Lexus SC430 Mark Levinson Stereo sounds poor

[Dan]

I am not too impressed with the sound quality on the SC430.
Girlfriend just got a Ford Escape and her factory 6 in-dash CD changer
stereo blows the doors off mine-- much tighter sound, music is
crisper.

What is really bad is the bass on my Mark Levinson. I have to keep it
way down low, otherwise it sounds very distorted and just plain awful.
I really don't know what all the hype is about this stereo. Perhaps
it's defective? It just sounds like a poor quality stereo.

[jav]

I haven't personally heard the Levinson stereo in the Lexus models,
however initial reviews by the stereo and car mags were highly
favorable. Some said it was the best car stereo they had ever heard.

If yours sounds poor, it's probably defective.

"Dan" <an...@anyone.com> wrote in message
news:3ec74030....@news.sf.sbcglobal.net...

[GRL]

Or else his idea of good sound differs from that of the Mark Levinson/Lexus
designers. People do have different ideas of what good sound is.

--

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"jav" <jv...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:0ZLxa.643477$Zo.137551@sccrnsc03...

[Shetland Sheepdog]

Easy solution.

Head down to your local Lexus dealership. Carry some CDs that you're heard
in your own SC. Play your CDs in an LS with Levinson and a SC with Levinson
on the dealer lot. Set the car up in the same way as the one at home (top
up or down, car running, etc).

See how they compare. If the home system is drastically different, and you
can hear an audible difference, then you have a defect. If not, then it's a
bad design with th e stereo / car.

IMHO, the Levinson in the LS430 is quite tight, and accurate. Not muddy at
all.

P.S. Some CDs are boomy. Make sure that you try different pieces of music
to rule out the CD or recording.

"Dan" <an...@anyone.com> wrote in message
news:3ec74030....@news.sf.sbcglobal.net...

[Travis Jordan]

"Dan" <an...@anyone.com> wrote in message
news:3ec74030....@news.sf.sbcglobal.net...

I just don't get it. Why would someone buy an $85K car before listening to the
stereo?

[Helmar Herman]

I have the Mark Levinson in my '03 LS430 and the sound is awesome.

My favorite CD is Moulin Rouge, where the bass drums knock the socks
off of not just me, but also the drivers around me!

Too bad I most often listen to books on tape and talk radio ..... :)

[Pete]

The Levinson system in my LS 430 is almost a religious experience to hear.
The sound quality is comparable to, but a little warmer than, a set of
Infinity floor-standing studio monitors I have at home. The overall tonality
and smoothness is reminiscent of the old Marantz Imperial speaker systems
(if anyone here goes back that far). I'd surmise that if yours sounds that
bad there's likely a problem.

-- Pete

"jav" <jv...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:0ZLxa.643477$Zo.137551@sccrnsc03...

[msb]

I work for a dealer and I have had a few demo's with the Levinson system. a
lot of my CD's are copies of my others that my wife uses and I notice that
on the one's that I've burned the bass is pretty poor but on the originals
it sounds great. If you use a lot of "home made" CD's you will notice a
significant drop in quality.

"Helmar Herman" <BenAnd...@mail.com> wrote in message
news:fmbgcvctbuuevsshs...@4ax.com...

[phase]

Your SC430 sound system works perfect. It just sounds that crappy.
:-)))

2 friends and me, all RX300 drivers test drove the SC430. We all three
noticed the muddy bass and missing high end. And those 2 people were
NO audio specialists!

The "free" JBL/Pioneer sound system of the RX300 is much better. Maybe
due to the direct sound of the tweeters and bigger volume inside the
car. Bass may be limited due to small space (LF wavelength) in the
SC430.

But its nice that you and several people name it more and more often
in the newsgroups that its only a marketing strategy from ML and BOSE
to sell their super-expensive sound systems to Lexus and Mercedes and
that these sound systems only make sense (if) in the showroom and when
the engine is off.

Worst of all the ML sound does not recognise your CDs so you will have
to readjust every single CD. Any cheap Mercedes radio does it for CD,
Tuner and Cassette separate.

Here in Europe if you want to buy the new RX300 with air suspension
you are FORCED to buy the ML sound system if you want or not. Ok,
these people who can afford the US$ 59.000 don't mind the extra money
– but I am sure it will cost sales numbers because the press will
write negative about this fact. Especially in these bad times rich
people are reacting very sensitive about things you force them to do
and maybe decide then for a competitor.

And – who is ML? Nobody knows about ML in Europe.

[Travis Jordan]

"msb" <msb...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:baapfd$qa53g$1...@ID-89071.news.dfncis.de...

> I work for a dealer and I have had a few demo's with the Levinson system. a
> lot of my CD's are copies of my others that my wife uses and I notice that
> on the one's that I've burned the bass is pretty poor but on the originals
> it sounds great. If you use a lot of "home made" CD's you will notice a
> significant drop in quality.

