Features
Controls
Connections
Specifications & Dimensions
Features
Overview: The JBL MS-8 System Integration Digital Processor features a
hide-away digital processor with a built-in DSP equalizer that optimizes
the frequency response, bass performance, dynamics, clarity, stereo imaging, and
detail of your existing car audio system, using the supplied setup/calibration
CD, microphone headset, LCD display, and RF remote control. Using the speakers
and electronics you already have, the MS-8 lets you tailor your acoustics for
maximum sonic impact. Its compatible with virtually any combination of
factory-installed and/or aftermarket components.
Digital Sound Processing: Digital sound
processing (DSP) allows the JBL MS-8 System Integration Digital Processor to
greatly enhance the performance of your existing car audio system. The JBL MS-8 provides simple
menu-driven calibration based on detailed input from a binaural headset
microphone. It will produce a flat-response, full-bandwidth signal from up to
eight input channels, and then use its built-in DSP functions to perform
powerful corrections in equalization, time arrival, and crossover.
- Equalization: The JBL MS-8 will automatically equalize
the signal sent to the loudspeakers and optimize their response for up to
four seating positions using the included binaural microphone headset. It improves tonal accuracy
by automatically compensating for the sonic characteristics of the speakers,
electronics and vehicle interior.
- Time Correction: The MS-8 automatically ensures
that the sound from all speakers arrives at the listener's ears
simultaneously, in up to four individual seating positions, dramatically
improving clarity and imaging.
- Crossover: The JBL MS-8 provides precise, user-selectable
crossover points and crossover slopes for up to eight separate outputs.
Built-in Amplifier: The JBL MS-8 features a built-in 8-channel
amplifier (18 watts RMS x 8ch @ 4-ohms or 30 watts RMS x 8ch at 2-ohms). The
unit's built-in amplifier can be used to power your factory or after-market
speakers in a system with no external amplifiers. The unit also offers preamp
outputs for car audio systems with aftermarket external amplifiers powering
existing speakers.
Note: Do not connect your head unit directly to any amplifiers,
including a subwoofer amplifier. 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.
LCD Display: The JBL MS-8 comes supplied with a display
unit with 2.625" LCD screen (128 x 64 pixels). 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. If the display unit is disconnected
after setup and final adjustment, you will not be able to make any additional
MS-8 adjustments, and the included remote control will not function. You can adjust the contrast and brightness of the display
screen. You can also select type of language text (English, Spanish, French,
Portuguese, German, Dutch, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish. The LCD display features an
adjustable mounting bracket which can be mounted to the top of your dashboard or
console using the included mounting screws or supplied self-adhesive pad.
Note: Choose a mounting location for the LCD display that is easy
to see while you are operating the vehicle, but that does not obstruct your
view or normal vehicle operations.
Microphone Headset: The included binaural microphone headset must be
connected to the MS-8's Mic connection during the calibration/setup process.
Place the microphone headset on your head (make sure that the left and right
microphones are on the correct ears). Once setup is complete, you can unplug the microphone headset and store it in a
safe place.
Note: Do not use any other microphone with the MS-8.
Controls
Remote Control: The JBL MS-8 features an RF (radio-frequency) remote
to control all of the MS-8's user-selectable features. Since the remote operates
by radio frequency, you do not need to point the remote directly at the
system's display. There are dedicated volume buttons on the remote that always
control the system volume, regardless of which menu screen is active. The remote
features an integrated battery. You can leave the remote un-mounted or secure
with velcro. JBL also offers two safe and convenient methods (Surface Mount or
Flush Mount) to secure the remote using the supplied mounting bracket.
Speaker Setup: During the Speaker Setup you will help the MS-8
configure the speakers and acoustics in your system. You must use the
calibration CD provided with the MS-8 for this step. If your system does
not have a CD player, you can convert the CD to a .WAV file for use with a
portable media player or other audio source. The file format you use must be
lossless, or the calibration process will not be accurate.
- Crossover Setup: You can configure the MS-8's eight
outputs in a variety of ways, depending on the speakers that are installed
in your vehicle. You can configure 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.
- Subwoofer:
- Type: enter 1, 2, or 0 subwoofers
- Subsonic Filter: select a frequency between 20-50Hz and a
slope of 6-24 dB/oct.
- Low-Pass Filter: select a low-pass frequency between
50-200Hz and a low-pass slot of 6-24 dB/oct.
