Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

OK I have to leave the house right now but i just finished uploading all the install pics and i will post them up tonight.

All with a full review of the MS-8.

Mind you my system is completely STOCK!

BlueAc

iTrader: (2)

Tease...

I'll be waiting

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

JBL MS-8 install in a 2007 TL-S.
I bought the MS-8 from another Acurazine member about a month ago. Read many reviews and saw many videos on it. So I decided to install it myself. JBL claims that the install takes as long as a lunch break. Not for the TL! It took me 3 days! Mind you I have never done anything like this before. Since I have no garage, the work was done outside and had to depend on the sunlight to work.
To start everything in the car is stock, speakers head unit and amp. So the MS-8 is taking the signal from the amp not the HU.
Because of cooling requirements, it was installed under the passenger seat. Just enough room for it to breath. The wires from the grey connector were used to connect to the MS8. The only wire from the black connector that was messed with, was the remote turn-on wire. Red w/Yellow.
Here is what I used to connect the signal from each speaker to the MS8.
RF+ Blue
RF- Red
LF+ Light Green
LF- Purple
C+ Green w/White
C- Blue w/Yellow
RR+ Red w/Blue
RR- Yellow
LR+ Brown w/White
LR- Red w/Yellow
SW+ Yellow w/Black
SW- Light Green w/Red
VERY IMPORTANT: The output from the amp was connected to the input of the MS8 and the output from the MS8 was connected to the speakers. Cut, strip, twist, tape was the method that was used for this.
The only wire gauge requirement that it has is no less than 12GA. I used 8GA from Kicker.
The MS8 has 2 molex connectors with pre-stripped speaker wires coming from them. Very handy when it came to attaching all those 12 wires from the amp and to the speakers.
The JBL MS-8 makes my car feel as if I have all new speakers. The sound and control that I have over them is great. Nice clean sound! Since its an amp too it also makes them a bit louder. So much so that I feel that I might have to change them.
Over all the JBL MS-8 is worth the 799 price tag. But I only paid 500!
Here are some pics that I took while installing it. If anyone has any questions just ask!


8GA Kicker Amp Wires, notice the RJ 18" Legend rims with Decepticon center caps!












Clean wire pass though!




Now you seem it, now you dont!




Had to change the filter. Winter, I am ready!


Here are the black and grey molex conectors that come from the factory amp.


Here are the cables cut and extended.




There is a huge hole on the beam under the passengers seat. As if Acura is helping out re-routing the audio cables. All 24 speaker wires fit just right in that hole. - "Thats what she said" LOL














Just like a Pro!!

huystAr

iTrader: (3)

very clean install!

nice RJ Legend rims with Decepticon center caps too haha (:

Nick337

iTrader: (2)

Are you planning on upgrading the speakers? Its a great piece btw, the only thing I didn't like too much about the ms8 was it was using analog inputs instead of digitial ones like the bitone.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

I dont know much about the bitone, but yeah i might upgrade the speakers.

The MS8 does push the speakers past their point.

SpiderX1016

How do you like it?

Those rims look nice btw.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

The audio system sounds awesome!! Thank you on the rims.

Kirk3272

iTrader: (1)

There is no digital output on the OEM headunit even if the MS8 had a digital input. (unless you have some serious skills) You would still have to find a way to control volume too.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Well, all i know is that my stock speakers are screaming everytime i turn the volume up.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

If anyone has some suggestions on which speakers to go for and what amp to get please let me know.

Thank you!

Nick337

iTrader: (2)

Well, since you shelled out the money for the ms-8, you gotta get something nice like Focal or Hertz

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

True, but i might not stay with this car for a very long time.

niebur3

Can you clarify, from what you said, you connected every wire from the factory amp to the MS-8 on the input side? The manual shows just connecting the FL, FR and Sub to the MS-8 for signal. I also heard the MS-8 has problems with the processing already built into the TL's sound system....have you noticed anything weird happening?

Nick337

iTrader: (2)

Your only using the speaker wires in which you want amplification. Meaning that you will plug it into the high level input side.

niebur3

That is not accurate at all. The MS-8 will "normalize" the input signals to derive the output signal. Meaning, if you have a front channel from the factory that only play frequencies from 1500Hz-20kHz and another that plays from 20Hz-1500Hz, then you connect BOTH to the MS-8 for the left front and right front channels. It will take the total both and have a full signal from 20HZ - 20kHz that it will then process and send out to any speakers connected to the unit. If you have a full signal already in only one of your channels, then that is all you connect to the input of the MS-8, one for left and one for right. All speakers in the car should be connected to the MS-8 for output only!

