Once You Start - You Can't Stop - Stereo Build Out

[Seattle09GT]

Well, I didn't stop at the MS-8 and I'm farming out the work. I'm having the system updated.

JBL MS-8
Morel Tempo 6 inch two way component speakers front
Morel Coaxial for the rear doors (built in crossover)

I'm having the screen to the MS-8, the RCA inputs for the VIM modification and the 12V power outlet installed in a custom plate where the ashtray would go in the center console. It all fits in perfectly.

In the rear I'm having the MS-8 install in the trunk, passenger side (US) where the indent is in the trunk. Full custom install, lighted with plexi to show it off - and showing off the distribution block inside that powers the amp for the 10" added subwoofer.

Work will be done next Saturday - it's going to sound awesome. Nothing like a little "retail therapy"

[Ben2009GT]

Sounds like a nice setup.

[Metal Man G8]

Sounds like a bangin system!

[Tommy G]

Should be a nice setup. Sometimes I wish my Bit-one had an auto setup function. I can spend 3-4 hours perfecting just one preset!

[Seattle09GT]

I'm hoping so. Car will go in Thursday afternoon and should be done end of day Saturday. A lot of work going on with other mods.

[MIEngineer]

Sounds expensive, but nothing good is ever cheap...

[Seattle09GT]

Not as expensive as you would think. I feel I've gotten a really good deal. When it's all done the only stock speakers left will be the 8" sub-bass units. However I have the added 10" on its own amp so the plan is, through the MS-8 to use those rear 8" speakers for what they were designed, sub-bass but not a subwoofer, have the 10" fill in the boom (I don't want gangsta boom boom boom, I want clean) and let the Morels do the rest.

Total wattage when I'm done will be 470 - so I'm actually dropping power (by 70 watts) but that is at 4 Ohm versus 2 Ohm with the stock system.

Lots of pics to follow of course. I'm not out to melt my ear wax, but the stock system if rather flat, muddy, and lacks mid-range punch. The 8" sub-bass speakers distort attempt to deliver bass. I want clean, but I want to maintain the factory look and I don't want to add a lot of weight. That is why I hold on to the SAS Bazooka tube for the sub, enables me to quickly remove for drag racing, etc. etc.

[Bob the Noob]

Sounds expensive, but nothing good is ever cheap...

Well, with car stuff at least. Sometimes you can get a pretty darn good burger cheap. ;)

[Seattle09GT]

Well, I dropped the car off for three days of surgery. When I get it back there will be lots of pictures. Long range weather forecast is showing perfectly clear and warm weather from Sunday and all through next week. Lots of driving if that is the case!!!

[TailG8er]

Look forward to see the masterpiece

[Seattle09GT]

Stopped by the shop this morning. Wiring is taking longer than they expected. They decided to wire off of the headunit instead of the amp because they felt the stock wiring was so craptastic. I have no issues - they are eating the cost on their own, guy wants to do it right. The car was basically totally prepped as of this AM for everything to be installed. A bit of a shock to see the trunk dash, and door panels gutted - LOL. No water intrusion in the other three doors, just the rear passenger. They used some really good baffles that would normally be used to improve audio to protect the speakers. Fabrication for the dash plate was going to start.

Car won't be done until Sunday - good work is worth the wait. They are taking TONS of pictures and videos with explanation of what they are doing. Will share the videos on YouTube (and/or crosslink) and of course share pictures. When it's all said and done I think people will be surprised at the final cost.

[TailG8er]

I look forward to see the build!

[Seattle09GT]

Stopped by again, Kevin loves to explain what he is doing and is transparent with his work. All the door speakers are installed and panels back on. All of the final wiring for the MS-8 harnesses are connected together, along with all power lines, grounds, etc. (4 gauge power all throughout). The faceplate for the dashboard for the MS-8 screen, RCA connections and 12V outlet was still curing but almost done. Of what I could see through the custom mold made, it looks great. The MS-8 screen is attached with an insanely beefy bracket. While there I discussed ditching the center channel speaker for something better - going to try and shoehorn in a 4" Morel two-way up there. I listened to a series of speakers, the high end Morel was tremendous, but just too many bones, this is middle of the road. The CD I made (different thread and listed the tracks) Frank Sinatra on Fly Me to the Moon was so crisp, clear, and bright, and just nothing missing in any of the range.

