Mark Levinson Amp Updated

[Rpa11]

Got my amp replaced yesterday (finally) on my 2024 GX 550 OT+ under warranty. Definitely better (IMO), still a bit lacking, but worth getting it done if you can. The bass held up at 50+ and didn’t cut off to the “tinny” sounds. I’d like to flip out the speakers and, hopefully, get a more “quality” sound, especially in low range. My fourth documented complaint since October 2024. JM Lexus in Margate Florida came through with a three week wait time! Was told on prior occasions by other dealerships, that a fix wasn’t available but the complaints were a “known issue.” It really is an improvement!

 

[RickBullotta]

Did they also fix the issue where the volume doesn't adequate reduce when Siri is active?

 

[Rpa11]

I’ll have to let you know on that one. I would assume the two issues are not related, but I’ll try it out in a little while and get back to you.

 

[Rpa11]

Did they also fix the issue where the volume doesn't adequate reduce when Siri is active?

Follow up to your question…unfortunately, no…

 

[MyNewOvrTrl]

Follow up to your question…unfortunately, no…

What is the deal?!?! The 7 year old F150 I owned before taking delivery of my 2026 GX OT turned the volume completely down when reading a text or giving driving instruction! If Ford can handle CarPlay why cant Lexus!!!

 

[RickBullotta]

What is the deal?!?! The 7 year old F150 I owned before taking delivery of my 2026 GX OT turned the volume completely down when reading a text or giving driving instruction! If Ford can handle CarPlay why cant Lexus!!!

Quite a few Toyota models experience the same thing. Ironically, the built-in voice agent correctly lowers volume as needed...go figure.

 

[cmfhsu]

Quite a few Toyota models experience the same thing. Ironically, the built-in voice agent correctly lowers volume as needed...go figure.

As does the Google Assistant on Android phones. No problem for myself or my partner here.

 

[RickBullotta]

As does the Google Assistant on Android phones. No problem for myself or my partner here.

And it's not an iOS/CarPlay issue - it's with the implementation of the bridge between the systems on the Toyota/Lexus side. The dealer and regional folks "acknowledged" the issue, but never agreed to a "fix".

 

[GX550Key]

So is there a Lexus service bulletin out now in this regard?

 

[Denbow]

This needs to be a thread to itself. I thought i had some settings wrong and couldn't figure out why at times my phone would mute what was playing and other times it would not. But I haven't figured out if it was a radio or carplay setting.

 

[RickBullotta]

This needs to be a thread to itself. I thought i had some settings wrong and couldn't figure out why at times my phone would mute what was playing and other times it would not. But I haven't figured out if it was a radio or carplay setting.

It's a bug/design flaw in the Toyota/Lexus implementation. As mentioned above, it works correctly with the built-in voice agent, but doesn't work correctly with CarPlay. Issue is easily fixable if enough people complain.

 

[M2L2024]

Got my amp replaced yesterday (finally) on my 2024 GX 550 OT+ under warranty. Definitely better (IMO), still a bit lacking, but worth getting it done if you can. The bass held up at 50+ and didn’t cut off to the “tinny” sounds. I’d like to flip out the speakers and, hopefully, get a more “quality” sound, especially in low range. My fourth documented complaint since October 2024. JM Lexus in Margate Florida came through with a three week wait time! Was told on prior occasions by other dealerships, that a fix wasn’t available but the complaints were a “known issue.” It really is an improvement!

Congrats and thank you for Sharing the needed attachments so others can show their respective dealers!!
Clarifying, did you verify this is the NEW amp vs not a reformatted original amp?
On the FB TX forum that exposed this whole ML issue, it was acknowledged that Lexus was initially fixing the originally amps with very little improvement. Currently, the NEW amps are only being issued to TX (as far as I know) with GX customers still making a case for replacement amp.

 

[Rpa11]

So I called my SA and asked and he said it was a “new” amp. Software version 1402. After a week with the new amp/software, it is markedly better IMO. Still has some shortcomings, but much better than it was. I am going to look into a speaker replacement soon. Im still not thrilled with the low range quality.

 

[M2L2024]

So I called my SA and asked and he said it was a “new” amp. Software version 1402. After a week with the new amp/software, it is markedly better IMO. Still has some shortcomings, but much better than it was. I am going to look into a speaker replacement soon. Im still not thrilled with the low range quality.

Great, thanks for clarifying! I’m going to bring this info to my dealer to get them off their ass.

 

[nopantz]

Can someone who’s had their amp replaced or premium audio situation otherwise improved please DM me your VIN number so they can look up what you've had done?

I am going around and round in circles with my dealer, whether it’s the shop tech who doesn’t think there’s a problem, or the shop foreman who says they can’t find a service bulletin (even with the receipt included in this thread), or the service advisor who says "well better luck next time in six months". It’s been two years and the stereo still sucks.

Only bass is coming from the 6x9s in the front and it’s imperceptible sound in the middle row at mid-volume. As others have said, this is the worst car stereo I've owned in the last 20 years -- and this was the $1200 upgrade! I have a long history of hi-fi in the home.

 

[Toxicdog]

Can someone who’s had their amp replaced or premium audio situation otherwise improved please DM me your VIN number so they can look up what you've had done?

I am going around and round in circles with my dealer, whether it’s the shop tech who doesn’t think there’s a problem, or the shop foreman who says they can’t find a service bulletin (even with the receipt included in this thread), or the service advisor who says "well better luck next time in six months". It’s been two years and the stereo still sucks.

