Ml Audio Problems

[ES350newbie]

Has anyone had problems with the audio in the ES 350? I have had it for about 2 weeks and three days ago, the speakers turned off, even the beeping when you make a change on the NAV. It seems like the amp is overheating because I can still change channels, tracks, etc., but I can't adjust volume. I have to turn the car off, turn it back on, and it runs for about 3 miles and then cuts off again. I am not pushing the system, only volume around 35-40. The sub also sounds like it is blown when any song, no matter what genre, has ANY bass. Is this normal? I am going to call the dealer, but if anyone has experienced this, please let me know.

[SW03ES]

35-40 is really high volume...

[ES350newbie]

A high end stereo should be able to handle 35-40 easily. It is cutting off around 30-35 which is unacceptable.

[rapid-richard]

I went out and checked mine and I usually run it at 29 to 31. Turned it up to 40 and was louder than I would want to listen to it but still well below a lever where it should give a problem. There is something wrong with your unit. I am assuming you have the ML. Cannot speak to the standard one. I would be contacting my dealership

[SW03ES]

Maybe the grading is different on the new ones, but 40 is mirror rattling loud in mine...

Take it in, thats the beauty of the warranty.

[amf1932]

Using a number scale for comparison of volume levels is very inaccurate because the source material can vary all over the place, especially from different model cars audio systems. To do this properly, you need to use a calibrated test CD and feed a pink noise signal into the cars interior and measure the sound volume(db) on a decibel meter. Then do this in another car that you want to test and you'll see that the volume from one car to the other will vary, assuming you use the same number, let's say 30 or 35.

[ES350newbie]

Thanks for the responses. I am taking it in tonight. I have a feeling the amp is overheating. If I knew where it was, I could take a look after it happens and see if it shut off. I think it is overheating because if I turn the car off and turn it back on, the stereo resets and plays again. I do have the Mark Levinson system.

[ES350newbie]

realized that it was a home made CD that was causing the problem. Lexus couldn't duplicate the problem when I took it in. I guess don't use CDRs in the lexus, even though it says it can handle them.

[ljdarby]

From previous experience with my two Lexus cars, you probably are having an "incompatibility" between the CD player and the BRAND of CD blanks you are using. Example- my previous Lexus did not like Memorex brand blanks onto which I recorded my own tunes.

My current ES350 however, does not discriminate between brands- I have successfully used Verbatim, 3M, a popular generic brand and Memorex discs successfully in it. You might try an alternate brand of disc and enjoy great success with it- blank CD discs cost pennies today and it will be worth the trouble to enjoy your own tunes...

[bulldogger]

From previous experience with my two Lexus cars, you probably are having an "incompatibility" between the CD player and the BRAND of CD blanks you are using. Example- my previous Lexus did not like Memorex brand blanks onto which I recorded my own tunes.

My current ES350 however, does not discriminate between brands- I have successfully used Verbatim, 3M, a popular generic brand and Memorex discs successfully in it. You might try an alternate brand of disc and enjoy great success with it- blank CD discs cost pennies today and it will be worth the trouble to enjoy your own tunes...

Has anyone had chance to compare Levinson to stock premium system? I've got the stock and it is surprisingly good---but I really want to know how the Levinson compares.

Thanks.