Mark Levinson Amp Updated

[serbiansizzle]

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.

We just traded in our 2024 on a 2026 and I am actually happy with how the 2026 sounds.

 

[M2L2024]

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.

seems like a reasonable speculation based on all of the history reported to date by GX and TX owners AND the lack of action by Toyota/Lexus for GX owners.

 

[rocksallday]

Dealer just notified me the upgraded amp is arriving today and scheduled warranty repair for Thursday. Needles and pins.

 

[M2L2024]

Dealer just notified me the upgraded amp is arriving today and scheduled warranty repair for Thursday. Needles and pins.

Dealer just notified me the upgraded amp is arriving today and scheduled warranty repair for Thursday. Needles and pins.

Is this for a GX? Trim level? Also, can you can you post a picture of your service invoice with part # from the Dealer? This would be a big help for those of us trying to solve the same problem. Thanks!

 

[rocksallday]

GX OT+. Will post more as soon as I pick it up.

 

[Cajun Heat]

Dealer just notified me the upgraded amp is arriving today and scheduled warranty repair for Thursday. Needles and pins.

Can you provide the information the dealer has given you on the amp swap as my dealer doesn't seem to know anything about this?

 

[rocksallday]

Got the new amp. Dropped car off 9am, picked it up 2pm.

I'll upload a copy of the repair paperwork shortly.
Here are screenshots of the AP SW screen before and after the install.
Notice SW version and part no.

 

[rocksallday]

Note about the audio quality-
It's a huge improvement.
It's not my living room setup, but the sound no longer seems to emanate from that tiny center front speaker, it's a much wider stage and there is bass.
No boombox, but bass for sure and I'm no longer getting headaches from the twitters chopping.
I actually enjoyed having the music on at full blast on the way home.

 

[rocksallday]

 

[GX550Key]

Have to get my Canadian Dealer to explain to Lexus Canada, I explained it as my AM Radio speaker.

 

[rocksallday]

Have to get my Canadian Dealer to explain to Lexus Canada, I explained it as my AM Radio speaker.

I just moved the fader all the way to the back while blasting some bass. Bass just disappeared. Tech was horrified.

 

[Rpa11]

I just moved the fader all the way to the back while blasting some bass. Bass just disappeared. Tech was horrified.

Congrats on getting it done! I agree with you that the “upgrade” is much better but still lacking slightly. Definitely worth the fight regardless. Lexus really doesn’t want to fix this on the GX, IMO.

 

[Cajun Heat]

View attachment 24277

Thank you!

 

[280driver]

Got the new amp. Dropped car off 9am, picked it up 2pm.

I'll upload a copy of the repair paperwork shortly.
Here are screenshots of the AP SW screen before and after the install.
Notice SW version and part no.

View attachment 24275

View attachment 24276

How do you get to the screen? Our system sounds really good but I’m curious about which amp we have.

 

[rocksallday]

How do you get to the screen? Our system sounds really good but I’m curious about which amp we have.

Settings->SW update->Model Info

iirc

 

[M2L2024]

Congrats on getting it done! I agree with you that the “upgrade” is much better but still lacking slightly. Definitely worth the fight regardless. Lexus really doesn’t want to fix this on the GX, IMO.

Rpa11 - are you speaking from experience, did you have yours replaced? If so, would you be willing to share your service invoice also? Trying to build a case with my local (lack of) Service manager. What market are you in? Thx!

 

[M2L2024]

View attachment 24277

THANK YOU! I've been told by Service Mgr that they are aware of the issue on both TX (Lexus acknowledged) based on internal team calls where they discuss updates. For whatever reason, the GX issue still is unresolved. So, this is VERY helpful for all of us trying to build a case locally. Going to my dealer today!

 

[rocksallday]

THANK YOU! I've been told by Service Mgr that they are aware of the issue on both TX (Lexus acknowledged) based on internal team calls where they discuss updates. For whatever reason, the GX issue still is unresolved. So, this is VERY helpful for all of us trying to build a case locally. Going to my dealer today!

I'm a bit concerned as to why they consider the GX issue still unresolved, considering they just replaced mine under warranty to an obviously better version.
Do they plan on a better fix in the future (the current fix still leaves room for improvement) or is it that they simply don't have enough parts to issue a TSB or some such?
Or maybe it's just that the TX was released earlier so it's prioritized for the fix rollout.

 

[rocksallday]

View attachment 24322
Here’s what ours says. Why downs mine read HU SW and yours reads AP SW?

scroll down all the way to AP

 

[280driver]

So I assume the important number here is the Parts no.? Looks like we have the updated amp?