[bluewind]

Okay - just did it. Switching the hi-fi amp to MS-8 makes amazing improvement. Cannot imagine how good it will get once I do the center speaker later.

Since there was no clear instruction on how to use Technic harness to do the job, I just tried to figure it out on my own.

Can someone please check if the wiring is done correctly? Especially the power/ground cables - and the REM IN piece, too.

Had a difficult time configuring the amp - but now after a few calibration, I love how it sounds.

[bluewind]

Wiring pictures included... Please see if I did it correctly. Thanks!

[Technic]

Take a look at your PM... the power/ground/remote are correct.

Note... unplug mic once you finish with the install and setup.

[kaigoss69]

Yes, in god's name, unplug that mic cable, now!

[WilliamS]

does this remove all the filtering from the stock amp as well remove that amp 100%. At this point do you have actual control of the frequencies or is there still an internal setup that cant be over ridden?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Goofyguy

does this remove all the filtering from the stock amp as well remove that amp 100%. At this point do you have actual control of the frequencies or is there still an internal setup that cant be over ridden?

Direct/100% replacement of the HiFi OEM amp (not Logic7, not Harman Kardon, not Individual Audio) with JBL MS-8: http://www.jbl.com/images/media/MS_8_OM_EN.pdf

[KN| BMW]

Can be used for base system? If so, where is the good store to buy? Im seeing on ebay that each vendor sells for different price from 499 , 699 and 899?

I have just replaced my front speakers to Logic7 but still not happy with it..Maybe a better amp will help ?


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Thanks!

[bluewind]

Thanks much Technic! I am very happy with just ms-8 alone for now and cannot wait until I install the center speaker...

But had I not already bought the center speaker and other pieces, I would have just stopped here. The current setup isn't perfect but ms-8 alone makes so much better sound than stock.

Technic harness made things stupidly easy... Other posts actually confused me much more. For this swap, only thing you need is a screw driver and literally 10 minutes - it took me much longer but it was because I was reading too much and trying to figure things out ;-)

No running wires required. Also I just put the monitor in the trunk and pull it forward thru the rear seat only when I need to make adjustments so didn't need to run any cable at all.

Will pull the mic out! But does it matter? I just thought that mic would be used or turned on only during calibration. Just curious.

[bluewind]

Originally Posted by KN| BMW

Can be used for base system? If so, where is the good store to buy? Im seeing on ebay that each vendor sells for different price from 499 , 699 and 899?

I have just replaced my front speakers to Logic7 but still not happy with it..Maybe a better amp will help ?


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Thanks!

I bought the factory refurbished one sold by JBL on eBay and it looked like brand new.

[Technic]

The HiFi to MS-8 PnP harness is configured as follows:

- the harness kit includes the main OEM amp to MS-8 output harness, a 3-wire sub harness/pigtail, an optional 12ft 18AWG center speaker cable terminated with OEM terminals at one end, and a set of RCA (Red = right channel) cables. PDC mod (to keep PDC functional with MS-8) is also optional.

- the main harness plugs into the OEM amp connector

- the 3-wire sub harness has a red (12V), black (ground) and blue (remote turn on IN) wires. Connect those to the MS-8 12V, ground and remote IN respectively.

- the optional center speaker cable terminals plug into the OEM amp connector slots 39 (positive) and 40 (negative).



The slots numbers are molded in the OEM amp connector; wires are inserted in the black subconnector inside the OEM amp connector.

- run the center channel cable to the top of the dash and to your center speaker.

- the main harness has 2 RCA receptacles. The red RCA is right channel, the white RCA is left channel. Use the included RCA 3ft cable to connect the main harness RCA with the MS-8 CH1 (Left) and CH2 (Right) input channels.

The PDC option has two red RCA joined into one receptacle, two white RCA are joined into one receptacle. Follow the same connections above to the MS-8 CH1 and CH2.

- plug 3-wire sub connector to main harness

That connects the MS-8 to all your OEM speakers, 12V, ground and remote in.

The MS-8 speaker output configuration is:

- CH1 = Left front
- CH2 = Right front
- CH3 = Left rear
- CH4 = Right rear
- CH5 = Center
- CH6 = Left woofer
- CH7 = Right woofer
- CH8 = Not used unless a separate subwoofer is used (not supported by this harness)

Suggested setup:

- skip input setup
- Sub = 2, subsonic at 50Hz at 18dB slope, low pass at 200Hz at 12dB slope
- Front = 1-way
- Center = 1-way, 160Hz at 18dB
- Sides = 1-way, 160Hz at 18dB

Calibration volume = -25dB

Main volume after calibration = -6dB

Adjust to taste.

