Extremely Frustrated.....Need help with sound quality issues
 

Hey Everyone, I'm a newbie to the site, but I thought I would try and seek some help anyways.

Ever since I had my system put in about 8 months ago, the sound quality has really been bothering me. I'm hoping if I let you guys know what I have installed you might be able to point me in the right direction.

Up Front

(Components + Rear Speakers)
Focal K2 Power 165 KRC
Focal 165 K2 (Polykevlar)

Trunk

Head Unit - Factory head unit

Amps - JL 500/1V2 & JL 300/4v2

Sub - W6v2 HO Wedge (10 inch)

MS-8

Battery - Kinetik HC 1400

The Installers made notes in the MS-8 manual detailing how it was programed/configured.

1 way Ft.
1 way Cnt.
1 way Rear

CH 1: SL
CH 2: SR
CH 3: FL
CH 4: FR
CH 5: RL
CH 6: RR
CH 7: CNT.
CH 8: SUB

Since day 1 the sound has not been harmonious. I have also been experiencing major headaches with the W6, the thing starts popping at fairly low bass settings, even after tweeking the amp settings. The installers I went to were using the MS-8 for the very first time, so not sure if that is a problem, but I'm wondering if the MS-8 is the main problem itself. Considering going back to the Alpine PXE - H660, but I'm hoping I don't have to. If anyone has suggestions or experience with the MS-8 please let me know

Take it someonewhere else for a second look... they are using the Focal passive crossovers. Depending in where and how the tweeters are mounting you may want to severely cut back on their output.

Why would you use passives in a system with an MS-8 anyway?

^ Would need another amp to go all active. IMO that would be the way to go..

why not ditch the rears and go full active with just a front stage?

Work with the ms8 a little more. I'm sure you can it to work better.

Passive and ms8 ? Sounds like a waste to me.


The first SQ show of the season is coming up next weekend. You may want to come by for some listening sessions and maybe a little help.

^^^ What Fozz said, a lot of us will be there, I'll be one of the folks judging. Look for the short guy with goateee and tattoo's..once judging is done, I'm always available to help out anyone get the best out of their systems.

ive been playing with the ms-8 for a month now changing something everyday and its supprising what a simple little notch up or down on the gains can do a difference... and btw with the ms-8 running rears do a whole lot. and im running semi active.. everything is passive exept for the front doors mid tweet and sub obviously..

Did I miss something? What kind of car is this, Factory Head units are still not as good as aftermarket, for the cost of the MS-8 you could have purchased a really nice deck. People spend so much time trying to tweek Digital Sound processors, it hardly seems worth it. If you start out with a crappy source, you will amplify crap...Now I understand if the radio cannot be changed due to no dash kits or wiring harnesses, so if this is the case I am sorry for my and you're just going to need to spend more time tweeking.

I would disagree with the above statement. Yes, you can get nicer product the aftermarket, but a factory source will be fine 99% of the time.
Processing power is much more important in car audio than the source IMHO.

I can't say I like the MS8 much, but that is another topic.

come to the show and ask for help. You having nothing to lose but a few hours of your time.