@@hayden93 Could be relative. I have IEMs and headphones that have a more neutral tuning so those are my frame of reference. ML definitely gave me a bass heavy impression. The vehicles that I've sat in are IS350, ES350 and last gen RX350.
Hi Charlie! New subscriber. I have been watching your videos ALL DAY LONG (started last night actually). Very informative and really helping me decide what kind of car/suv I'm going to get. I particularly love that you focus on the stereo systems for a lot of them. Your overviews are immensely helpful! I really like the Mark Levinson in many of them and finally found this car with regular gas which I'm REALLY hoping for, but you knocked the ES sound a bit for the bass. DANG..I thought this was IT.. so close! I'll keep looking/watching even if this is still in the running. I have GOT to find an EXCELLENT audio with regular gas car/suv. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the nice words! If you're planning on buying new, Lexus announced an updated RX that should be an excellent vehicle all around with a strong Mark Levinson audio system. Other than that, can't go wrong with a Volvo V60!
Most of the Es350 come with defective Subwoofers, Lexus knows this but The Dealership will give you the B.S. "thats the way the system was designed spill". Finally had my subwoofer replaced and it completely elevated the system, before the replacement the defective sub only operated at probably 50% volume
Thank you for pointing out that lack of lower end tuning. I thought I was crazy or that I was one of those bass junkies. But I own this system and I’m so let down by it. It’s not that I want it to over power. I just want it to add the clear weight it should.
Thank you so much for doing this test, Great review, the music sounds clear and crisp, I know it is not bass heavy but it could if you want to. Thank you again.
I watched your 2022 on the standard 10 speaker review. I thought it was pretty good. I would probably thought it was good enough until I heard this system. I'm listening with a really nice headphone set and can tell the difference. Thanks!
The standard system is 2 speakers shy of the levinson… I love it, took me a while to get used to it, now blown away by it, getting better with dynamics the more I use it.
It definitely takes a break in. I got a 23 ES350 with the ML sound system. When test driving the stock sound system vs the ML system, they sounded the same. But after a week, it seems the speakers have woken up. That said, it doesn’t compare the to bass in my 2012 Fiat with the Beats audio system.
Brother. If you're going to review a sound system, please...PLEASE turn OFF Surround and Volume Leveling. These are 100% gimmicks..no wonder you can't feel any bass.
Just got the 2024 ES300h Luxury trim with 17 speaker Mark Levinson. As a musician I have to say the sound in the rear is terrible. Doesn’t feel surround sound. Feels like it’s only coming from the front. Even after trying crossfade it’s super low. My previous 2013 GS350 had better speakers.
I have this exact car a 2021 ES250 AWD F Sport fully loaded including the ML audio. It was a must have when I bought the car and I must say I really like the ML and people have commented on it when I’m refueling about how good it sounds and ask if it’s aftermarket.
@@amgil475 The material the cones are made of can make a difference in the sound. In video they mentioned about the sound getting better after use ( to a baseline ) ML speakers cone are made of premium material ( I have read they have silk )
@@tedlipkin4742 i dont understant what you are saying , you mean the speaker itself gets softer or something in this meaning , or its a software AI or somthing ?
@@amgil475 the material the cone is made of is said to have a "break in" period . The reason for my comment that the sound seemed to have improved since the car was new.
@@amgil475 most speaker materials are not completely rigid and change over time. It would suck if your speakers get worse after a few weeks. so sound engineers would tune the speakers based on how they would perform after the material has completely settled and broken in.
I listened to Mark Levinson sound system on Lexus LX570. I don't know but i did not feel it is special or worth to upgrade to upper trim levels of Lexus cars to get this sound system. Please give me your openion
I know this is an old vid, but how does it compare to the 19 es ml system. I'm about to buy one and they're are more complaints about it then anything.
This is consistent with Lexus enthusiast forums. The sound quality of Mark Levinson speakers on the ES350 just isn't good. In contrast, the sound quality on the RX is very high and exceptional (also Mark Levinson speakers). They probably never tuned it right or power limit or smaller car harder to fit bigger speakers or what ever the reason.
