Notes on a 2009 535i HiFi to MS-8 install
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Contributors
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Florida
My Ride: M3
Model Year: 2017
Update:
Part 1: customer came back with a set of BSW speakers, SWS-8 woofers and an XD600/6 channel amp to replace all the OEM speakers and woofers and power all with the XD600/6. The center speaker is still powered by the MS-8.
Result: he did not like the SWS-8 sound. Too boomy, inaccurate. The BSW E60 set really improves the sound of the OEM mids/tweeters, especially the tweeter response. The main improvement is with voices, clearer and louder than OEM. Midbass was slightly improved by adjusting the MS-8 31-band more aggresively. No issues with the XD600/6 power.
Suggestion: get the Jehnert XE-200 woofers.
- Part 2: Jehnerts installed. The thing about the Jehnerts is that they are more accurate than OEM woofers (which I still believe sound the best with aftermarket amps and there is no need to replace them at all) with the same overall loudness. That's where the money is. And the boominess cleared up. Solid bass and mid bass. No overwhelming sound. Much better music blending with the BSW mid/tweeters.
One thing to consider when mixing MS-8 power with aftermarket power for the mid/tweeters: levels are required to be matched before calibration.
What that means is that the volume of the calibration sweeps will be different between the center speaker and the door/shelf speakers in this case, as the power input is at much different levels. Center speaker is receiving 36W max, the BSW are receiving 200W max. But somehow at calibration the center speaker sounds louder than the mids.
The solution is to use a free RTA app in your iPhone/Android phone and match as close as you can the output level of each XD600/6 speaker and adjust the gains to match the center speaker level. This is done by entering the MS-8 test menu via its remote control: press left and right buttons in that order slowly until the display changes to test menu. Then select pass-thru and the MS-8 will output white noise to each speaker in the system.
That will provide the best calibration results when mixing external with internal power with the MS-8.
Part 1: customer came back with a set of BSW speakers, SWS-8 woofers and an XD600/6 channel amp to replace all the OEM speakers and woofers and power all with the XD600/6. The center speaker is still powered by the MS-8.
Result: he did not like the SWS-8 sound. Too boomy, inaccurate. The BSW E60 set really improves the sound of the OEM mids/tweeters, especially the tweeter response. The main improvement is with voices, clearer and louder than OEM. Midbass was slightly improved by adjusting the MS-8 31-band more aggresively. No issues with the XD600/6 power.
Suggestion: get the Jehnert XE-200 woofers.
- Part 2: Jehnerts installed. The thing about the Jehnerts is that they are more accurate than OEM woofers (which I still believe sound the best with aftermarket amps and there is no need to replace them at all) with the same overall loudness. That's where the money is. And the boominess cleared up. Solid bass and mid bass. No overwhelming sound. Much better music blending with the BSW mid/tweeters.
One thing to consider when mixing MS-8 power with aftermarket power for the mid/tweeters: levels are required to be matched before calibration.
What that means is that the volume of the calibration sweeps will be different between the center speaker and the door/shelf speakers in this case, as the power input is at much different levels. Center speaker is receiving 36W max, the BSW are receiving 200W max. But somehow at calibration the center speaker sounds louder than the mids.
The solution is to use a free RTA app in your iPhone/Android phone and match as close as you can the output level of each XD600/6 speaker and adjust the gains to match the center speaker level. This is done by entering the MS-8 test menu via its remote control: press left and right buttons in that order slowly until the display changes to test menu. Then select pass-thru and the MS-8 will output white noise to each speaker in the system.
That will provide the best calibration results when mixing external with internal power with the MS-8.
Last edited by Technic; Oct 23, 2012 at 10:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Contributors
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Florida
My Ride: M3
Model Year: 2017
Thread Starter
Contributors
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Florida
My Ride: M3
Model Year: 2017
New Members
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
My Ride: 2009 BMW 535i
My install photos and Observations
Technic did a great job on harness first of all and then showing us on how to do this.
I have non folding rear seats, so to pass thru harness, one need to release a emergency latch in the trunk roof all the way in the back. There are two of those and you need to use a pointed screwdriver and put it in the corner where there is support tab and move the sliding latch towards the center. It is little tricky to find a small bump in the corner which the pointed screw driver need to go in and move it!!! Easy but tricky!
I removed back seat bottom and back rest but releasing trunk latch should give enough looseness to sneak in the harness in to trunk. Seat bottom can just be pulled in the middle, there are two supporting latches on both sides of middle bridge/center cupholder area. Also I removed middle seat belt screws (T50) and two small screws that hold back sest (T27) so the backrest can be moved more easily. I think this is not needed if you just release trunk latch and try to go around. Removing seat bottom opens up most of the path!
Also on the front dash, couple of connectors and MOST connector have sliding release before you can unplug those. Be aware of the small things!
Once I stop by Radioshack to get the conduit tubes, trunk will be much cleaner.
On the driver and passenger seat area, the extended harness shows up little while passing under the seats, I used a black tape to keep them more hidden, not showing upon entry. Rest of the wiring hides pretty well like Technic showed.
The CCC unit wont come out that easily as wires kind of pushed into sides, pull it slowly, may have to push shift knob little backwards. When the additional technic harness goes in and try to put the unit back, it takes more juggling to move the cables into back well, do it slowly!
