[Pierre Terdiman]

So I see a bunch of i8s for sale that do *not* have the Harman-Kardon hifi option. And I wonder: since the sound is synthesized, does the presence or absence of that option affect the engine sound in the cabin?

[Aye-eight]

I didn't even know not having the H/K was an option. Or did the listings you've seen just forget to mention it?

[Pierre Terdiman]

As far as I know it's an option. It looks like an option in the i8 configurator. And when using a VIN decoder to check the actual options of an i8, it sometimes doesn't appear.

[Pierre Terdiman]

Ah, I vaguely remember somebody saying that it's not an option in the US - you guys get "everything" by default. Might be the difference.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by Pierre Terdiman

As far as I know it's an option. It looks like an option in the i8 configurator. And when using a VIN decoder to check the actual options of an i8, it sometimes doesn't appear.

It's an option here in the UK. I wonder how bad the standard speakers would be...

[jcpca356]

I had non-HK speakers in a X5 I used to own. It had more bass since the tweeters in the front doors were missing. But it did have a subwoofer. Hey non-HK i8 might sound like a V8!

[NGR]

I doubt there'll be much of a difference. Easy way to tell is go for a test drive, and manually shift up and down at high revs in sport mode - if you smile then all is good

I can't stop doing it in mine (I have the HK system)

[JasH]

It is an option in the UK.

Without HK, you get the standard speakers, which are much worse. I had a listen to them (in an i3) before I opted for the HK.

[arranm1]

The standard speakers are shocking in my view. Had a demonstrator with no HK and the sound was hollow and lacked any sort of depth at all. Thankfully my actual car has HK and the sound is much deeper and louder too!