besTSXever

Hi. I just got a CPO 08 non navi last Wednesday and overall it's an awesome car except for the audio system. I am in the process of upgrading all the stock speakers and looking to add a JL XD600/6 amp once I'm done with the speakers. I've been reading a lot since I got the car and it seems that installing an amp in the tsx is more complex than I expected. I've read that Mercman's harness is the simplest, most reliable way of integrating an aftermarket amp without butchering the factory harness. Is this harness still available? I feel like I'm too late for the party...

feuss2

iTrader: (1)

You should start with a JBL MS8 before you start changing speakers!

besTSXever

Why not start with speakers first? For me it's the fastest, most economical way to improve the sound quality. See I have limited time, budget and knowledge in car electronics. I am a management accountant who is always looking to maximize value, minimize cost and improve efficiency. The MS8 is a nice piece of equipment but it beyond my budget and beyond what I want to achieve in terms of sound improvement.

feuss2

iTrader: (1)

To answer the first question, it is the best bang for the buck. If you change out speakers, you'll be in for disappointment. You'll install something with better sound quality, or so you hope, only to find out that they are less efficient that the speakers you removed and need to be turned up even higher. You'll turn up the OEM amp to compensate for the less efficient speakers you installed, increasing the THD at the higher power, and chipping away at any gains you got from just the speaker swap.

Then you will discover the solution to this is to get an amp, then find you need to do some interesting things to get it hooked up and working properly, and do all this because you're "invested" in the new speakers.

When you're all done, you'll probably have speakers of mixed efficiencies, that sound really different at various volume levels and never really good.

Why? The speaker is only one part of the equation. You're up against timing issues from speaker placement, door panel resonances, etc. You won't correct these with just a speaker swap. If you get the MS8 first instead of last, you may save yourself the speaker upgrade and amp install, plus many headaches along the way.

rhannahs19

Feuss is right:

I have 2008 with Navi, and I am starting the the JBL MS-8. I also plan on running the XD600/6.

I thought I read, but could be TOTALLY wrong, that Mercman's harness causes you to lose steering wheel controls, bluetooth (if equiped), and GPS speech (also, if equiped).

If you like to maximize value, check out the various car audio forums and browse the classified sections. I got the JBL for a couple hundred dollars off retail, and it is the best thing to improve your sound.

It seems fairly simple to upgrade your system after you have installed the MS-8.

besTSXever

I'm almost done installing the Polks and dynamat on the doors. There is a significant improvement in sound quality with the new speakers. I noticed that the doors on the TSX have that sheet metal sound when shut with a little force. With the dynamat on the outer and inner panels the doors close with a thud now. I should receive the amp, amp kit and harness from mercman tomorrow, can't wait to hear the SQ with sufficient power going to the speakers. Thanks for the advice.

rhannahs19

How did you manage to get the mercman harness, and did it cause you to lose your steering wheel controls? Good luck with the build.

rhannahs19

Also, what speakers did you get?

besTSXever

I went with Polk DBs all around. 6501 for the front, 650 for the rear doors and 691 for the deck. The door speakers needed 1/2" spacers. I haven't mounted the tweeters yet, but the stock holes has to be sanded a little to make the flush mount bracket fit. I still have to do the front passenger door. The plan is to take out the factory amp and put the crossovers in there. I'm going with JL xd600/6 mounted in the back of the rear seat. I will let you know how my install goes... hopefully everything goes according to plan.

cwinterrowd

You don't lose steering wheel controls or bluetooth with mercman's harness.. I went that route in my TSX and it is fantastic. From the user's standpoint, nothing is lost - you bypass the factory amp and get balanced RCA line outs from your factory head unit to the amplifier of your choosing that accepts balanced inputs.

I removed my factory amp and used that space in the dash to mount the iSimple iPod integration kit from Peripheral electronics.. it fit very nicely in that location.

davidspalding

Speaking of speakers....

I missed the boat on the Pioneer speakers that were said to install without spacers in the 1G TSX a few years ago ... any recommendations on older (closeout) speakers I can replace all 4 doors with? I'm happy with the tweeters and back shelf boomers ... I recall several members said upgrading the doors gave the biggest bang-for-buck improvement.

rhannahs19

how is the install going? pics?

mv1luv

Im running polk audio dxi all.around 6.5, 6.5, 6.9 and 2 10" audiobahn subs sounds awesome