Hey Charlie! I really really hope I get your thought on this as I was not able to test the ML system due to shortages, thinking of buying one, audio system is very important to me and your sound test is the most realistic I have seen. I watched the test on the 2022 ES you made today, just after watching this one. It's interesting that you didn't have much to complain about the bass on the IS 2021 (same setup) you also tested but had reservation on the ES 2021. How great is the 1800W 17-speaker system, compared to say the Burmester on E-class (which I have personally experienced before)? I have seen many comments and criticism but I need a pro verdict.
Greetings! E-class is much more impressive than any sedan Mark Levinson I've tested. For some reason, the best Mark Levinson systems are in the Lexus SUVs and crossovers. If you want a sedan with excellent audio, Mercedes and Volvo are your best bets, followed closely by Acura, Audi, and BMW (only B&W).
Thanks for the reply. ML on ES is way behind all these? Oh wow! Is the one in IS better than the one in ES? Considering they are essentially same setup, but you seemed to like the IS version better than the ES?
Honestly, I think manufacturers get greedy with the numbers and limit what the audio engineers can do. They don’t want to take away from cargo volume so they sacrifice putting in a good, full sized subwoofer in the trunk
great video! any chance you would be able to do sound system review of lexus UX? thanks. im aware they don't option a mark levinson package but im curious as to how good the stock system/setup is.
They would need an active DSP in the car that check song levels and a preference for the person listening or in the presets... that mean highs, mid-highs, mid, mid low, mid-sub, sub.... then an actual 32 band equalizer.
This is on RU-vid after all, which has lots of sound compression. The only way to really tell would be to test drive a car and listen to the sound system for real.
Gx460 is a last generation system and falls behind the competition and is mediocre. LS is supposed to be the one of the better upper class systems at $100k. I heard the best system under $100k is the Genesis G90. Check out Savagegeese for audio measurements. As far as I have heard and seen measured. From my analysis, the best system under $50k is the ELS 3d surround. The best system in a car under $100k is the Lexicon in the G90. Over $100k Burmeister, Mark and Levinson pull ahead.
The Avalon's JBL sound system blows this piece of trash Mark Levinson out of the water. This Mark Levinson sound system is *_the dealbreaker_* for me, and the *_one and only reason_* I will not even consider this vehicle. The only great sounding ML systems are the ones on the GX 460 and the LX 570. The ML systems on the LS 500 and RX 350 are also TERRIBLE!
@@747-pilot I have an Avalon Touring, and tbh its the 14 speaker JBL didn't impress me. Its not as crisp as I would like it to be for that price point. The Mark Levinson seems to sound the same but more crisp yk?
I got 12 speaker in my 11 avalon and this thing is amazing. My dad has the highlander platinum and honestly the old jbl by far has better base and cleaner than the new ones. Its basically harman kardon on steroids
My car is Lexus es350fsport 2023 and I really disappointed about ML system, because when I raise the volume more than 45 the base disappears and be like a toyota yaris. 👎
Meh, Volvo is a turd on wheels, no matter if it has Bowers & wilkins. Depreciates like a rock, always in the shop, and has high NVH for the price. I mean honestly no other car does what the ES does in its price bracket. The TLX has a crappy turbo 4 cyl and no back seat. The germans with the E class are another 25k to get the same features as the ES ultra luxury. All other mid size sedans are lease cars in its class.
The 8 speed auto tranny they’ve paired with the 2019+ ES 350’s is trash though. Can’t believe none of the professional and high sub RU-vid reviewers never mention it. But it’s a well known complaint in the Club Lexus forums. I was so annoyed with it that I literally spent an extra $7k to trade it in for the ES 300h after two weeks. Happy with the decision so far.
@@rebel7254 not just lexus, it's trash in toyotas too. My sienna has the same 8 speed and it is garbage, so clunky at low speeds. i love the V6 though, the transmission is a shame. i don't know if i'd give up a V6 for a 4 cyl hybrid though. how has it been?
