JBL MS-8

[Johnny_tro]

Been reading up......basically, is this not the simple answer to everyones upgrade? or is it just an over marketed toy....not really as good as what they make out.

One box.....all done.

No speaker upgrades, wires amps etc

[Snoopy]

No its quite good.
I followed its development and the info before launch by Andy Wehmeyer and have one myself.
Ultimate sound off tweekers it does not totally please as it does not allow fully ultimate adjustment (We fiddle to the nTh degree) but it gets to 9/10th the point most of the few golden eared tweekers will get to after month solid of tunning in a simple auto tune.
As for no speaker upgrades etc thats down to how you like your music. If you run the speakers within there linear range then it will give you the frequency responce out there capable of in there linear range. What it won't do is make speakers produce something there design is incapable of doing. So your not going to get 18hz at 110dB out of a 6 inch oem cone.
 

[Johnny_tro]

So, it's fair to say it's a great peice of kit....but ideally upgrading the speakers will give you ultimate sound?

"To be used as an add on - not instead of the standard upgrades?"

[Snoopy]

It depends what your goals are.
If you simply want a more acurate sound at similar levels to what the OEM unit will put out then it will tune the oem speakers to produce that within 3dB. Imo its a great first step product.
Most people jump to speakers and amps as an upgrade first. Fine but all there doing is changing the frequency responce slightly (different speakers different responce) and giving them more volume due to extra power and probably more linear motor design on the speakers allowing more linear output volume. But they don't think of the effects the interior of the car has on the speakers output thats often much much greater than anything else. The ms8 like other processors out there help reduce the result of interaction. Normal people always seem to miss processing off when building a system imo its one of the most important components of a system.

[GLIDN]

Well I have one of these in my MK5 (yes sorry have not updated my build thread in ages).

It fits just about perfectly under the passengers front seat.

I have however installed a 4 channel amp under the drivers seats. So currently my front door speakers are getting approx 80wrms (can go to 150wrms). still running stock front speakers.
I'm still playing around with the frequency cut off between the front speakers and sub. Only gripe I have currently is I had to run a new switched 12+ from the Fuse panel.
So it and the speakers only go on when you have the key on the on position. Still have not figured away around this at present.

It's a great piece of kit, however it does have some downfalls.

1. It randomly stops working. Quick reset and retune (About 20 minutes) and it's back up and running.
2. The display screens and remotes just stop working randomly. No idea why. Have a replacement of both under warranty.
3. What ever your high pass cross-over point is for the sub, automatically becomes the low pass cross-over point for the front speakers(or mids). Including the slope cut-off.
4. the power switch issue, but that is MK5 related not MS-8.