JBL Ms8 User Guide

							User GUide
M s-8
System integration digital processor
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® 
						

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TABLe OF CONT eNT s
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
Specifications		 	 	 	 	 	 	 47
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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 find the nearest 
professional.
This manual explains how to install, set up 
and use your MS-8 in a general sense but 
will not indicate the specific wiring codes, 
connections and locations for your particular 
vehicle. There are many online resources 
that provide wiring codes and diagrams for 
vehicles. JBL’s 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 JBL’s MS-8 will provide 
you with years of happy listening.
i NT rO dUCT iONEnglish
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iMPO rTANT!  reAd  B eFO re  YOU B eG iN
Warning
Playing loud music in an automobile can 
hinder your ability to hear traffic 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
APPLICATIONS
The MS-8’s extensive crossover capabilities 
allow you to configure 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.
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POWER
IMPORTANT: Perform the power connections in the following order.
1.  Gnd:  Connect this terminal to a paint-free location on the vehicle chassis. 
IMPORTANT: Use at least 12-gauge wire for this connection.
EnglishCONN eCT iON s
REMOVE
FOR
SOFTWARE UPDA TE
25A 
fuse
Mic 
connection
Line input
connections Hi Level input
Remote out
connection
Speaker outputconnections Line output
connections Aux input
connections Display
connection Power
LED
Reset
button Update
connection
+12V
connection
Remote in
connection GND
connection




Chassis
ground
(unpainted)
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CONNeCT iON s



To turn-on
terminals of
all system
amplifiers
+
-
1 x 25A
25A fuse within
18" of battery
terminal
Cable from MS-8
+12V terminal
Use a grommet
through the
firewall
3.  Rem Out:  Connect this terminal to the remote turn-on terminals of all amplifiers in the system. The 
    output is +12V DC, 1A.
IMPORTANT:	The	MS-8	MUST	control	the	turn-on	signal	of	all	the	other	amplifiers	
that follow the MS-8 in the signal path.
If	your	system	includes	a	factory-installed	outboard	amplifier,	the	turn-on	signal	
may	be	available	at	the	amplifier.	If	your	factory	amplifier	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 
amplifier	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	amplifier	on	and	off.	
It will also help to eliminate audible clicks and pops when the system turns on and 
off. 2.  +12V:  Connect this terminal to the vehicle battery’s 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.
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CONNeCT iON sEnglish
Rem In:  Connect this terminal to the remote turn-on output of the system’s source unit, if the 
source unit has a remote turn-on output. Alternately, you can connect this terminal to the vehicle’s 
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. 
AUDIO INPUTS
Many factory-installed systems include on-board equalization and crossovers that make simple 
connection of aftermarket products difficult. The MS-8 includes the signal-summing circuitry, signal-
conditioning EQ and time-correction processing that are necessary to reconstruct a flat, full-range, 
two-channel signal when you use the MS-8 with factory-installed equipment. 
Aftermarket head units with line outputs provide a flat, full-range, two-channel signal on their front line 
outputs, so you need to connect only those channels to the MS-8.
To head unit
remote turn-on
or vehicle
ACC terminal
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CON NeCT iON s
Aftermarket head unit
MS-8 main unit Rear
line out
Front
line out
RCA
audio cables Subwoofer
line out
DO NOT USE
Line inputs1 and 2
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-8’s line inputs 1 and 2 only. Do NOT connect any other head-unit 
output signals to the MS-8’s 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 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!
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CON NeCT iON sEnglish
Connecting a factory radio/head unit
If you will be connecting the MS-8 to a factory-installed stereo or a factory-installed amplifier (often located in 
the vehicle’s trunk), connect each of your factory front-speaker and subwoofer outputs to one of the MS-8’s Hi 
Level inputs. Be sure to connect the outputs for all speakers that are part of the vehicle’s 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 amplifier 
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.
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-8’s 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 radio’s 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.
+ –
+ –
+ –
+ –
+ – + –
Factory stereo
wiring harness
MS-8 main unit Front right
Front left
Center
Side left Rear left
Side right Rear right
Connect
Ch 4
Ch 3
Ch 2 Ch 7
Ch 1 Ch 8
Ch 6
Ch 5
*NOTE: Subwoofers
MUST be connected 
to MS-8 input 7 
and /or input 8
Connect Subwoofer*
DO NOT USE
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CON NeCT iON s
Aux 
input
To
headphone
output
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.
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