Here's something I think is missing - a sound kill switch. I want a button the steering console that will mute the sound until I press it again. Sometimes I need to quickly turn down the radio or CD, and I have to go through all the volume levels to do it, then undo that. Uggh. My old Kenwood radios had a 1 button ATTENUATE mode which was a 60 dB decrease. Very handy. Hear me, Toyota?
That's a good thought, Thockin. My Regal has a mute button and I use it all the time - especially when the phone rings, when I think I hear sirens, when the really cute blonde is telling me her phone number. OK, I made one of those up. :-/
I used to have a Kenwood in my old Isuzu P'up....I loved that attenuate button and have been disappointed that not a single vehicle since has had that feature. Great for lowering the volume when you pull up to a drive through to order then to be able to immediately return to the previous listening volume with the touch of a button. I don't know why such a simple feature isn't more universal. Of course, if the DSL/ASL had been kept on this wouldn't be as much of an issue.... drats.
It's there already... perhaps I should point out that the USER-GUIDE mentions that. Hmm? Anywho, it is the "Mode" button. Just hold it down. After a second, the entire audio system will kill. Then when you press it again, the system will fire back up exactly where you left off.
I do think an attenuate button would be better but I find the audio power button very convenient for muting sound.
I just press the POWER button for the stereo. It shuts off immediately, and it starts back up in less than 2 seconds when you press the button again
That's what I did during the test drives, but I also missed a button on the steering wheel for muting the sound, so I'll try this steering wheel feature next time I drive a Prius.
Is there a difference between holding down the "mode" button and just pressing the "pwr" button on the radio? They seem to do the same thing....I don't think there is a true "mute" function, but the "on/off" works so quickly that it doesn't seem to matter...
Lemme say that I didn't know that the 'mode' button would do that, and now hope to take advantage, so thanks for pointing that out John. Next, that isn't, exactly, the same thing as an attenuate button where the audio is left on, but at a much lower level. Lastly, hitting those steering wheel buttons, while trying to roll down the window and turn the steering wheel at the same time is a PITA. The power button might be a better choice since it stays in a fixed position.
