JBL MS 8.

[Edscapade]

I have it installed with the Alpine 910 and Hybrid speaker system - it is absolutely AWESOME! It really is a great option to add IMO...

[tbone587]

Can someone clarify how to wire up the ms-8 if you are removing the factory amplifier? It looks like the system only takes high level inputs or low level via rcas. Would I have to use the sub thump harness to give the the low level rca's outputs, or can i still use the low level inputs into the high level input on the ms8? My setup would be factory radio --> ms-8 --> jl audio hd 600/4 & jl audio hd 750/1.

[grocerygetter]

you can run high level.
I have one bnib if someone wants one. I have $500 in it.

[tbone587]

How do you run high level without the factory amp in place?

[Zach@ExtremePerformance]

Originally Posted by Veritasz

Thanks guys for the response..I'm planing to do something in this camaro that is a little unconventional using jl audio,scan speak and seas excel..

If you are going with speakers of that caliber, you may want to consider something like a Bit One or the Zapco processor. IF you (or someone you have access to) can tune well, you can get some really good results. It will run more (both for the processor itself and the tuning, since it takes longer to do it by hand) but in the right hands, can give you excellent sound and some tailored presets, too.

[SWEET SYNERGY]

Originally Posted by tbone587

Can someone clarify how to wire up the ms-8 if you are removing the factory amplifier? It looks like the system only takes high level inputs or low level via rcas. Would I have to use the sub thump harness to give the the low level rca's outputs, or can i still use the low level inputs into the high level input on the ms8? My setup would be factory radio --> ms-8 --> jl audio hd 600/4 & jl audio hd 750/1.

I have an ms8 Im going to be installing also and have been looking through the manual. Im also asking myself the same question. I have the ******** harness so I can use the low level rcas or I can send the high level outputs to the ms8.

Does anyone know the pros / cons of hooking it up either way?

No matter what Im going to lose my backup sensors :( because that signal gets sent from the radio to the rear speakers only, and when hooking up the ms8 you only use the front right and left channels and it sums the rest of the signals, if your running an aftermarket amp.

Dont mean to high jack the thread but figured I have pretty much the same question.

As you can see Tbone you can wire it either way. Im just trying to figure out if one is better than the other. To run high level you would cut the car harness before it goes to the ba amp (which will no longer be there) and run only the left front and right front speaker outputs into the ms8. I dont have the colors in front of me but can get them if needed.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in.

[tbone587]

Sweet Synergy, I don't think your right about the high level input portion. The only way to use high level inputs would be to keep the boston acoustics amp in place and hook the outputs from the factory amp that normally goes to factory speakers to the high level inputs of the ms-8. The way I was going to wire mine up was by soldering rcas (or use ******** harness) to the factory radio low-level input to the ms-8 rca input. You do make a valid point about the backup sensors being lost and I didnt think about that until now... That is a big bummer and now I dont think I will get the processor unless their is a way around it..

[Zach@ExtremePerformance]

The MS8 creates it's own rear (and center) through Harman's Logic7 algorithm. If the backup sensors are important, then you could do something like a Bit 10 which accepts front and rear inputs. You'd trade off the Logic7 to retain the b.u. beeps. Worth it? You'll have to make that call on your own!

[tbone587]

I have an idea that I am not sure will work or not. What if the ms-8 is connected like normal using the front inputs, and then I can take the rear channel lo level input from the radio and tie it to the center channel speaker. I think this will work, but it may have a lower sound than normal because its going from lo-level to high level.

[FUN4JT]

Here's the way I set up my MS-8.
Hi level input from the BA amp (right and left front only).
Outputs for front and sub from MS-8 to Audison amps.
Center output from the MS-8 to the center channel speaker.
You can use the low level outputs from the BA head unit and you can use the sub outputs to the MS-8 but you're adding complexity, I also understand the low level outputs are more likely to have noise issues.
I chose the simple route and let the MS-8 drive the front, center and sub output.

[FUN4JT]

One other note - Radioshack has the crimp on connectors which makes tapping into the amp harness a breeze. They also have a version that provides a socket so you can plug and unplug the secondary wire.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103500

[tbone587]

FUN4JT, did you lose your rear park assist?

[FUN4JT]

Yep! Aside from not really trusting the rear park assist I also removed the rear speakers as I'm using these to vent the sub into the passenger cabin.
It would be nice if it still worked but I'm not loosing sleep over it. :-)

[SWEET SYNERGY]

Originally Posted by tbone587

Sweet Synergy, I don't think your right about the high level input portion. The only way to use high level inputs would be to keep the boston acoustics amp in place and hook the outputs from the factory amp that normally goes to factory speakers to the high level inputs of the ms-8. The way I was going to wire mine up was by soldering rcas (or use ******** harness) to the factory radio low-level input to the ms-8 rca input. You do make a valid point about the backup sensors being lost and I didnt think about that until now... That is a big bummer and now I dont think I will get the processor unless their is a way around it..

Im not sure I understand. Theres still front right and left speaker outputs coming from the radio to the BA amp correct? So why cant we take those and run them to the processor?

As I said I do have the ******** harness so for ease of integration Ill probably just plug that in and use the front rca jacks.

Originally Posted by tbone587

I have an idea that I am not sure will work or not. What if the ms-8 is connected like normal using the front inputs, and then I can take the rear channel lo level input from the radio and tie it to the center channel speaker. I think this will work, but it may have a lower sound than normal because its going from lo-level to high level.

Thats funny I was also contemplating how to get the beep to the center channel.

Why cant we again take the high level outputs from the radio and wire those to the center channel. Only problem is we have to run wires from back of car to center channel or remove radio and tap into wires up front.