One last upgrade

[LosIsATool]

When I get back from this deployment I'll have a few grand to spend but I really don't want to drop it all. This is the very last time I'm dumping this kind of money into the setup. There are 3 things I still want to do but not really needed so I'm just going to do one of them.

1. Add a JBL MS-8.... Do I need it? Not really, it very competative in the SQ lanes as it is but I want to see how much better it can be. ($600-$700)

2. Upgrade to the Hertz Mille... Is it really needed? No but it will improve, how much is the question.
($1000) sell mine for $400ish or more if I hold out for it.

3. Upgrade to a DD M4a... Its it needed? Well I would gain, maybe get in the 152 range which is cool. Its the most sure bet upgrade but it also cost the most. $1500 for the amp and $300 for the added battery. Sell my amp for $800 which is a faster sale then the speakers.

This is it so I want to make it count.

[trumpet]

I don't know how your car sounds since all I can judge it on is YouTube videos, but MS-8 will definitely make a non-subtle difference that anyone can hear. The one thing it will for sure struggle with is EQing and level matching your subwoofer setup. The bass should be heard but just barely felt when you run the calibration with the dual mics. Can you cut the bass level that much when the speakers are at conversational speech level? MS-8 has its own subwoofer level control, but you have to set it with the remote control. There's no knob to quickly adjust it.

Another concern is the voltage to power the MS-8. Your signature says 15.1v bypass. The MS-8 manual just says "12V negative ground" for power, but no min and max values.

[LosIsATool]

I don't know how your car sounds since all I can judge it on is YouTube videos, but MS-8 will definitely make a non-subtle difference that anyone can hear. The one thing it will for sure struggle with is EQing and level matching your subwoofer setup. The bass should be heard but just barely felt when you run the calibration with the dual mics. Can you cut the bass level that much when the speakers are at conversational speech level? MS-8 has its own subwoofer level control, but you have to set it with the remote control. There's no knob to quickly adjust it.

Another concern is the voltage to power the MS-8. Your signature says 15.1v bypass. The MS-8 manual just says "12V negative ground" for power, but no min and max values.

The way it tuned now the volume stays pretty level through the whole range BUT I was thinking I could set it up with the gain remote down and roll it up when its set if I want more?

[trumpet]

The way it tuned now the volume stays pretty level through the whole range BUT I was thinking I could set it up with the gain remote down and roll it up when its set if I want more?

MS-8 adjusts the midbass/sub transition on the fly to try to keep the bass up front and maintain your crossover frequencies when you turn the sub level up. I don't know how the amp will perform if you use both the MS-8 and the remote gain knob.

[OldManBass]

I had asked this questions before... so is there any way for me to have a setting on the MS-8 that is "SQ" oriented, and another setting which is "SPL" oriented... i.e. my subs are going hard?

It sounds like the MS-8 is going to keep the bass level down ALL the time... is that the case?

[trumpet]

I had asked this questions before... so is there any way for me to have a setting on the MS-8 that is "SQ" oriented, and another setting which is "SPL" oriented... i.e. my subs are going hard?

It sounds like the MS-8 is going to keep the bass level down ALL the time... is that the case?

No. Basically, everything about MS-8 is "SQ oriented", as that's why you buy one. You get more bass a couple of ways:[list][*]turn the bass up with the graphic EQ[*]turn the sub level up in the audio setting menu[*]if you still lack in output then go to your amps and turn the gains up the same amount on each amp, with 2V being your maximum

If this still doesn't give you your target for bass I'm not sure what else you can do. The reason to turn the all the gains up the same amount is to maintain the EQ curve generated during calibration. I've never had my system metered, but it's far from loud on the low end. I don't have a way to test this theory myself. There are thousands of MS-8s out there in use so someone must know the answer from testing.

[gckless]

Are you stuck on the MS-8? I'm not saying it's not good, just suggesting that there maay be other processors more suited for what you want to do. The Arc PS-8 allows you to store up to three EQ presets if I'm not mistaken.

[OldManBass]

Are you stuck on the MS-8? I'm not saying it's not good, just suggesting that there maay be other processors more suited for what you want to do. The Arc PS-8 allows you to store up to three EQ presets if I'm not mistaken.

It sounds like the Arc might be more along the lines of what I'm looking for then. I'd love a setting for "SQ" and then a setting for "all out bass" but I'm not sure the MS-8 would do that easily.

@DDtC I would vote for a processor, not necessarily the MS-8

I don't have two 15" subs back there so 70hz and down is balanced... I don't always go ham, but when I do I like to do it all the way

[LosIsATool]

The thing is I like it to be aggressive daily. I agree the MS-8 my not be for me... The reason I was thinking MS-8 was from what I hear compaired to say a Bit one for the auto tune the MS-8 kills it. I really don't want to over complicate it and lead to a tuning nightmare.

[trumpet]

Does your installer know how to tune?

[LosIsATool]

Does your installer know how to tune?

It would be all me. I can't think of one near me that would know enough to set it up. One shop has a RTA but I don't think they know how to use that function. I could get some time with it. I have a few friends that have good ears also. One is a good MECA judge, the other spent a lot of time out west in ISACA

[trumpet]

The thing is, I don't imagine you're the type of guy who can tune once or twice and be satisfied. The top tuners will take more than 1 day to finish a tune on a new system. Your ears get tired and you have to take breaks. Talk to your buddies and get their feedback.

[maddog]

I would personally do the bigger amp but wouldn't do the m4a; instead I would look into a B2Audio m1u or the American bass 1100.1

[LosIsATool]

I would personally do the bigger amp but wouldn't do the m4a; instead I would look into a B2Audio m1u or the American bass 1100.1

Getting out of budget there when you add in the batteries. I'm trying to get the most power I can and still maintain good daily voltage, atleast over 13v.

[LosIsATool]

The thing is, I don't imagine you're the type of guy who can tune once or twice and be satisfied. The top tuners will take more than 1 day to finish a tune on a new system. Your ears get tired and you have to take breaks. Talk to your buddies and get their feedback.

I think you are talking me out of it. I really don't have the time aymore to tune for hours, get annoyed driving to work for a few days listening to a bad tune and doing it again. I was just looking for the auto tune but it looks like thats not going to work for me. It already has a great stage with proper imaging. It could be a bit wider I guess