that blows
Thanks for the insight

 

[ilumo]

I’m coming from 2019 Mercedes burmeseter and a 2022 Porsche macan Bose system. Mercedes was much nicer for my listening. I generally don’t listen to high bass. I prefer crisp, clear , accurate, precise as I listen to vocals and instruments mostly. In that respect the ML is pretty good and probably beats the burmester. I can’t comment on 2nd row but honestly don’t care as the system is 99% for me. My kids sit back there and they don’t even like loud bass heavy music.

 

[yesitsqk]

I’m coming from 2019 Mercedes burmeseter and a 2022 Porsche macan Bose system. Mercedes was much nicer for my listening. I generally don’t listen to high bass. I prefer crisp, clear , accurate, precise as I listen to vocals and instruments mostly. In that respect the ML is pretty good and probably beats the burmester. I can’t comment on 2nd row but honestly don’t care as the system is 99% for me. My kids sit back there and they don’t even like loud bass heavy music.

Thanks
Yeah, same I prefer more treble to bass
Crazy how lop sided the reviews are on the ML stereo system
Guess I’ll find out soon enough for myself

 

[Minarets]

I’m coming from 2019 Mercedes burmeseter and a 2022 Porsche macan Bose system. Mercedes was much nicer for my listening. I generally don’t listen to high bass. I prefer crisp, clear , accurate, precise as I listen to vocals and instruments mostly. In that respect the ML is pretty good and probably beats the burmester. I can’t comment on 2nd row but honestly don’t care as the system is 99% for me. My kids sit back there and they don’t even like loud bass heavy music.

I think you’ll be very happy with it then.

I think the treble is very good in the system. I think the bass is also very good. It doesn’t rumble the doors and it’s a very low end as well. I think it sounds fantastic upfront.

My only complaint is just hearing the system in the back. I get it. I’m satisfied as I’m gonna be in the front 100% of the time but for a $2100 adder or whatever it was, the system hardly comes out of the speakers in the back and that’s disappointing.

 

[Jrox]

I think you’ll be very happy with it then.

I think the treble is very good in the system. I think the bass is also very good. It doesn’t rumble the doors and it’s a very low end as well. I think it sounds fantastic upfront.

My only complaint is just hearing the system in the back. I get it. I’m satisfied as I’m gonna be in the front 100% of the time but for a $2100 adder or whatever it was, the system hardly comes out of the speakers in the back and that’s disappointing.

We don’t even get the choice here in Aus, if you choose the only OT version available here there is no ML upgrade option. Let’s hope when my black GX OT arrives next month that standard system is still sufficient for listening to rock and heavy metal!

 

[Bmcdaniel]

Just got the 2024 Lexus GX 550 Luxury +, and the sound from the "Mark Levinson®* 21-speaker, 1800-watt Surround Sound" is simply terrible. In one word, I would describe it as sounding "anemic". For comparison, our GX 460 sounds very full, with good bass, and overall sounds rich and visceral.

This is after trying various audio inputs (lossless audio via Apple Music, Sirius XM, FM radio, podcasts) and with various adjustments to the audio settings (adjusting the treble/mid/bass settings, turning surround on/off, turning off the volume leveling).

I am just wondering if I am the only one noticing this, or if there are any reasonable modifications? For the cost of this vehicle, I simply expect much better than this..

I had a work colleague in my back seat that asked if I only had front speakers. That prompted me to fade my radio to the rear and only about 5 percent of the sound comes out of the rear speakers. It’s all treble and sounds like the amp is burnt out. Anyone that says the sound system is crisp and great is lying. The only sound I have coming from the rear is a rattle.
I had a head Lexus tech ride with me today to hear the rattle. I asked him about the radio and he said Lexus had a problem before when the sound was messed up and they had a recall on the amps.
When he got out of my car he made the comment to my service person, “This car has the Mark Levinson Option”. I guess it sounded so bad he thought it was the regular system.
My daughter Bronco’ system is 10 times better. The Jeep wrangler I rented in Mexico last weekend sound system was better than my daughters Bronco.
How did Lexus release a vehicle where all the sound comes out of the front speakers. Why even add extra speakers if no sound comes out of them. I guess Toyota is too busy trying to fix the engines. They should fire who ever is over the sound systems in these cars.