I like the way it sounds with crisp sound now! Got 5.1 surround sound as backdoors dont have speakers!!! I guess this is better setup than Logic 7 I keep regretting for not getting it.
A VERY BIG THANKS TO TECHNIC HARNESS AND SUPPORT BEYOND HIS WIRING ON INSTALL OF JBL MS8, FINE TUNING, ETC.
MR. ELIAS, YOU MADE MY DAY!
I have non folding rear seats, so to pass thru harness, one need to release a emergency latch in the trunk roof all the way in the back. There are two of those and you need to use a pointed screwdriver and put it in the corner where there is support tab and move the sliding latch towards the center. It is little tricky to find a small bump in the corner which the pointed screw driver need to go in and move it!!! Easy but tricky!
I removed back seat bottom and back rest but releasing trunk latch should give enough looseness to sneak in the harness in to trunk. Seat bottom can just be pulled in the middle, there are two supporting latches on both sides of middle bridge/center cupholder area. Also I removed middle seat belt screws (T50) and two small screws that hold back sest (T27) so the backrest can be moved more easily. I think this is not needed if you just release trunk latch and try to go around. Removing seat bottom opens up most of the path!
Also on the front dash, couple of connectors and MOST connector have sliding release before you can unplug those. Be aware of the small things!
Once I stop by Radioshack to get the conduit tubes, trunk will be much cleaner.
On the driver and passenger seat area, the extended harness shows up little while passing under the seats, I used a black tape to keep them more hidden, not showing upon entry. Rest of the wiring hides pretty well like Technic showed.
The CCC unit wont come out that easily as wires kind of pushed into sides, pull it slowly, may have to push shift knob little backwards. When the additional technic harness goes in and try to put the unit back, it takes more juggling to move the cables into back well, do it slowly!
I like the way it sounds with crisp sound now! Got 5.1 surround sound as backdoors dont have speakers!!! I guess this is better setup than Logic 7 I keep regretting for not getting it.
A VERY BIG THANKS TO TECHNIC HARNESS AND SUPPORT BEYOND HIS WIRING ON INSTALL OF JBL MS8, FINE TUNING, ETC.
MR. ELIAS, YOU MADE MY DAY!
New Members
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
My Ride: 2009 BMW 535i
More setup and info
Bluetooth calls echo on caller side due to MS8 delay and DSP processing! Firmware update from site harman - old - MS-8 and following PDF on this site will get rid of it by making MUTE button toggle the delay processing!
It only installs on Windows XP, Windows 7 didnt work for me as drivers could not make the JBL to recognize. Luckily I had this USB 2.0 5ft Cable Part 000205200 which was not in JBL box!!!
Unfortunately One have to do this after initial setup to see if every thing works good and then later date do the firmware upgrade and go thru the calibration process again. Firmware update needs a factory reset so one is back to beginning when doing this.
Just to be safe, do this after every thing checks out.
I stuck the remote right above stop/start button on trim with Velcro, Display is mobile just sitting on parking brake area. Microphone in the driver seat back pocket!
Enjoying my new audio experience on Sirius/iPod/etc. Sounds Great!!!
Yet to fine tune the Graphic Equalizer 31 bands!
It only installs on Windows XP, Windows 7 didnt work for me as drivers could not make the JBL to recognize. Luckily I had this USB 2.0 5ft Cable Part 000205200 which was not in JBL box!!!
Unfortunately One have to do this after initial setup to see if every thing works good and then later date do the firmware upgrade and go thru the calibration process again. Firmware update needs a factory reset so one is back to beginning when doing this.
Just to be safe, do this after every thing checks out.
I stuck the remote right above stop/start button on trim with Velcro, Display is mobile just sitting on parking brake area. Microphone in the driver seat back pocket!
Enjoying my new audio experience on Sirius/iPod/etc. Sounds Great!!!
Yet to fine tune the Graphic Equalizer 31 bands!
Last edited by bimmerrg; Mar 6, 2013 at 03:17 AM. Reason: ADDING A PART#
Members
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
@ Technic...
I have an '05 E60 with the HiFi 10 speaker system...if i run the MS-8 set up, do I then need to run wire to my speakers? or does one of your harnesses do that as PnP?
Also, could I run a different processor with your harness? say a Sony XDP-MU110 Digital Link Sound System? It's got 6 pre amp channels as I'm not very interested in running 7 channels, I could then run a small 4-CH amp (Alpine 4X50) to the mids and a seperate amp to the subs. not in terested in load per se, just like crystal clear music...
Please PM a price as I am ready to upgrade my sound.
thank you and thanks for all the posts/advice!
I have an '05 E60 with the HiFi 10 speaker system...if i run the MS-8 set up, do I then need to run wire to my speakers? or does one of your harnesses do that as PnP?
Also, could I run a different processor with your harness? say a Sony XDP-MU110 Digital Link Sound System? It's got 6 pre amp channels as I'm not very interested in running 7 channels, I could then run a small 4-CH amp (Alpine 4X50) to the mids and a seperate amp to the subs. not in terested in load per se, just like crystal clear music...
Please PM a price as I am ready to upgrade my sound.
thank you and thanks for all the posts/advice!