ML Stereo

[Cara2]

Hello
 

I just got my 2024 RX 500h F sport. I love everything about it except the Sound system. I’ve tried adjusting and readjusting but sitting in the driver seat still sometimes sounds like a tin can. I realize that it depends on what I’m listening to, when it was recorded, and other factors that make it sound good or not so good. But I’m wondering if there’s anyone out there who has made any changes to the Sound system to make it better and if you were successful, what did you do? I have the Levinson 21 speaker Sound-system.

[attyrobert]

I have the same issues. The ML system in a '23 500h is as bad / worse than the standard system in the '18 RX 350.

Turned off sound processing, which seemed to help. For a while, I could also use USB-in, treating my iPhone like an iPod. However, that no longer works for some reason. (Have ordered new USB cables to see if that helps?)

Overall, it's a disappointment, given the great audio I have heard in some ES350s, LS 430s, etc.

I have not been able to find any solutions at all.

Maybe replacing the speakers would help? I'm at a loss.

[Lexus-CT]

Never been in a RX. Most people here have tiny cars as parking spaces are made for R4 and FIAT 500.

But hearing that ML should have sound like a tin can is surprising. I have been installing audio for competition (1995 - 2000) and some did sound very well.

Sound in our tiny CT (also ML) is as good as some of the best in any car according to some friends; not as loud but as good. McCartney thought ML sounded good.

Remember one thing: Output sound is never going to be better than quality of the input.

320bps is absolutely minimum for what I want to let my ears be tortured with, 512 is OK but CD quality 1,411kbps is what you can rip .flac files into and 16 bit is fine in a car that is moving. Sitting home in a sound studio it is preferable to have at least that but in a car driving you should be able to hear the traffic where you drive to be safe so better than that I would call overkill. Some think that Spotify quality streaming is OK - I do not.

Doubt the speakers in a Lexus with ML system can be bad, so would not try that.