Only bass is coming from the 6x9s in the front and it’s imperceptible sound in the middle row at mid-volume. As others have said, this is the worst car stereo I've owned in the last 20 years -- and this was the $1200 upgrade! I have a long history of hi-fi in the home.

There is no current service bulletin for the GX ML system, only the TX. I would imagine the only way would be going to the same dealership that OP had their service done.

 

[Rpa11]

Can someone who’s had their amp replaced or premium audio situation otherwise improved please DM me your VIN number so they can look up what you've had done?

I am going around and round in circles with my dealer, whether it’s the shop tech who doesn’t think there’s a problem, or the shop foreman who says they can’t find a service bulletin (even with the receipt included in this thread), or the service advisor who says "well better luck next time in six months". It’s been two years and the stereo still sucks.

Only bass is coming from the 6x9s in the front and it’s imperceptible sound in the middle row at mid-volume. As others have said, this is the worst car stereo I've owned in the last 20 years -- and this was the $1200 upgrade! I have a long history of hi-fi in the home.

 

[ToyCruiser]

My wife bought a 26 Luxury Plus and the stereo is 100% different. Hers on level 30 is full and loud, my 24 overtrail plus is just getting normal level by 30.. it's like night and day. I'm going to take both of them to the dealer this weekend.

 

[rocksallday]

Can someone who’s had their amp replaced or premium audio situation otherwise improved please DM me your VIN number so they can look up what you've had done?

I am going around and round in circles with my dealer, whether it’s the shop tech who doesn’t think there’s a problem, or the shop foreman who says they can’t find a service bulletin (even with the receipt included in this thread), or the service advisor who says "well better luck next time in six months". It’s been two years and the stereo still sucks.

Only bass is coming from the 6x9s in the front and it’s imperceptible sound in the middle row at mid-volume. As others have said, this is the worst car stereo I've owned in the last 20 years -- and this was the $1200 upgrade! I have a long history of hi-fi in the home.

A year ago I went to the dealer to complain. They checked it, said "some sound" was coming from the rear and that it was like the other GX they had.
This week I went to the dealer for the dash recall and mentioned the TX TSB, had printouts of @Rpa11 's warranty repair, got a few tracks ready on spotify and showed them how poorly the bass behaves when you move the fader from front to back.
The dealer brought in their 'lexus' special cases expert (an actual Japanese guy, not that it matters), and I played the track while moving the fader.
He said there's definitely an issue but he has to take a look to make sure that-
1. It's not some other electrical issue
2. Lexus actually has an updated amp

Called me an hour later, let me know they'll be replacing the amp to a new one under warranty.
Hoping to get the parts sometime next week.

To clarify - I was ready to make some noise, "call the manager" and if they refused repair, I was told that I should get the refusal in writing so I can escalate to corporate.
Did not have to do any of those things, even got a loaner car for the couple of hours it took them to verify the issue.


edit: additional commentary-
from various bits and pieces I found, it seems that Lexus/Toyota messed up the over-the-air software update process. The fact that the dash recall notice states that an OTA update will be available, but is taking them forever to release is a clear indication that something isn't working right with their OTA plan.
The ML issue is probably a casualty of this as I believe the fix is (at least mostly) a software update, but ML being a 3rd party, even though they thought they could make it an OTA update, it's not happening, and even worse - the dealer can't program the unit. Only factory can.
I think Toyota/Lexus are stalling for time, maybe hoping to get the OTA to work before having to declare another TSB, but in all likelihood, the GX is the newest car released with the issue and only 1.5 years worth of production were affected before fixed amps were released, so I really think they won't do anything about it and just hope the problem gets shoved under the carpet.

 

[Rpa11]

A year ago I went to the dealer to complain. They checked it, said "some sound" was coming from the rear and that it was like the other GX they had.
This week I went to the dealer for the dash recall and mentioned the TX TSB, had printouts of @Rpa11 's warranty repair, got a few tracks ready on spotify and showed them how poorly the bass behaves when you move the fader from front to back.
The dealer brought in their 'lexus' special cases expert (an actual Japanese guy, not that it matters), and I played the track while moving the fader.
He said there's definitely an issue but he has to take a look to make sure that-
1. It's not some other electrical issue
2. Lexus actually has an updated amp

Called me an hour later, let me know they'll be replacing the amp to a new one under warranty.
Hoping to get the parts sometime next week.

To clarify - I was ready to make some noise, "call the manager" and if they refused repair, I was told that I should get the refusal in writing so I can escalate to corporate.
Did not have to do any of those things, even got a loaner car for the couple of hours it took them to verify the issue.


edit: additional commentary-
from various bits and pieces I found, it seems that Lexus/Toyota messed up the over-the-air software update process. The fact that the dash recall notice states that an OTA update will be available, but is taking them forever to release is a clear indication that something isn't working right with their OTA plan.
The ML issue is probably a casualty of this as I believe the fix is (at least mostly) a software update, but ML being a 3rd party, even though they thought they could make it an OTA update, it's not happening, and even worse - the dealer can't program the unit. Only factory can.
I think Toyota/Lexus are stalling for time, maybe hoping to get the OTA to work before having to declare another TSB, but in all likelihood, the GX is the newest car released with the issue and only 1.5 years worth of production were affected before fixed amps were released, so I really think they won't do anything about it and just hope the problem gets shoved

I’m glad you were able to make some progress! Like I said it’s a lot better since the change back in March, but still not perfect. But I’m enjoying it far more which goes to show how bad it was. I’m curious and I have to check to see if there’s even an updated software number since I got it done in March. I have to take a look because if there is, I will have them update at my next service. You might be right about the OTA issues also.