staudtlar

Since this original post, I have taken my ES300h back to the dealer to check on the Mark Levinson system. After much adjusting, the audio is vastly improved. Had to set the phase almost all the way to the back to get sound balanced equally front-to-back. This made the biggest improvement. The tone is extremely bright with large peak in upper treble range. Found best sound to my ears by adjusting bass all the way up, and treble all the way down. Mid can be left at 0 or +1 or 2. Sound is very clear and free of distortion, but deep bass is still a little weak. On some recordings max. volume (62) isn't as loud as I would like. Good sound, but not quite up to that of my SC430.

At the advice of my Lexus personal representative, I was able to have the speakers replaced by a local private car audio business for less than half the price. He put in Pioneer speakers and the system now sounds great. The repair guy was quite familiar with the problem and said he had performed such replacement in many SC430s before. He also said it can be partially caused by excessive heat in the car. I live is southern Florida and have no garage nor car port. Needless to say, the car can get pretty hot. However, I have also read many other blogs of people having the same problem, and there are several videos on U-Tube showing DIY methods of replacement. So apparently this is common and does not have anything to do with impedance or amplifier.

RayDC, Here is a picture of the wiring on a NEW amp. I'm not sure which number is the one to refer to,but probably the top one. Check to see how it compares to yours. If different, you have the old amp. I got this from the Club Lexus Forums. Several members said they had replaced the sub, but it didn't work. Good luck!

I haven't had to do anything like this, but I know Lexus is aware of a problem that was caused by the amp. even though they seem to be reluctant to admit it. I would tell them you want them to replace the amp. with the new one (assuming that the number on the amp. wire indicates you have the old one). Also, I would tell them the system is NOT 'functioning as designed" without defects because there is no way such an expensive system like ML would have bass distortion. You know Lexus is too good to put up with such poor sound. I have always gotten excellent support from my dealer.

I assume you are aware of how to adjust the headrest, but if not, it can be set to 3 different positions. Push the headrest all the way forward (towards the windshield), then pull it all the way back to set in back position. Push it forward a little and you will feel the other 2 positions. I set mine all the way back. It isn't bad, but I wish I could set it back just a little further as sometimes my head hits it. Like you say, safety is the reason I suppose.

Ray, You probably have the old amplifier. Lexus replaced it with a new model in 2014. The way to check is to check the tag on the wiring of the amp. It can be found under the passenger seat. I no longer have the numbers that tell you which amp. you have, but I'm sure your dealer can tell you when you give them the number. Lexus will replace it with the new one at no charge.

I just bought a new ES300h with the Levinson system. I have one in my 2002 SC430 and it is fantastic (other than having speaker problems). I had to go to a costly premium package in order to get the ML, so had to get a lot of stuff I really didn't care about. I think the sound stinks. It is way too bright and the volume of the front center speaker is so loud, it overwhelms the other speakers. I'm not sure if this is normal and it's just my ears, or if something is wrong. Anybody else experiencing this sound condition?

I recently purchased an ES300h and still own a 2002 SC430. I agree with everything Doug says about the ES300h except for the sound of the Mark Levinson system. I purposely spent a lot in order to get the Mark Levinson because it is so FABULOUS in my SC430. But I find the sound in my new car to be overly bright and the center front speaker to be so loud that it overpowers the other speakers making it sound almost monaural. I like to listen at a rather loud volume and, unlike the SC430, the volume does not go down when the navigation gives an audible message. It is very easy to miss what is said. I have been an audiophile for many years. The SC430 has the best sound I have ever heard, even on high priced indoor systems. However, the speakers in the SC430 have a common problem (at least the larger ones in the door). After only 3 years these speakers began to distort badly. It seems the surround material on the paper speakers deteriorates and the cone is no longer centered in the driver. Lexus replaced the speaker for free since the car was still under warranty, but unfortunately the same thing happened again a year ago. Lexus quoted $300 per speaker for replacement. My service contact recommended getting it done a lot cheaper at a local car audio shop. But after viewing videos of owners replacing the speakers, I decided to hold off and haven't yet decided what I will do. I assume ML has corrected this speaker problem, especially since they advertise the quality of their new speakers. Now if I could just get the system to sound good to my ears. I tried lowering the treble and raising the bass but to no avail. At the price of this system, why doesn't it have an equalizer?

I totally agree. I own a 2002 SC430 with Mark Levinson and it is FANTASTIC!!! I recently bought a new (2014) ES300h with Mark Levinson expecting it to be as good as my SC. But I find the sound to be very overly bright and, as Joe says, the center speaker is overly loud blocking sound from the other speakers. I have tried turning down the treble, but to no avail. I then tried boosting the bass, but the unpleasant brightness is still there. Why doesn't such an expensive system come with an equalizer? I am extremely dissatisfied with this system, but what can I do? The speakers in my SC430 had to be replaced in 2005 (3 yrs old). Apparently this was a common problem and it was fixed under warranty. It seems the surround material on the speakers deteriorates until it no longer holds the cone in the center of the driver. I assume ML has corrected this situation. A year ago the speakers broke down again. This time it is not under warranty and the dealer quoted a price of $300 for each speaker replacement (2 of them need to be replaced). I have done nothing since after Googling and finding how difficult it is to replace (taking off the door panels is quite difficult). There are videos of people doing it. My service contact at Lexus suggested a local car sound company replace the speakers for a much more reasonable price. So far I hesitate after viewing the videos.

My sister-in-law's 2003 RX330 hood supports failed after 8 years. She refused to pay for new ones since the service department at the dealership was the only one who opened the hood. They finally agreed and installed new ones free. Also, my 2002 SC 430's supports for the trunk supports failed after 11 years. This trunk also opens in the opposite direction to house the roof when becoming a convertible. The dealership wanted $500 to replace the supports. I am going to search the web for replacements struts. Anybody know where I can get them?