I'm planning on building up a new system for my base '13 Mustang with Sync sometime this spring. The factory stereo will stay in it, since it does all I want it to, but I want that great aftermarket SQ. Anyone have experience with either one of these DSP units?

The rest of the system will have the JL Audio stealth box with the 13" W3 subwoofer, an Alpine PDX-V9 5 channel amplifier and probably the Infinity Kappa 682.11cf in only the front doors.

 

I take it no one here has ever used a high end DSP?

 

I would go to diymobilaudio.com and go to that forum for this question. It's a great forum with a LOT of knowledgeable people on the subject of high end DSPs. I'm personally going with the alpine PXE H660 for my car. I like how it is pretty straight forward and after i set it up i can just leave it. The MS-8 is going to be more that way i think, whereas the H800 is going to probably be more along the lines of you doing most of the setup. I haven't really heard anything bad about either one.

 

I just had my 2014 GT upgraded for better sound, and like you kept the stock head unit as I have the electronics package/nav.

The amp and sound processor are by Memphis Audio, the DSP is their 16LL6A and the amp was a PRX (550, I believe). Replaced the 8" door subs with German Maestros, and the other fronts with CDT HDs and CDT Coax for the rears.

I'm not an expert audiophile by any means, but once the pro at the shop tuned things properly it has sounded great. A friend of mine (engineer and professional musician both) who used to build amps and speakers for himself and his musician friends played his own test tracks through the system and told me they did it right. He was pretty impressed.

Sadly I don't have a garage or a place to do my own installs, so yes I went to a car audio shop and had it done - but the owner is a fellow mustang owner and after a bit of googling on everything he said, he did indeed know what he was talking about.

All I know is it sounds great from classical to electronic to classic rock, so take that for what it's worth!

 

^^ Yeah I think I may have a shop install and tune it for me as when my summer season work starts this spring, I won't have much time for anything else. I think I'm settling on the JBL MS-8 since it comes with everything needed to tune it perfectly without a pc or any other optional controller. I just hope some of the shops around me are familiar with it.

And I've changed my mind about what sub and enclosure I'm going with. For significantly cheaper price, I'm now looking into a Zenclosure made corner enclosure for a 12" sub, and the subwoofer of choice so far is a 12" Fi Audio X series. I've heard nothing but good things about Fi Audio for a long time.