- Front Speakers:
- Type: enter 1-way, 2-way, or 3-way
- Crossover Filter: for 1-way (full-range) front
speakers set the HPF between 20-100Hz with a 6-24dB/oct. slope; for
2-way front
speaker set the HPF between 50Hz-10kHz with a 6-24dB/oct. slope; for
3-way front speakers set the LPF between
100Hz-10kHz with a 6-24dB/oct. slope and the HPF between 20Hz-10kHz
with a 6-24dB/oct. slope
- Center Channel:
- Type: enter 1-way or 2-way
- High-Pass Filter: set the HPF between 50Hz-10kHz with a
6-24dB/oct. slope
- Side Speakers:
- Type: enter 1-way or None
- High-Pass Filter: set the HPF between 50-10kHz
with a 6-24dB/oct. slope
- Rear Speakers:
- Type: enter 1-way or None
- High-Pass Filter: set the HPF between 50-10kHz with
a 6-24dB/oct. slope
- Channel Selection: This menu assigns the outputs configured in
the MS-8's crossover setup to specific output channels by number. The menu
will display only valid choices (according to the entries in the crossover
setup).
Note: If the system has both side and rear speakers, the
Fader control will adjust between the front speakers and both the side
and rear speakers in tandem. It is not possible to adjust the balance
between the side and rear speakers.
Acoustic Calibration: Acoustic Calibration can be done for the
driver's seat, as well as for up to three additional seats. Connect the included
binaural microphone headset to MS-8 and place the microphone headset on your
head (make sure that the left and right microphones are on the correct ears).
Follow the MS-8's on-screen menu instructions on the system's LCD display to
complete calibration.
Note: The MS-8 will not pass an audio signal through to its
outputs until you have configured it through this setup/calibration process.
Audio Controls: The JBL MS-8 provides various audio adjustments for
your system after setup and calibration are complete. It allows you to adjust
the system level, tone controls and 31- band graphic EQ, and engage/defeat the
MS-8's Logic 7 processing, digital signal processing (time correction and
equalization) and seating-position optimization.
- System Level: This feature adjust the levels of the Aux input and
the system's speakers.
- Tone Control: This selection lets you adjust the system's overall
tone quality. The bass control and treble control are shelving-type
controls, with ±10dB of boost and cut at 20Hz and 20kHz, respectively. The
midrange control is a peak-and-dip type with a Q of 0.26 that offers ±10dB
of boost and cut at 650Hz.
- 31-Band EQ: The MS-8's graphic equalizer is a sophisticated
tone control that divides the audio spectrum into 31-bands, each
approximately a third of an octave wide. This format allows you to fine-tune
the system's sound with extreme precision. Each band allows ±10dB of boost
or cut at the band's center frequency. The equalizer's circuitry is designed
to minimize destructive interaction between adjacent bands, giving you
precise control with superior sound quality.
- Logic 7: Logic 7 technology creates an ideal 5.1-channel or
7.1-channel surround-sound listening environment from two-channel source
material. Logic 7 processing widens the stereo soundstage and increases the
sense of sonic envelopment, making the vehicle's interior boundaries seem to
disappear. The music sounds as though it exists on its own, rather than
coming from speakers. The MS-8's Logic 7 has been specifically tuned for use
in vehicles. It also includes processing for the center-channel speaker (if
applicable). Logic 7 processing steers all mono information to the center
channel (if applicable). You'll find vocal and instrument placement with
Logic 7 enabled and the center-channel level in the center position to be
natural sounding and consistent. If you listen to a lot of news, sports or
talk radio, you may want to attenuate the center channel; you can even save
a Favorite setting with such an adjustment.
- Seated Position: You can optimize the sound for any of the
seating positions that you measured during the setup process. Pressing the
Select button cycles through the available positions: Driver, Passenger,
Front, Rear, All. "Front" or "Rear" optimizes both front seats or both rear
seats as the preferred listening position. "All" is a general setting that
will produce good sound for any seating position.
Favorites: This option lets you store and recall currently active
audio settings (you can store and recall up to five different combinations of
settings). The MS-8 provides five Favorites positions that let you store the
system's currently active audio settings. The system stores all audio and input
selection settings in a Favorites setting (except the Aux volume setting). This
feature lets you tailor the sound for a certain type of music or a certain
driver, and save and recall the settings at any time.
Connections
Power & Ground Connections: The JBL MS-8 features 0.375" set-screw
terminals for power, ground, and remote turn-on lead.
- +12V: Connect unit's +12-volt power to the vehicle battery with a
25A fuse within 18" of the positive battery terminal (use 12AWG wire
minimum).
- Chassis Ground Input: Connect unit's ground to a paint-free spot
on the vehicle chassis.
