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Just thought I would introduce myself. Have just purchased a 2013 S550 4 matic coming from a Lexus LS460L awd.
So far loving the Mercedes and in that honeymoon period of learning all of the features and generally getting things set up.
Trying to figure out the best way to play Pandora via Bluetooth
Observations compared to the Lexus
1. Much faster which I expected based on horsepower and torque
2. Ride firmer but more controlled. Am riding on 19 inch 40 series rubber compared to 18 inch 50 series on Lexus
3. Noise about the same although Mercedes quieter at idle
4. Interior prefer Merc in most respects but miss my Alcantara headliner. Seats much better in Merc. Controls simpler in Lexus
5. Sound system - Harmon Kardon sounds higher quality than Mark Levinson but both good
6. No heated rear seats in Merc with fixed seats whereas fixed seats in Lexus had heated seats
7. I like the stitching on the dash and door panels on the Merc. Is the covering material leather or vinyl?
8. Trunk - Merc is better finished but doesn't seem anywhere to attach a cargo net vertically
9. Driver aids - love the Blind spot monitor LDW and Distronic plus which my Lexus did not have.
Last edited by infinitiq45a; May 24, 2015 at 08:59 PM.
Infinit...welcome and congrats. We always requires pics.
Hd
Here a couple of quick pics. Car is in the garage today because it is raining
Don't worry, I am sure that will soon wear off. I have been trying to get MBrace to work this afternoon. I registered and now I can't get the I button to light up!! If I hold it for 20 seconds it will illuminate briefly and then go out. It was fine yesterday when I used it to register the car.
Welcome! It does not bode well for the Levinson system that the enemic and tinny H/K sounds better.
To stream anything (and I'd recommend ITunes Radio over Pandora if you have an IPhone) is with a Tune2Air Bluetooth audio adapter. Amazon or EBay, about $50.
Welcome! It does not bode well for the Levinson system that the enemic and tinny H/K sounds better.
I'd say all of his comments were spot on except for the HK/Levinson comparison. The Levinson sound range and quality blows the HK out of the water. As far as stock systems, the Levinson is an audiophile's dream and one of the best OEM systems on the market. The only thing missing is the super deep thumping bass which would appeal to the lovers of rap music. But I really don't think that's who Lexus was trying to cater to with the LS.
I have a feeling he made the audio comment based on the fact that he's still starry eyed in the honeymoon phase of ownership.
Yeah. It's like when you're first dating a girl and you think you even like how her farts smell. I heard the Levinson and it sounded great out of the box, except I couldn't get the "thump" of the bass drum to come forward enough. But with a small powered sub in the trunk and a little EQ I'd have been happy with it.
Yeah. It's like when you're first dating a girl and you think you even like how her farts smell. I heard the Levinson and it sounded great out of the box, except I couldn't get the "thump" of the bass drum to come forward enough. But with a small powered sub in the trunk and a little EQ I'd have been happy with it.
Not sure if the first date analogy is something I want to bring to mind when I listen to my HK system over the next few weeks but I get the point
Let me explain why I felt the HK system to be better than the Levinson system. In the 2010 Lexus LS 460's, they detuned the bass as the earlier models were suffering blown sub woofers. A lot of LS owners claimed that the system was never the same after. Mine was a 2010 model and I was never that impressed even with the bass turned up. Regarding the HK system, my first impressions were a stronger base and clear vocals but I don't have a great ear for music and it may just be rose tinted spectacles. I have never experienced the B&O system but I am sure that it is amazing.
Awesome looking ride. Welcome to Benz and the forum. There are lots of adjustments that can be made to the sound system if so inclined. Mike has tons of good info on that.
We bought ours back in October of '14 and the honeymoon has not worn of yet. Enjoy the ride and the get to know you phase.
Yeah, I'd have to disagree with the HK/Levinston comment. I had a 2007 LS460L with the executive package. While I did suffer the blown sub issue, the system in the Lexus sounded much much better than the HK in the merc. There's no comparison between the two.
The HK sounds very hollow and vocals are not clear. The ML system was clear and sounded amazing... I just found it didn't go loud enough (probably why I blew my sub)
Not sure if the first date analogy is something I want to bring to mind when I listen to my HK system over the next few weeks but I get the point
Let me explain why I felt the HK system to be better than the Levinson system. In the 2010 Lexus LS 460's, they detuned the bass as the earlier models were suffering blown sub woofers. A lot of LS owners claimed that the system was never the same after. Mine was a 2010 model and I was never that impressed even with the bass turned up. Regarding the HK system, my first impressions were a stronger base and clear vocals but I don't have a great ear for music and it may just be rose tinted spectacles. I have never experienced the B&O system but I am sure that it is amazing.
Yeah, when I replaced my speakers the HK subs were the one component I left alone. There are three, two 8" in the front doors and an 8x10 on the rear deck. MB also detuned them but with a little EQ they wake right up. The real culprits are the overly bright metal coned 4" mids in the front doors (and another three for the surround channels), and the 6.5" metal coned woofers in the rear doors. I replaced my front 4" with Focal components, the rear doors with Hertz components and the rear deck surrounds with inexpensive MTX coaxials. (See the link in my sig for the full write up)
I think HK designed the system to have a lot more signal to the door subwoofers which necessitated very bright midrange speakers to cut through and balance out the prodigious bass. Then MB realized the subs rattled the crap out of the doors and neutered them, but never touched the mids.
But the important thing is that your system sounds good to you, so if you're happy with it, spend that money somewhere else.
Last edited by Mike5215; May 26, 2015 at 10:36 AM.
I have the same year model with those 19s on Continental Procontacts but black interior. And yes same over here I am absolutely disappointed at the no heated rear seats. Unlike my base model W140 S500 which has them. Buy overall I fell in love with my W221. Much more power as the 2013 uses the M278 Engine 429HP adding the 4 Matic makes me fall for it. I love hitting that gas when a guy in a nissan maxima tries to fly by me or take me on my blind spot so that I can't switch lanes
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