Jbl MS-8 Owners Manual

jbl

MS-8

System integration digital processor

USER GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 3

Important! Read Before You Begin 4

Box Contents 4

Applications 4

Connections 5

Power 5

Audio Inputs 7

Audio Outputs 11

Display 15

Microphone 15

Update 16

Installation 17

Choosing a Location for the Main Unit 17

Mounting the Main Unit 18

Choosing a Location for the Display Unit 18

Installing the Display Unit 19

Mounting the Remote Control 22

Using the Remote Control 23

Calibration/Setup 24

Language Selection 25

Input Setup 25

Output Setup 26

Acoustic Calibration 32

Using the MS-8 35

Volume Up and Volume Down Buttons 35

Main Menu 35

Input Selection Menu 36

Audio Controls Menu 36

Favorites Menu 39

System Settings Menu 40

Resetting the Microprocessor 41

Troubleshooting 42

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Specications       47

2

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for your purchase of the JBL
MS-8 System Integration Digital Processor.
We have designed the MS-8 to make
successful installation and setup easy and to
provide you with years of enjoyable and great
sound.

We have also designed the MS-8 and this
owner s manual to make do-it-yourself
installation an option for those DIYers who
have some experience in mechanical and
electrical procedures and who have access
to the simple tools required for minor
disassembly of automotive interior panels.
We have designed the MS-8 to minimize the
disassembly required and to make electrical
connections to any existing system as simple
as possible.

Please read this manual carefully before
attempting installation. If you do not have
the necessary tools or experience, do not
attempt the installation yourself. Instead,
please ask your authorized JBL car audio
dealer about professional installation or

visit www.JBL.com to nd the nearest

professional.

Englis h

This manual explains how to install, set up
and use your MS-8 in a general sense but

will not indicate the specic wiring codes,

connections and locations for your particular
vehicle. There are many online resources
that provide wiring codes and diagrams for
vehicles. JBLs technicians or Web pages may
also be able to help.

This manual does not explain why the MS-8
works. If you have technical questions that
this manual does not answer, or if you want to
do some additional reading to understand the
technology that the MS-8 contains, please
visit us on the Internet at www.JBL.com.

Thanks again for your purchase, and we
sincerely hope that JBLs MS-8 will provide
you with years of happy listening.

3

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IMPORTANT! READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Warning

Playing loud music in an automobile can

hinder your ability to hear trafc and can

permanently damage your hearing. We
recommend listening at low or moderate
levels while driving your car. JBL accepts
no liability for hearing loss, bodily injury or
property damage resulting from the use or
misuse of this product.

Replacing the Fuse

If you must replace the MS-8 s fuse, use
only the same type and rating as that of the
original. Do not substitute another kind.

BOX CONTENTS

(1) MS-8 main unit
(1) MS-8 display unit and base
(1) Hi Level input wiring harness (gray and
white insulation)
(1) Speaker-output wiring harness (clear
insulation)
(1) 6m (19.7 ft), 2.5mm (1") three-conductor
cable for display unit
(1) Wireless remote control (battery installed)
(1) Remote-control installation tray
(1) Remote-control trim ring
(1) Binaural microphone headset
(1) Calibration and setup CD (includes
instruction manual and quick-start guide)
(1) Quick-start guide
(4) 4x20 screws
(3) 3.5x20 screws
(2) 3x20 screws
(2) Hexagonal (hex) wrenches
(2) Adhesive pads
(4) Alcohol prep pads

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APPLICATIONS

The MS-8 s extensive crossover capabilities

allow you to congure its eight channels in

a number of different ways, depending on
the type and number of speakers in your
vehicle s audio system. JBL recommends
that you carefully plan your system and its
connections before beginning installation.

4

CONNECTIONS








Englis h

25A
fuse

Mic

connection

connection

Remote in

connection

Speaker output

connections

+12V
connection

GND
connection

Line output

connections

Line input

connections

Aux input

connections

Reset

button

POWER

IMPORTANT: Perform the power connections in the following order.

1. Gnd: Connect this terminal to a paint-free location on the vehicle chassis.

Hi Level inputRemote out

Display

connection

connection

REMOVE

FOR

SOFTWARE

UPDATE

Update

Power

LED

IMPORTANT: Use at least 12-gauge wire for this connection.

Chassis

ground

(unpainted)

5

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CONNECTIONS






2. +12V: Connect this terminal to the vehicle batterys positive (+) terminal. Insert a 25A fuse in series on
the +12V wire no further than 18 inches (46cm) from the battery terminal.

IMPORTANT: Use at least 12-gauge wire for this connection.

25A fuse within
18" of battery
terminal

1 x 25A

+

-

3. Rem Out: Connect this terminal to the remote turn-on terminals of all ampliers in the system. The
output is +12V DC, 1A.

IMPORTANT:TheMS-8MUSTcontroltheturn-onsignalofalltheotherampliers

that follow the MS-8 in the signal path.

Ifyoursystemincludesafactory-installedoutboardamplier,theturn-onsignal
maybeavailableattheamplier.Ifyourfactoryamplierhasaturn-onwire,cutit

and connect the head-unit side of the wire to the MS-8 s Rem In terminal and the

ampliersideofthewiretotheMS-8’sRemOutterminal.

