Looking to get a JBL MS8

[butterMilk 10+ year member]

hihi, thanks bác 1 cái nhé, anh em cùng ?ng h? na, chúc anh em vv

Did I miss something here?

 

[DARKHART 10+ year member]

I am wondering how I hook up the output for the centre channel and the sub channel to a amp. The outputs are for a single rca hookup. If I found a small 2channel amp to use for the centre channel, would I just use a rca "y" splitter for input to the amp. And the same for the sub amp? I know some mono amps have the single rca hookup, but mine has 2 rca plugs(1 red and 1 white) just use a splitter?

Yeah that's all you would need to do seeing as how those are both mono channels.....

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

A center channel is definitely on the to do list. How did you go about doing the centre channel? How do you recommend I do it?Right now I have a 4 channel amp to use for the mids and tweets up front, was thinking of running the stock rear speakers on the ms8. And centre channel on the ms8.

Or use the 4 channel amp for front mids and the rear coaxial mids. And run the front tweeters on the ms8 and the centre speaker on the ms8.

I am wondering how I hook up the output for the centre channel and the sub channel to a amp. The outputs are for a single rca hookup. If I found a small 2channel amp to use for the centre channel, would I just use a rca "y" splitter for input to the amp. And the same for the sub amp? I know some mono amps have the single rca hookup, but mine has 2 rca plugs(1 red and 1 white) just use a splitter?

The center channel should not run off the MS-8's amplifier if your door speakers are on a separate amplifier. A lot of information in music is recorded in mono and Logic 7 will route that mono information to the center channel. This means you will want it to have similar performance to your door speakers. Andy W of Harman recommends a frequency response down to 100 Hz if possible and to use a tweeter. A 5-1/4" coaxial speaker is acceptable, but basically the best center is a 6.5" woofer with a tweeter. You wouldn't want to go any larger as you run into issues mating the woofer with the tweeter, just the same as with a door install.

What I plan to do is use half of a 6.25" component set, build an enclosure into my dash, and power it off a bridged 2-channel amp. Before that I'm going to add rear speakers as it's said to add depth to the soundstage with Logic 7. Rear speakers off the MS-8's amplifier is fine as there won't be much playing back there.

The center channel is really for great imaging with passengers. You can get centered vocals without a center channel just like with any other processor.

 

[butterMilk 10+ year member]

The center channel should not run off the MS-8's amplifier if your door speakers are on a separate amplifier. A lot of information in music is recorded in mono and Logic 7 will route that mono information to the center channel. This means you will want it to have similar performance to your door speakers. Andy W of Harman recommends a frequency response down to 100 Hz if possible and to use a tweeter. A 5-1/4" coaxial speaker is acceptable, but basically the best center is a 6.5" woofer with a tweeter. You wouldn't want to go any larger as you run into issues mating the woofer with the tweeter, just the same as with a door install.
What I plan to do is use half of a 6.25" component set, build an enclosure into my dash, and power it off a bridged 2-channel amp. Before that I'm going to add rear speakers as it's said to add depth to the soundstage with Logic 7. Rear speakers off the MS-8's amplifier is fine as there won't be much playing back there.

The center channel is really for great imaging with passengers. You can get centered vocals without a center channel just like with any other processor.

Thanks for that!

For the centre channel, If a component is used where would you position the speakers, like one in front of the other? And for either the coaxial or component, the speakers ( if placed on the dash) would be pointing towards the rear view mirror/windshield right? Is that a good position for the speaker, or would you want it more on-axis?

For the rear speakers, would the ms8 adjust the ''loudness'' of the rear speakers. So that the rear speakers are at a proper level, or at least what the ms8 thinks is a proper level?

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

For the centre channel, If a component is used where would you position the speakers, like one in front of the other? And for either the coaxial or component, the speakers ( if placed on the dash) would be pointing towards the rear view mirror/windshield right? Is that a good position for the speaker, or would you want it more on-axis?