This doesn't make any sense -- audio-wise, digital copies of CDs are exactly the
same as the original. Obviously this isn't true for audio tracks that have been
through a resampling or conversion process (i.e. MP3s) but for a direct-to-disc copy
they are identical. Are you sure it is "copies of originals" that you're having the
problem with?

[Dan]

The CDs that I use are both home-made and original CDs. They both
don't sound that great. I will listen to one on the lot.

On Mon, 19 May 2003 15:30:10 GMT, "Travis Jordan" <no....@no.net>
wrote:

[msb]

Due to speed & processor issues with my computer it works best if I rip them
to MP3's first (192mhz)

"Travis Jordan" <no....@no.net> wrote in message
news:6M6ya.211804$My6.3...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...

[Travis Jordan]

"msb" <msb...@excite.com> wrote in message

news:bab3ol$rgfin$1...@ID-89071.news.dfncis.de...

> Due to speed & processor issues with my computer it works best if I rip them
> to MP3's first (192mhz)

There's the explanation.

[William]

I don't have a LS430, but I own and ES300 with the ML system. I was
told it is supposed to be the same in all Lexus cars with the system.
It's not.
I originally listened to the ML system in a SC430--sounded incredible.
When I got my ES, I thought there was something wrong with the sound
system. I had it back to the dealer twice before I just gave up.
In my car, the ML system is very clear and I can really crank it up
without distortion, but the system lacks any bass at all. It does
sound better than most factory stereos I've listened to, but in no way
does it come close to the $800 Alpine/MB Quart system I installed in
my truck. I have no sub, just an Alpine head unit and a pair of MB
Quart speakers and it blows the ML system away.
I am still happy I got it in my car since the stereo and NAV system
are integrated. Otherwise I probably would have been stuck with teh
stock stereo, which I've heard in a loaner car and its not as good as
the ML--although its $3,000 cheaper.
Just my 2 cents

[William Scully]

Dan,

I have to agree with you. In particular the SC430 seems to have a common
defect with the sound system: a resonance in the trim materials used on the
doors. In my car (and others, if you believe other comments found on Lexus
owner's web sites) this causes an fairly annoying "buzz" associated with the
mid- to low-frequencies. One might think that only people listening to rock
or disco would be affected. But no, it seems to affect even the spoken
voices from National Public Radio's news programs! I've got just 5000 miles
on my 2003 SC430 and I'll be taking it in for service. I plan on seeing
what they can do about this. It's pretty embarrassing to take friends for a
ride and have them notice, "Hey, what's that awful buzzing sound?" The
radio makes me nostalgic for my old '98 GS300!

If anyone is planning on purchasing a SC430 I highly recommend they take
some of their favorite CDs along too, and test-drive the stereo FIRST!

"Dan" <an...@anyone.com> wrote in message
news:3ec74030....@news.sf.sbcglobal.net...

[Cary Scheck]

That the "Mark Levinson" system sounds similar to an Infinity system is not
coincidental...

Several years ago Mark Levinson sold his company and name to Harman
Industries. Harman now owns Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Infinity, Lexicon
and several other brands. Mark Levinson does not, and legally can not, have
anything to do with anything that bears his name since he no longer owns it.

Red Rose Music is Mark Levinson's present company and sells direct from a
storefront in New York City.

Regarding an audio CD being an "exact copy," this is not correct. Firmware
on CD-ROM drives prohibits making a bit-for-bit copy of a "red book" CD.
What you're doing is something called "digital audio extraction" or DAE
which is NOT a bit-for-bit copy. Slowing the read speed down to 4X, or even
2X, will greatly improve sound quality. For best results use a Plextor or
Teac drive to read the original. For more information than you ever wanted
on the subject see http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq04.html#S4-18.

[Pete]

Thanks, Cary! That was interesting.

-- Pete

"Cary Scheck" <ca...@compcond.com> wrote in message
news:XlUya.4863$Rn7....@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...

[John Grabowski]

Helmar Herman wrote:
> I have the Mark Levinson in my '03 LS430 and the sound is awesome.
>
> My favorite CD is Moulin Rouge, where the bass drums knock the socks
> off of not just me, but also the drivers around me!

Oh, I love people like you. Force your insipid music down the rest of
our throats...

John

--
When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each
other. --Eric Hoffer

[stau...@gmail.com]

I own a 2002 SC430 and believe me, it is best audio there is. Unfortunately this system is known for speakers that fail and distort as a result. My speakers (the 2 larger ones on the doors) went bad after just 3 years. The dealer replaced them free as it was under warranty. Now those went bad after 7 more years. The problem is the material that makes up the surround on the speakers. It deteriorates and no longer holds the cone in the center of the driver.

My Lexus dealer quoted $300 for each speaker replacement. A Lexus service person recommended going to a local auto audio shop, but after watching videos of owners replacing the speakers themselves, I am reluctant to do so. I am not sure what I will do.

Mark Levinson now uses completely different speakers. I just purchased a 2014 ES300h with the ML. I am very disappointed as the sound is overly bright and the center front speaker is so loud it overwhelms the other speakers. At least that's the way it sounds to me and I have found a few others on the Internet with the same complaint.