Joe Crowe

Hey Fernicus, hope this is not too late to be of interest to you. Sounds to me like the system may have had problems. You said "Was it that levels on the base stereo weren't correct or is it that murky?" I have an IS with stock sound and an LS with the Levinson. Yes the ML is definately better but excluding it the IS has one of the best factory installed sound systems I have heard. I have only driven one GS and didn't test the sound at the time but I can't see any Lexus sedan rolling off the line with sound that could be called murky unless you added "compared to the ML". I find when evaluating a stereo you must zero all tone controls and rely solely on the volume control to assess power and clarity. Tone controls are for later after you get a feel for the system. Many people butcher the sound of otherwise good systems by excessive use of bass and treble and that is also a good way to blow drivers (lots of forum posts on that issue). My opinion, if I was hunting for a car and had two great choices the ML would decide it, all else being equal but I wouldn't pass up a great deal just on that.