my friend Mr mark levinson

[lx570 jatt]

a doubt has been in my head since i purchased my lx, is this mark Levinson amplifier,
i am not new to car stereos amps bass and all that , wired in a few in my day when i was younger,
but this amp i am thinking if it was to go would i have to sell a kidney to replace or repair , or could i or is there a way should that amp burn out for what ever reason , i could install my own 4 channel or 5 channel which would work but still keep everything else in check .

p.s i did a search but only found 100 series answers

 

[TeCKis300]

Make that a 7.1 channel surround amplifier.

I doubt you could drop in an aftermarket amp given its level of integration. It probably wouldn't sound great as I'm sure there is some degree of EQing and crossover functions in the amp.

An LC isn't as high end or integrated. Yet I'd feel more comfortable sourcing a used LX amp based on the number of vehicles sold.

One vulnerabiltiy in the LX 470s was the drivers, specifically the speaker surrounds (particularly sub) dry rotting over time.

My opinion, but it's not worth worrying about. Toyota levels of quality is already confidence inspiring. Lexus levels is above and beyond that. Enjoy the Mark Levinson Reference levels of performance, quality, and Lexus reliability. Plenty of Nakamichi 90s era LS 400s still performing out there I bet.

 

[lx570 jatt]

Make that a 7.1 channel surround amplifier.

I doubt you could drop in an aftermarket amp given its level of integration. It probably wouldn't sound great as I'm sure there is some degree of EQing and crossover functions in the amp.

An LC isn't as high end or integrated. Yet I'd feel more comfortable sourcing a used LX amp based on the number of vehicles sold.

One area vulnerabiltiy in the LX 470s was the drivers, specifically the speaker surrounds (particularly sub) dry rotting over time.

My opinion, but it's not worth worrying about. Toyota levels of quality is already confidence inspiring. Lexus levels is above and beyond that. Enjoy the Mark Levinson Reference levels of performance, quality, and Lexus reliability. Plenty of Nakamichi 90s era LS 400s still performing out there I bet.

true enough sir

 

[grinchy]

My amp blew without warning abut a month ago. It is $400 for the send away amp repair. It is under the US driver side seat. I am rocking a Bluetooth speaker thru the rest of the summer,

When the amp goes the display will show no,volume. This means that an aftermarket amp will,not work, it requires a can bus connection to the amp.

Sadly the lx design wandered a bit far from its utilitarian roots with the integrated climate control nav stereo. These are not built for the long haul, and since climate is involved are very difficult to replace in the us models. The aftermarket items all leverage the ml amp, so it has to work in all situations.

 

[CJ3Flyer]

My amp blew without warning abut a month ago. It is $400 for the send away amp repair. It is under the US driver side seat. I am rocking a Bluetooth speaker thru the rest of the summer,

When the amp goes the display will show no,volume. This means that an aftermarket amp will,not work, it requires a can bus connection to the amp.

Sadly the lx design wandered a bit far from its utilitarian roots with the integrated climate control nav stereo. These are not built for the long haul, and since climate is involved are very difficult to replace in the us models. The aftermarket items all leverage the ml amp, so it has to work in all situations.

Perhaps it’s only the LC but I think I’ve read that some have done a huge, Tesla style vertical tablet that does integrate well and does everything except rear seat video.

 

[lx570 jatt]

Perhaps it’s only the LC but I think I’ve read that some have done a huge, Tesla style vertical tablet that does integrate well and does everything except rear seat video.

yes you are right there is huge tesla style screen . i believe there is a Australian outfit who has done one , also a lx570,,
considering the complex electronics not something i would even think about

 

[CJ3Flyer]

yes you are right there is huge tesla style screen . i believe there is a Australian outfit who has done one , also a lx570,,
considering the complex electronics not something i would even think about

I understand your hesitation but from what I have read it’s easy.

 

[grinchy]

It uses the stock amplifier. I read the fine print when mine blew. If there’s is one setup for a typical aftermarket amp I am all ears!

 

[grinchy]

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Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

interesting, first I've seen of these in the $500 range.

but what is new is this '12 channel amplifier'

which has the same plugs as the mark levinson amplifier

as is supposedly included in the 6 and 8 core versions . . . .

 

[lx570 jatt]

1045.52€ |Tesla Auto Dvd Voor Lexus LX570 (2007 2015) auto Radio Multimedia Video Player Navigatie Gps Android 10.0 Dubbel Din|Auto Multimedia speler| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

interesting, first I've seen of these in the $500 range.

but what is new is this '12 channel amplifier'

which has the same plugs as the mark levinson amplifier

as is supposedly included in the 6 and 8 core versions . . . .

View attachment 2550633

View attachment 2550634

Has anyone actually tried this if there OEM amp failed ?

 

[grinchy]

I certainly would have, but it wasn’t a thing last year. I had to bootstrap a full amp replacement including dsp at significantly more cost, and I still have the 15 yr old stock hu. . . .

 

[lx570 jatt]

1045.52€ |Tesla Auto Dvd Voor Lexus LX570 (2007 2015) auto Radio Multimedia Video Player Navigatie Gps Android 10.0 Dubbel Din|Auto Multimedia speler| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

interesting, first I've seen of these in the $500 range.

but what is new is this '12 channel amplifier'

which has the same plugs as the mark levinson amplifier

as is supposedly included in the 6 and 8 core versions . . . .

View attachment 2550633

View attachment 2550634

Any links to this amp setup ..

 

[grinchy]

Any links to this amp setup ..

Which, my custom or this aliexpress unit? I haven’t seen any posts on this forum with the replacement Installed. You can follow my build and install of the custom solution via the link in my signature, I documented it there.

 

[yOHda]

I've had a couple Lexi with the ML stereo over the years. GS400 all speakers deteriorated. Wife's old LS430, all speakers deteriorated, head unit became unreadable. In researching replacing speakers and components I came to the conclusion speakers can be replaced with equivalent, although all factors must be taken into consideration (i.e. ohms, depth). Amps, as others have said, are way harder to swap with anything other than a direct replacement.