- Remote Turn-On Output: Connect the unit's remote turn-on output
to the remote-turn on-input of all amplifiers in the system. The MS-8 must
control the turn-on signal of the other devices that come after it in the
signal path. The output is +12-volts DC, 1A.
- Remote Turn-On Input: Connect the unit's remote turn-on input to the
remote turn-on output of the source unit if the source has such an output.
If not, this terminal can connect to the vehicle's accessory (ACC) power
circuit. In either case, a connection with over +4-volts DC will trigger the
unit, accommodating a range of factory source units or amplifiers.
Input Signal Connections: Many factory-installed system include
on-board equalization (EQ) and crossovers that make simple connection of
aftermarket products difficult. The JBL MS-8 includes signal-summing circuitry,
signal-conditioning EQ, and time correction processing necessary to reconstruct
a two-channel, flat, full-range signal when you use the MS-8 with
factory-installed equipment. Aftermarket head units with RCA-type outputs
provide a flat-full-range, two-channel signal on their front RCA-type outputs.
The JBL MS-8 provides both RCA-type (for aftermarket) and High-Level (for
factory) inputs.
- RCA-type Audio Inputs: If you use the MS-8 with an aftermarket
head unit that includes RCA-type outputs, connect the front outputs to the
MS-8 RCA-type inputs 1 and 2 only. Do not connect any other head unit output signals to
MS-8's RCA inputs 3-8.
- Hi-Level (Speaker-Level) Inputs; If you use the MS-8 with a
factory-installed head unit, or any head unit that does not include RCA-type
outputs, connect the front left and front right speaker-level outputs from
the head unit to the "Hi-Level Input" 1 and 2 on the MS-8. If the
factory-installed system includes a separate amplifier, connect the output
of the amplifier to the "Hi-Level Input" of the MS-8.
Note: Many factory-installed separate amplifiers include separate
channels for front tweeters, midranges, and subwoofers. Connect all of the
front and subwoofer outputs to the speaker-level inputs of the MS-8.The subwoofer outputs of the factory amplifier must be connected only to the
MS8's input channels 7 and/or 8.
Auxiliary Input: This stereo RCA auxiliary input allows you connect an
external portable audio source to the MS-8. Switching between the unit's
RCA-type/Hi-Level inputs and the Auxiliary input is done in the MS-8's menus.
Hi-Level & Low-Level Outputs: The JBL MS-8 features both Hi-Level
speaker and Low-Level preamp outputs.
- Speaker Outputs: The unit's speaker-level outputs connect
directly to the speakers if the MS-8's on-board amplifiers will be used.
- Preamp Outputs: If the MS-8's onboard amplifiers won't be used, connect
the RCA-type inputs of additional amplifiers to the MS8's RCA-type output
connectors. Some speakers may be powered by the MS-8's amplifiers and some
by additional amplifiers, but only use one connection type per output.
Note: You can power some of your system's speakers by
the MS-8's amplifiers and some by outboard amplifiers, but you should use
only one connection type per output.
MS-8 Display: Connect the unit's 2.5mm Display output to the system's
LCD display unit using the supplied cable. You must connect the display during
setup, but you may also disconnect it after setup.
Note: If you don not install the display, you cannot adjust the
MS-8, and the MS-8's remote control will not functions.
Microphone Input: Connect the unit's 3.5mm microphone input to the
supplied microphone headset. You must connect the microphone headset to the MS-8
during setup. Once setup is complete, unplug the microphone headset and store in
a safe place.
Note: Do not use any other microphone with the MS-8.
USB (type-B) Port: You can use the USB-Update port to install a
firmware upgrade downloaded from www.JBL.com.
Specifications & Dimensions
Specifications:
- CEA Power Output: 18 watts x 8-channels @ 4-ohms
- Maximum Output Power: 30 watts x 8-channels @ 2-ohms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Line-Input to Line-Output): >90dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Line-Input to Speaker-Output): >85dB
- Maximum Input Voltage (Speaker-Level Input): 15V
- Maximum Input Voltage (Line Input): 2.8V
- Maximum Output Voltage (Line Output): 2.8V
- Maximum Current Draw: 16A
- Stand-by Current Draw: <0.01A
Dimensions:
- System Integration Digital Processor: 11.5" (w) x 2.1875" (h) x
8.375" (d)
- LCD Display Unit: 3.4375" (w) x 2.375" (h) x 0.8125" (d)
- Remote Control: 1.625" (w) x 3.1875" (h) x 0.5625" (d)
- Microphone Headset Earcup: 1.875" (diameter) x 0.75" (depth)