I was asking for more info because I heard the system in the TL may cause some issues with deriving the full signal for the MS-8.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Well, i do have some problem with the MS8. The problem is i am getting a horrible sound quality. I took all chanels and connected them to the MS8. I will try to just connect the front left, front right and the subwoofer tomorrow. The first time i set it up, it sounded like heven, but since i have ran the setup multiple times and not completely is the reason why i am have so much dificulty.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Ok guys the MS8 is up for sale. check it out

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/jbl-ms8-audio-processor-slightly-used%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A-799142/

ebelp

Soooo...you would or wouldn't recommend this product?

dadrab

Doesn't sound like a resounding endorsement to me...

EATSLEEPRACE

iTrader: (1)

can you equalize the sound?...looking into gettin one.......cuz if not its a but pricey for an amp

rodneyc77

iTrader: (1)

It's not an amplifier... it's an OEM intergration unit. It's used to integrate your factory radio to aftermarket amplifiers. So that your factory radio can sound like a high quality radio. It is an equilizer and crossover too.


As for the original poster... I don't think the MS-8 like every other OEM intergation unit out right now, is not meant to be used in the configuration that you have now... It's supposed to be used with aftermarket amplifier(s).

FACTORY HEAD UNIT ----> FACTORY AMPLIFIER (OPTIONAL)----> MS-8 (NORMALIZES AND PROCESSES THE SIGNAL) ----> AFTERMARKET AMPLIFIER ----> SPEAKERS

The MS-8 is not an amplifier of the signal... it typically just makes a clean signal to be amplified.

rodneyc77

iTrader: (1)

I stand corrected... the MS-8 does have an onboard amplifier...

I just went through the MS-8 owner's manual...

I think the issue with this installation is that the Original poster connected all the factory speakers to the Hi level input of the MS-8. What they (JBL) recommends is to only connect the following:

RF+ Blue
RF- Red
LF+ Light Green
LF- Purple
SW+ Yellow w/Black
SW- Light Green w/Red

To the harness with the Gray and White wires.



I think that he should remove the other speaker wires connected to harness (gray & white wires) and then run through the setup. Should make everything work the way it should.

Hope this helps.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I know I'll sound like an install snob too, but another problem might be the split and tape method used and the fact that it looks like there are 2 breaks in the wiring where you extended.

Once I learned how to heatshrink/solder, I'd never go back. A little more time initially, but then heaps of hours NOT spent troubleshooting things later. Either way, if you're getting rid of the car, I can understand why you're selling.

Also, your actual install under seat...is friggin professional looking.

My setup is kinda ghetto lookin but gets the job done. My OEM amp was giving me sound so I swapped out for a line driver just to boost signal into my amps...sounds great.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Rodneyc77- I should have followed those instruction in the first place, But i was so eager to hear the MS8 that i skipped over it. Now what i am going to do is take the signal "Pre-Amp" and just the front, center speakers.

Rockstar143- Thank you for the compliment. Next time around i will solder the cables together. I am going to be taking pictures and posting them up.

As it stands the MS8 is up for sale in the Black Market.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=799142

If i can get the results that i am looking for, then ill keep it.

rodneyc77

iTrader: (1)

Fronts and SUB Speakers... all you have to do is cut-off the other signals from the harness and you're done...

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

I have to rewire the "input" wires.

I didn't know but the 2007-2008 TL-S factory amp handles crossover points. I have to bypass it altogether. The wires are striaght through.

rodneyc77

iTrader: (1)

the MS-8 normalizes that crossover... it's designed to that for you when you run the setup process.

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

It doesn't do it well for the TL. I am just going to get that pure weak signal from the HU. I hope it goes well.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Yep, the signal from the HU is WEAK! I thought so at least...ended up getting an audiobahn line driver that boosts signal pretty well. It was relatively cheap and got the job done.

I guess in a way it's good you didn't solder then...easy to uninstall!

Mr.Skytech

iTrader: (13)

Where can i get one of those? BTW, don't i need a flat signal?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Dude...I can tell you, I bought mine "make an offer" on ebay for $89...it's not the best and is not too complicated...but I can tell you that perception and how much you want to pay play a BIG role in your system. I don't know about "flat" signal...but I do know it boosted the signal enough for my 85 x 4 rms 4 channel... to kick ass and balance out my 2 12's at 1500 watt rms at 1 ohm resistance.

It's not the perfect system..but on a budget...it makes me smile when I jam the new big boi album.

Gary Mac

the pre amp line level signal from the stock HU to the stock amp is flat - well fronts are like 50-20k or something like that. the signal is weak - about 1v, but it will work fine if you spice RCA's to pre factory amp signal. i did it and it works fine and sounds good. You only need to run fronts and sub, and the sub has to be run mono if you are going to use the center.

when you run input set up on the ms8, you will need to put the factory volume @ 35 to get a good signal, the line driver may work too, or it could add noise I guess... Good luck.

Bearcat557

how did you keep the little box on the bottom of the seat from hitting the ms8 thats my current problem that may lead to back of the car installation

Bearcat557

also a warning if you use the after amp signal you have to use both the front mains and tweeter signals to the ms8 thats what jbl's website says about installs