Replacing the Mark Levinson amplifier? (1 Viewer)

[jbyrd78]

Is there an amplifier on the market, that is a direct replacement for the stock Mark Levinson amplifier that comes in the LX470's? A few years ago my radio started cutting out in my 04 when I raise my volume past 20. Yesterday I finally got a diagnosis, and the tech informed me that my amp is overheating and slowly going bad.
After trolling clubLexus, I found out this a common problem with the ML sound system, but nobody over there has found a solution. Has anyone over here pulled off anything successful?

 

[NoogaCruiser]

I doubt this is possible for a few reasons (at least) the main one being the factory amp and Nav screen/MFD share power and ground. Maybe someone who is better at reading wiring diagrams can chime in, but when I did the nav delete on my '06 LX I had to replace the factory ML amp in order to use the aftermarket Pioneer head unit b/c the ML amp wouldn't work without the factory MFD. However, there are shops that specialize in repairing ML amps. I've used one for the amp in my GX470 and had good results.

 

[jbyrd78]

I doubt this is possible for a few reasons (at least) the main one being the factory amp and Nav screen/MFD share power and ground. Maybe someone who is better at reading wiring diagrams can chime in, but when I did the nav delete on my '06 LX I had to replace the factory ML amp in order to use the aftermarket Pioneer head unit b/c the ML amp wouldn't work without the factory MFD. However, there are shops that specialize in repairing ML amps. I've used one for the amp in my GX470 and had good results.

Thank's for that info. I found this info online yesterday. I took it to the local Best Buy and showed to to one of the audio guy's. He told me that I would need an amp over 600 watts to cover the audio and navigation screen. He advised me to give Crutchfield a call and. He said he wasn't really familiar with the LX470 model, and that more than likely Crutchfield deals with high end vehicles like this on a more day to day, so they would be better to seek advice from.

So let's say hypothetically it's the speakers, and I need to replace those. As long as I re-install aftermarket speakers with the correct ohms rating will I still be fine with the ML amp?

 

[NoogaCruiser]

Thank's for that info. I found this info online yesterday. I took it to the local Best Buy and showed to to one of the audio guy's. He told me that I would need an amp over 600 watts to cover the audio and navigation screen. He advised me to give Crutchfield a call and. He said he wasn't really familiar with the LX470 model, and that more than likely Crutchfield deals with high end vehicles like this on a more day to day, so they would be better to seek advice from.

So let's say hypothetically it's the speakers, and I need to replace those. As long as I re-install aftermarket speakers with the correct ohms rating will I still be fine with the ML amp?

View attachment 2896642

I was able to keep my ML speakers using an aftermarket amp and head unit but I was kind of tricky. There are three speakers in each of the front doors and there are inline crossovers if I remember correctly. It took some creativity to say the least. I would recommend having the ML amp repaired unless I was planning on changing out the MFD and amp. Doing over again, I'd probably run new speakers as well.

 

[molonlabemike]

On my 04 the PO removed the factory amp and replaced it with an aftermarket amp which never worked when I got it. I redid I everything and found once you remove the ML amp you have no ability to control the volume as the head unit is a digital unit that needs to talk to the amp. So I am using an aftermarket amp and have to use my phones volume via a BT unit to get the volume to adjust. A royal PITA.

 

[Pucker5]

Shallow mechless receiver where the oem tape deck is fed directly off the electrical, aftermarket five channel and new door speakers can be done frugally with great improvement.

Alternative is look for a used ml amp that doesn’t cost you arm and leg. If you’re not going to replace nearly 20 Year old paper speakers why on earth would you add aftermarket power?

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[Pucker5]

Now that I think about it, didn’t all the threads on this net discovery of positive outcome when connecting an aftermarket amp behind the factory amp solely for the complete signal and /oem interface control. An aftermarket that has a dsp would also allow you offset factory dq settings. Those combo amps with signal flattening are a bit pricey though

 

[blinder52]

When I first purchased my 2004 LX I thought the speakers were shot it was so distorted. Soon I realized it was the amp. Snooping around I found a source for a refurb ML and it’s been great. Seems the early models were trouble but the later ones more reliable.

 

[Mtard]

OP Mentions that the stock ML Amp is 300 Watts, but do we know how many channels it is? Trying to find specs on the amp has been troublesome.

 

[blinder52]

I got a remanufactured ML amp and it's worked great. I thought when I purchased my LX that the speakers were bad... it was the amp. Wasn't cheap but an easy swap out.

 

[krispykritter]

I went through hell rewiring and removing the ML amp on an 06 LX470. Short summary (some of this mentioned before):

• ML amp is controlled digitally by the head unit. If you remove the ML amp, you lose the ability to adjust ALL audio parameters (volume, balance, fade, etc)
• If you want aftermarket sound, your best bet is to add a second amplifier AFTER the ML amp.
• If you do add an amplifier after the ML amp, you then have a ridiculously loud BEEP every time you touch your HVAC buttons. I got around this by only feeding the rear speaker signals into my amplifier and copying that signal to both the front and rear speakers (there's no beep to those speakers).
• I used the front speaker ML output to feed the SW channel input on my new amp. The crossover filters out the BEEP and this allows me to add or remove bass by adjusting the fade setting. More forward = more bass. More rearward = less bass.
• I also replaced the subwoofer while doing all this, which made a massive difference to the sound.
• I have NOT replaced all the door speakers yet. My amp can drive the door speakers fine, but I'm sure new speakers would help the sound. That's a next summer project, probably.
• Since I discovered all this after removing the ML amp, I had the joy of rewiring it and installing it again. It sucked. Don't do this.