He said they are going to continue the feed the center channel from the head unit and not the MS-8. If necessary will leave it disconnected when they dial it in and then reconnect for final settings. Also said that the imaging position for the stock tweeters was total crap - basically pointing smack dab to the center of the dash. No wonder there is almost no channel separation in the G8 and the center is so overwhelmed.

They're going to be working late tonight - figure done mid-afternoon tomorrow.

[Seattle09GT]

Picking up the car at 4:30 PDT, they are done. Installer sounded tired, they went to 2 AM last night.

[Seattle09GT]

The equipment:

JBL MS-8 audio processor with 8 channel 220 watt amplifier at 4 Ohms

Morel HiFi Tempo 6 2-way, 6-1/2" driver with 1.8" tweeter

Morel HiFi Tempo Coax 502, 5-1/4" Coaxial

Morel HiFi Temp Coax 402, 4" Coaxial - single speaker as center channel

SAS 10" amplified dual coil Bazooka tube with upgraded subwoofer

GM factory 8" sub-woofers (bwhahahahaha, if that's what GM wants to call them)

--------------------------------------------

The Build Out

Completed over four days. Doors speakers all have baffles added to them to improve sound quality and protect against water intrusion. Baffles are custom made enclosures. A replacement harness was built from the factory head unit, twisted, using to match factory color wiring, and run down the passenger side along the conduit.

The MS-8 is installed in a custom built enclosure, on the right corner of the trunk space (picture to come). The way it is designed it uses up minimal space in the trunk, and is enclosed in plexiglass. Lighting is going to be done later in May, the installer ran out of time and is having a hard time finding a quality light that supports unlimited colors to match the interior orange.

The SAS Bazooka Tube is installed on the left side of the trunk, toward the seat, turned on a 80 degree angle so that the sound waves are hitting on where the pass-through is, to increase performance.

In the dash the factory cubby for the storage space and 12V outlet has been removed. It has been replaced by a fiberglass enclosure, color matched to the matte black center stack surround. The MS-8 screen is mounted to the left, closest to the driver. The VIM RCA inputs are mounted to the right, closest to the passenger, and the factory 12V outlet has been remounted below the RCA inputs. The center space is left clear, that way no wires or other connections are dangling over the traction control button.

All the speakers, except the center channel are passing through the MS-8. The factory subs are being used for mid-bass, with a cut off (the MS-8 uses sloping cutoffs so it isn't exactly at) 63 Hz in the basement and 250 Hz at the top. The center channel continues to run off of the head unit. By tweaking the output level on the MS-8, you can now control how much center channel you have. Dropping the level brings in more center channel, as it is powered directly off of the MS-8, bring in more level, and the center channel fades away.

A ton of pics to come. but for now the one crappy iPhone pic. Installation team was exhausted after the marathon session last night and the tuning work today. The other thing is really, there isn't a whole lot to show now that the install is done. I wanted a clean factory look.

Below is the pic on the center console work. It sounds absolutely amazing. The factory 8" speakers really add a nice punch in the mid-bass range, with no distortion. It is definitely a little bright right now, but it is going to get dialed back.

I've read other have had issues with the MS-8 causing too much of the sound to come from the rear when Logic 7 is turned on, or ignoring speakers all together. It is freakin' dialed in perfectly and the Logic 7 is mind blowingly good.

Total cost was $2,169 for the build out. This included all parts, disposables, wiring, install kits, labor, custom work and four hours of tuning (beyond MS-8) calibration. Right now it set on the bright side, as the speakers break-in, next month or into June, after I get about 15 to 20 hours of playing time it is going to go back in, and have some mid-bass dialed in.

http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=18543&d=1366590728

[Tommy G]

Not bad. Have you experimented with the the factory sub filters? I found them best suited to play 80 to 125 hz. If I hi-pass any lower, they muddy the sub-bass. If I low-pass any higher, they muddy the mid bass. Might just be me since I have the JL 8" free air woofers in place of the factory subs.