Please revise the MS-8 install instructions for a more detailed information about how to configure the MS-8. Only the wiring is taken care of by the harness and not the actual MS-8 setup.

[sngencarelli]

This has me intrigued. I have my original hi-if amp, but I'm also powering my stock under seat subs with a JBL amp. That has made a big difference, now I'm wondering if there is any benefit to putting everything back to stock and then replacing the original hi-if amp with the ms-8, letting it power all of the stock speakers. I could also add the center channel at some point. I've got an E93, btw.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
Scott

[ctuna]

Technic have you tried running the fronts(front doors) active?
Since you have a lot of channels it looks like you could do this in a Hi Fi.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Technic have you tried running the fronts(front doors) active?
Since you have a lot of channels it looks like you could do this in a Hi Fi.

The only way of doing that is to not install a center speaker and then run new wires to the front doors.

Which then defeats the purpose of the PnP harness. D

[bluewind]

Finally got to install the center speaker! Took me 2 hours but I think it was worth it. I am planning to put a mini DIY for super newbies like me because there are so many good threads on this topic but it was super difficult to put things together without prior experience or knowledge.

My quick impression:

Just with MS8 and stock hifi speakers, they sound better than HK premium sound option for most music but vocal is weaker and talk radio sounds pretty bad. Overall much better than stock hifi but not as all around player as HK.

MS8 + center speaker (DLS 424) sounds absolutely better than HK. Bass isn't so bad, either in my opinion. Vocal gets much better and now talk radio is also very clear and enjoyable. I think I need to fine tune the calibration but I can definitely say that the current setup sounds better than my 2 previous E90s with HK.

I am going to compare with my wife's F10 with HK later. It will be interesting ;-)

[Technic]

Originally Posted by bluewind

Finally got to install the center speaker! Took me 2 hours but I think it was worth it. I am planning to put a mini DIY for super newbies like me because there are so many good threads on this topic but it was super difficult to put things together without prior experience or knowledge.

My quick impression:

Just with MS8 and stock hifi speakers, they sound better than HK premium sound option for most music but vocal is weaker and talk radio sounds pretty bad. Overall much better than stock hifi but not as all around player as HK.

MS8 + center speaker (DLS 424) sounds absolutely better than HK. Bass isn't so bad, either in my opinion. Vocal gets much better and now talk radio is also very clear and enjoyable. I think I need to fine tune the calibration but I can definitely say that the current setup sounds better than my 2 previous E90s with HK.

I am going to compare with my wife's F10 with HK later. It will be interesting ;-)

Keep messing around with the MS-8 settings for sub or front 2-way. Bass is the #2 weakness of the MS-8 calibration in our BMW's. You may need to use the MS-8 EQ or sub level adjustments instead of just straight calibration.

The HiFi OEM woofers have great bass response with a DSP, so this is just a matter of tuning.

[bluewind]

Originally Posted by Technic

Keep messing around with the MS-8 settings for sub or front 2-way. Bass is the #2 weakness of the MS-8 calibration in our BMW's. You may need to use the MS-8 EQ or sub level adjustments instead of just straight calibration.

The HiFi OEM woofers have great bass response with a DSP, so this is just a matter of tuning.

Thanks Technic! I didn't realize how handy your harness and the center speaker set were until I really tried them out. Out of box, I was baffled, but looking back, it was just my ignorance. Your product simply rocks!

Will play around with settings as you mentioned here and in other threads.

[rancow]

Hi,

This is upgrade is exactly what I am considering... I have an 09 328xi with HiFi, limited budget, but the stock tweeters made me listen to NPR.

Now that you have had the upgrade for awhile what do you think? What center speaker would you recommend?

Thanks!

[yatzee]

i know technic quite liked the Vibe Slick 4 as being a great speaker for a very modest price. They're no longer listed on Vibe's site - not sure where to find them now? Maybe he could chime in?

[Technic]

The Vibes coaxials were good for the price and use (center speaker).

Any DLS or Alpine coaxial will do fine as well.

[rancow]

Thanks for the input!

[romanonj]

Can you please post mounting location for ms8.

[D's Bimmer]

After allot of research and discussions with various custom audio shops, I decided to start with the addition of the JL Audio HD 900/5 channel amp. It is an amazing night and day upgrade to my otherwise stock HiFi System. Phase two will be the addition of a 10" JL Audio sub with a custom fabricated box in the trunk. For space reasons, I will be going with a 500w flatline sub. Phase three will be replacing my front components with the Focal K2 100's. After that, just listening. Although I will say that the biggest difference comes from the amp in my opinion. I know allot of people like to upgrade their speakers first but I always think its better to start with the amp and then add/adjust accordingly afterwards. With proper amplification and calibration the BMW stock speakers are surprisingly good.