Pointing up at the windshield is fine. You just want the tweeter right next to the mid, which is why a coaxial would make that easier. If you're going to cut a hole in the dash your options are open.

For the rear speakers, would the ms8 adjust the ''loudness'' of the rear speakers. So that the rear speakers are at a proper level, or at least what the ms8 thinks is a proper level?

MS-8 has adjustment sliders for sub, fading f to r, balance left to r, center level, and rear level. With Logic 7 turned on the rear speakers are only going to play information that is out of phase. I'll be able to comment more on that once I reconfigure my system a bit to include rear speakers.

 

[Beerdrnkr 5,000+ posts]

Pointing up at the windshield is fine. You just want the tweeter right next to the mid, which is why a coaxial would make that easier. If you're going to cut a hole in the dash your options are open.


MS-8 has adjustment sliders for sub, fading f to r, balance left to r, center level, and rear level. With Logic 7 turned on the rear speakers are only going to play information that is out of phase. I'll be able to comment more on that once I reconfigure my system a bit to include rear speakers.

The center channel should not run off the MS-8's amplifier if your door speakers are on a separate amplifier. A lot of information in music is recorded in mono and Logic 7 will route that mono information to the center channel. This means you will want it to have similar performance to your door speakers. Andy W of Harman recommends a frequency response down to 100 Hz if possible and to use a tweeter. A 5-1/4" coaxial speaker is acceptable, but basically the best center is a 6.5" woofer with a tweeter. You wouldn't want to go any larger as you run into issues mating the woofer with the tweeter, just the same as with a door install.
What I plan to do is use half of a 6.25" component set, build an enclosure into my dash, and power it off a bridged 2-channel amp. Before that I'm going to add rear speakers as it's said to add depth to the soundstage with Logic 7. Rear speakers off the MS-8's amplifier is fine as there won't be much playing back there.

The center channel is really for great imaging with passengers. You can get centered vocals without a center channel just like with any other processor.

He's right on all of this!

I currently have a 6ch. Amp bridged 3way to my door mids and center channel, a 2ch. To my tweegs, and the rear coaxials are running off the ms-8. I could only fit a 4" center but if u can fit a 6 1/2" that'd be best. Make sure to run the same power to the center as the other front mids.

 

[butterMilk 10+ year member]

He's right on all of this! I currently have a 6ch. Amp bridged 3way to my door mids and center channel, a 2ch. To my tweegs, and the rear coaxials are running off the ms-8. I could only fit a 4" center but if u can fit a 6 1/2" that'd be best. Make sure to run the same power to the center as the other front mids.

Thanks!

One thing that is holding me back is the 2.8v max input. My HU ''says'' it puts out 4v, this shouldn't be a problem right. Ive done some reading around but haven't come up with a solid answer yet.

Are you not running subs? How do you have that 3 way door setup, centre, and rears?

 

[DARKHART 10+ year member]

Thanks!
One thing that is holding me back is the 2.8v max input. My HU ''says'' it puts out 4v, this shouldn't be a problem right.

That won't be a problem at all, the 4v output of your deck is not a constant and the MS-8 will allow you to match input signals during the calibration/setup step....

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

One thing that is holding me back is the 2.8v max input. My HU ''says'' it puts out 4v, this shouldn't be a problem right. Ive done some reading around but haven't come up with a solid answer yet.

There is a setup CD included with the MS-8. You play that during the input setup and adjust your head unit volume until it says "OK" 3 times on the display. That will become your maximum volume level, with room to spare to turn it up on quieter songs.

 

[butterMilk 10+ year member]

Awesome thx guys!

Another question for the experts. I need to get another amp for the centre channel, would it be worth it to get a small 4ch amp so I could bridge the centre channel, and also amp the rear speakers. Or does the ms8 have enough power for the rear speakers?

 

[DARKHART 10+ year member]

The ms8 has the power to do it but if it was me, I would get the small 4 channel and do as you stated....

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

As long as you're sticking to the 8 channel limit more power is always good. I will bridge a 2-channel amp for my center channel and most likely run the rears off the MS-8.