 

[ASB]

Hi, hope this approach can save you rewiring the AMP. I just added an aftermarket unit to my LC Cygnus 2004, aka UZJ100, LX470, LC Amazon. It had an amplifier under the front seat and a premium audio system. I purchased an aftermarket cable set from Ali Express that is specifically designed to send the signals to the under seat AMP from an aftermarket system. I brought the cheapest Apple CarPlay system I could find off Ebay, along with a plastic audio trim to suit my dash. Only 2 out of 3 three of the connectors on the aftermarket cable set were connected to my car and I needed to splice one cable so the electrical aerial would go up/down with the system being turned on/off... works perfectly and also managed to program some of the steering controls to the stereo as well. See pics. Anyone needing more details, please ping me.

BEFORE

AFTER

CABLES AND STEREO

 

[krispykritter]

I have not seen a dash configuration like yours before. I wish I could replace my audio system that easily. I know some folks have been able to convert their HVAC controls over to a manual style system but it looks very different from the dash setup you've got there.

 

[ASB]

Agree with your comments, I couldn't find anyone that had a system like mine, it had a CD and a Sony Mini Disk system, think it was unique to the Japanese market. The HVAC controls were all separate and didn't need to be touched. I tried all sorts of aftermarket cable sets, all of which didn't work with the AMP under the seat and then finally SKYFRAME on Ali Express saved the day, they were adamant that their aftermarket cables coupled to an aftermarket stereo would work with the AMP ... and to be fair ... they did, just the one tweak as mentioned for the aerial. Anyway, looks like we both have working systems .. happy days!!!!

 

[krispykritter]

I'd definitely like to convert to the separate hvac controls like you have and install a double din radio. I found some newer threads that discuss the conversion lately and the cost isn't too crazy. The pictures I found had the older style buttons on them as opposed to the wide flat ones that you and I have but there was another 06+ thread that I haven't dug through yet. Hopefully that gets me the direction I need!

 

[jerryb]

ASB has a regular north america non nav LX 470 equivalent in right hand drive.
Those parts used to be available in 2018/9, until ih8mud bought them all up.

 

[krispykritter]

ASB has a regular north america non nav LX 470 equivalent in right hand drive.
Those parts used to be available in 2018/9, until ih8mud bought them all up.

Hi Jerry - so there's no real availability of the parts I need to make my infotainment look like @ASB 's above? I'd really love to ditch the nav now but it sounds like I'm half a decade too late!

 

[cryptyk]

It's almost impossible to source the parts now. If you do, it's literally thousands of dollars.

I have a 2007 LX470 and started sourcing parts for the climate retrofit, but gave up. I then tried a GROM Vline2, which was great software but massively limited by the stock screen. Then I got the Teyes CC3 and have been really happy with it.

 

[krispykritter]

It's almost impossible to source the parts now. If you do, it's literally thousands of dollars.

I have a 2007 LX470 and started sourcing parts for the climate retrofit, but gave up. I then tried a GROM Vline2, which was great software but massively limited by the stock screen. Then I got the Teyes CC3 and have been really happy with it.

Damn. I was afraid of that. I did read a lot about that screen but the main thread is now 50+ pages long and I'm unlikely to dig too deep. It seems like most of the issues have been ironed out but I'd still prefer to not be locked to one particular radio manufacturer. Then again, may not have a choice if the stock screen ever craps out on me.

Either way, I appreciate your response. I may have to go that route mainly thanks to no other viable options.

 

[cryptyk]

Damn. I was afraid of that. I did read a lot about that screen but the main thread is now 50+ pages long and I'm unlikely to dig too deep. It seems like most of the issues have been ironed out but I'd still prefer to not be locked to one particular radio manufacturer. Then again, may not have a choice if the stock screen ever craps out on me.

Either way, I appreciate your response. I may have to go that route mainly thanks to no other viable options.

I dug very, very deep into it and did a ton of research. To be clear, there's no great option. Because of the terrible decision by Toyota/Lexus to integrate climate and stereo, we are stuck choosing the worst of bad options.
1) Keep it stock. The nav is useless and there's no factory bluetooth. I couldn't handle it
2) Get a bluetooth adapter and wire it in. Not bad, but I wanted maps and such.
3) Get a Grom Vline2. Better, because you have carplay and android auto, but this really makes it obvious how terrible the screen is. The resolution is bad and the touch sensitivity is worse.
4) Get a Tesla style or Teyes CC3 screen. I can't talk to the tesla style much because I didn't like that look and never really considered it. (I'm on my 4th tesla and love the cars, but the screen looks ugly in the LX, in my opinion). I chose the CC3.

On the CC3, you'll be ok becuase you have an LX. It basically doesn't work in an LC, but all the major bugs have been worked out on the LX. The only real bug left is that the CD player doesn't work and the radio antenna doesn't automatically go up when the radio is turned on (but there's a hardware fix available for that)

That's the summary of the 50+ pages