This arrangement will allow the factory stereo to turn the MS-8 on whenever the

stereoisturnedonandwillallowtheMS-8toturnthefactoryamplieronandoff.

It will also help to eliminate audible clicks and pops when the system turns on and
off.

Cable from MS-8
+12V terminal

Use a grommet
through the
firewall

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To turn-on
terminals of
all system
amplifiers

6

CONNECTIONS

Rem In: Connect this terminal to the remote turn-on output of the systems source unit, if the
source unit has a remote turn-on output. Alternately, you can connect this terminal to the vehicles
accessory (ACC) power circuit. Any voltage over +4V DC at this terminal will trigger the MS-8 to
turn on.

NOTE: See Step 3 for more details about connecting the Rem In terminal to a factory-installed
stereo system.

To head unit
remote turn-on
or vehicle
ACC terminal

Englis h

AUDIO INPUTS

Many factory-installed systems include on-board equalization and crossovers that make simple

connection of aftermarket products difcult. The MS-8 includes the signal-summing circuitry, signal­conditioning EQ and time-correction processing that are necessary to reconstruct a at, full-range,

two-channel signal when you use the MS-8 with factory-installed equipment.

Aftermarket head units with line outputs provide a at, full-range, two-channel signal on their front line

outputs, so you need to connect only those channels to the MS-8.

7

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CONNECTIONS

Connecting an aftermarket head unit

If you re using the MS-8 with an aftermarket head unit that has RCA-type outputs, connect the head unit s
front left and front right outputs to the MS-8s line inputs 1 and 2 only. Do NOT connect any other head-unit
output signals to the MS-8s line inputs 3 8. During the calibration/setup process, the MS-8 will normalize
the input signals and derive as many output signals as your speaker system requires.

IMPORTANT: Do not connect the head unit directly to any ampliers, including a subwoofer amplier. The

MS-8 s signal processing takes nearly 8ms, so any signals connected directly to a head-unit will be ahead
of the signals leaving the MS-8 by about 8ms. This difference will cause them to be out of sync with the
signals that pass through the MS-8. The MS-8 must generate all the signals that are sent to all of the

system s speakers!

Aftermarket head unit

MS-8 main unit

Front

line out

RCA

audio cables

Line inputs

1 and 2

Rear

line out

DO NOT USE

Subwoofer

line out

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8

CONNECTIONS

Connecting a factory radio/head unit

If you will be connecting the MS-8 to a factory-installed stereo or a factory-installed amplier (often located in

the vehicles trunk), connect each of your factory front-speaker and subwoofer outputs to one of the MS-8s Hi
Level inputs. Be sure to connect the outputs for all speakers that are part of the vehicles front left and front right
speakers.

You can connect the factory front speaker outputs to any MS-8 Hi Level inputs, but factory stereo or amplier
subwoofer outputs MUST be connected ONLY to the MS-8 s channel 7 and/or 8 inputs. During the calibration/
setup process, the MS-8 will normalize the input signals and derive as many output signals as your speaker
system requires.

Factory stereo
wiring harness

Englis h

MS-8 main unit

Front left

+ –

Connect

+ –

+ –

+ –

Ch 1

Front right

Ch 2

Side left

Ch 3

Side right

Rear right

DO NOT USE

Ch 4

Ch 5

Subwoofer*

Center

Rear left

+ –

Connect

+ –

Ch 6

Ch 7

Ch 8

*NOTE: Subwoofers
MUST be connected
to MS-8 input 7
and/or input 8

NOTE: The above illustration shows only a general connection example and does not represent any particular
vehicle audio system.

Insert the included Hi Level input wiring harness into the MS-8s Hi-Level-input connector until it locks into place.

IMPORTANT: The MS-8 s Hi Level input wiring harness has gray and white wires. Each channel has a white
(positive or + ) wire and a gray (negative or ) wire. Each wire is labeled with its channel number and polarity,
and is pre-stripped for easy connection to your factory radios speaker outputs. Make sure that the ( + ) and

( ) wires do not touch each other. Touching wires can cause a short circuit that can damage the
MS-8 or your head unit.

To ensure proper polarity, connect each factory-radio positive (+) terminal to the respective

+ terminal on the MS-8. Connect the negative ( ) terminals in a similar way.

9

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CONNECTIONS

Aux input: If you will be using a portable music player or CD player as an auxiliary audio-source unit,
connect its line or headphone output to the MS-8's Aux input using a cable that terminates in stereo
RCA audio connections. You can switch between the MS-8's Head Unit inputs and Aux input in the
MS-8's Input Selection menu. See Main Menu, on page 35.

Aux
input

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To
headphone
output

10

CONNECTIONS

AUDIO OUTPUTS

Congurations

You can congure the MS-8’s eight outputs in a variety of ways, depending on the speakers that are
installed in your vehicle. You can congure the MS-8 for a system with one-way (full-range), two-way or

three-way front speakers, a one-way or two-way center speaker, side speakers, rear speakers and one
or two subwoofers. Remember, however, that the total number of available channels is eight, so any
combination of front, center, side, rear and subwoofer channels cannot total more than eight. For example,
if you are allocating six channels for a pair of tri-amped, three-way front speakers, there will be only two
remaining channels, which will not accommodate a pair of rear speakers and a subwoofer.