 

[Mainelexus]

I had a work colleague in my back seat that asked if I only had front speakers. That prompted me to fade my radio to the rear and only about 5 percent of the sound comes out of the rear speakers. It’s all treble and sounds like the amp is burnt out. Anyone that says the sound system is crisp and great is lying. The only sound I have coming from the rear is a rattle.
I had a head Lexus tech ride with me today to hear the rattle. I asked him about the radio and he said Lexus had a problem before when the sound was messed up and they had a recall on the amps.
When he got out of my car he made the comment to my service person, “This car has the Mark Levinson Option”. I guess it sounded so bad he thought it was the regular system.
My daughter Bronco’ system is 10 times better. The Jeep wrangler I rented in Mexico last weekend sound system was better than my daughters Bronco.
How did Lexus release a vehicle where all the sound comes out of the front speakers. Why even add extra speakers if no sound comes out of them. I guess Toyota is too busy trying to fix the engines. They should fire who ever is over the sound systems in these cars.

Perhaps yours is bad. There isn’t a recall on the amps your service guy lied to you.

 

[JustinB]

I just realized there’s an active sub under here but it’s very quiet. I think the ability to adjust the level of the sub would really help make the system more appealing to those who aren’t happy with the system from the factory. Hopefully with enough feedback they’ll add that to a future software update. Personally I’d prefer more low end bass from back there and less from the front doors.

First world problems! We’re all very lucky to be complaining about something like this.

 

[Keirik]

I have seen a few car reviews that have stated they think there is some pumped in fake engine noise with acceleration. I wonder if this is interfering with the ML system if true?
Further, if true, there was a product TRD Jon had used on his 22 Tundra that was able to eliminate the pumped in fake noise.


Thoughts?

 

[Mainelexus]

I eliminated the fake noice with a plug in adapter and iPhone app. No idea if it affected the sound of the stereo

 

[BryanM68]

I have seen a few car reviews that have stated they think there is some pumped in fake engine noise with acceleration. I wonder if this is interfering with the ML system if true?
Further, if true, there was a product TRD Jon had used on his 22 Tundra that was able to eliminate the pumped in fake noise.


Thoughts?

I was under the impression the dealership could turn the fake engine noise off.

 

[rangertrace]

We don’t even get the choice here in Aus, if you choose the only OT version available here there is no ML upgrade option. Let’s hope when my black GX OT arrives next month that standard system is still sufficient for listening to rock and heavy metal!

That's what I have in my OT. It's OK. Not a deal breaker for me, but my GMC Denali stereo was quite a bit better.

 

[yesitsqk]

Once I have mine in the next coming weeks I will be taking it into my friends audio shop and having them do a professional synopsis of the ML system. I’ll report back in here with what I find out

 

[Bluegill]

I was under the impression the dealership could turn the fake engine noise off.

Yes, I had the dealer turn off the fake engine noise crap at my 5K service.

 

[killy]

so I haven’t spent a ton of time with mine but my initial take.

It isn’t a dreadful system from the drivers seat using CarPlay. Have mostly just listened to classic rock and the clarity is really quite good, definitely pickup a lot more subtle tones in the music that I can’t say I notice in My other vehicles ( BMW HK system, GMC Bose system, or my MB c class Burmester system). That’s a credit where credit is due from me.

I can’t say I have heard or felt much of anything in the way of bass however, which I think is where 90% of the complains seem to be triangulating to?

More bass would probably be nice, though I haven’t really tried any music with much kick yet.

I have also not played at all with any eq settings either on the phone or vehicle so will see if I can’t dial things in better.

 

[Keirik]

Yes, I had the dealer turn off the fake engine noise crap at my 5K service.

Was there a specific thing you had to tell the service guys or they just knew? I'd likely do that.