If your system will include more than eight channels, use additional separate ampliers (connected to the

MS-8 s line outputs) for the additional channels. For example, if you want to build a 7.1-channel system
that includes bi-amped or tri-amped front speakers, use the MS-8 to generate the 7.1-channel outputs
(seven full-range and one subwoofer). Connect the MS-8s front line outputs to the inputs of an additional

crossover (or amplier containing an additional crossover) that will provide the separate channels required

to drive the front midbass, midrange and/or tweeters separately.

Use the Conguration Chart below to record which of your system’s speakers you have connected

to which of the MS-8s outputs. Keeping this record will simplify channel assignment during the setup
procedure. See Main Menu, on page 35.

Englis h

Output # Channel / Speaker Connected Output Connector Used

1 RCA SPEAKER

2 RCA SPEAKER

3 RCA SPEAKER

4 RCA SPEAKER

5 RCA SPEAKER

6 RCA SPEAKER

7 RCA SPEAKER

8 RCA SPEAKER

11

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CONNECTIONS

Speaker Outputs

If you’ll use the MS-8’s built-in power ampliers to drive your system’s speakers, connect the speakers to the

MS-8 s speaker outputs. Insert the included speaker-output wiring harness into the MS-8s speaker output
until it locks into place. See Main Menu, on page 35.

IMPORTANT: The MS-8 s speaker-output wiring harness s wires have clear insulation. Each channel has a
copper (positive or + ) conductor and a silver (negative or ) conductor. We have labeled each conductor
with its channel number and polarity, and pre-stripped it for easy connection to your systems speakers.

Make sure that the ( + ) and ( ) wires do not touch each other. Touching wires can cause a short
circuit that can damage the MS-8.

Left front
(tweeter)

+

– + –

+

Left front

(midrange)

–

Right front

(tweeter)

Right front

(midrange)

–

+

Vehicle

Speaker System

+

Left side
(coaxial)

–

Left rear
(coaxial)

+

–

Right side

(coaxial)

Right rear

(coaxial)

+

–

+

–

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MS-8
main unit

Speaker-output
wiring harness

To ensure proper polarity, connect each MS-8 positive (+) terminal to the respective

+ terminal on the speaker. Connect the negative ( ) terminals in a similar way.

12

CONNECTIONS

NOTE: You can power some of the system's speakers by the MS-8's ampliers and some by outboard
ampliers, but you should use only one connection type per output. For example, output channel 1 may use the
MS-8's amplifer OR an outboard amplier, but not both. Be sure to use the chart above to note which speakers

are connected to which MS-8 channels.

Englis h

Left front
(Tweeter)

+

– + –

+

–

Left front

(midrange)

Vehicle

Speaker

Right front

(midrange)

System

+

Left rear
(coaxial)

Subwoofer

–

+ –

Not

used

Right rear

+

Not

used

Right front

(Tweeter)

–

+

(coaxial)

–

Speaker output

wiring harness

Line output
#6

13

Subwoofer

amplifier

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CONNECTIONS

Line Outputs

If you’ll be using additional outboard power ampliers to drive your system’s speakers, connect their inputs to
the MS-8’s line-output connectors. You can power some of the system’s speakers by the MS-8’s ampliers
and some by outboard ampliers, but you should use only one connection type per output. For example,
Output Channel 1 may use the MS-8’s amplier OR an outboard amplier, but not both. Be sure to use the

chart above to note which speakers you have connected to which of the MS-8s channels.

Front

speaker

amplifier

Left front
(tweeter)

+

+

Left front
(midrange)

–

Left rear
(coaxial)

+

–

Rear

speaker

amplifier

Vehicle

Speaker

System

Subwoofer

+ –

Right front

(tweeter)

Right front
(midrange)

Right rear

(coaxial)

+

–+–

–

+

–

Subwoofer

amplifier

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RCA

audio cables

MS-8 main unit

14

Ch. 8 is unused
in this example

CONNECTIONS

DISPLAY

Use the included 6m (19.7 ft) cable to connect the display unit to the MS-8s main unit s display connection.
Insert the cable s straight connector into the main unit and the right-angle connector into the display.

REMOVE

FOR

SOFTWARE

UPDATE

Englis h

Plug angled connector

into display

Plug straight connector

into main unit

NOTE: The display unit must be connected during setup but may be disconnected after setup and after
you ve made any additional adjustments in the Audio Controls menu (see Audio Controls Menu, on page 36).

If the display unit is disconnected after setup and nal adjustment, you will not be able to make any additional

MS-8 adjustments, and the remote control will not function. See Main Menu, on page 35.

MICROPHONE

The included binaural microphone headset must be connected to the MS-8 s Mic connection during the
calibration/setup process. Once setup is complete, unplug the microphone headset and store it in a safe
place.

IMPORTANT: Do not use any other microphone with the MS-8.

Connect to mic input

15

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