Is the Harmon Kardon sound system in the MK8 GTI Any Good?

FIRST

I am curious to see the difference as well.. I have a S model and it seems good to me. I have the bass and treble turned up a couple notches though.

It’s a bummer the harman kardon is no longer in the SE trim, that is the trim I am considering purchasing. But might have to look into the autobahn. Look forward to more videos from you soon.

You're saying that in the more expensive version of the GTI, you can still get the Harman Kardon in the US. I live in Belgium and have an 8R with the Harman Kardon for one year now. When I look at the Belgian VW site now, I see that you can't get the Harman Kardon on the R anymore. I didn't check for the other Golf versions.

Being an owner of the s model i couldn’t stand how quiet the speakers were and ended up blowing the front 2 in just 2 months ended up going kicker 6.5s and 2 ported 12s much better in my opinion

To me it is, because music is of utmost importance to me, I care about a car’s sound system than any other feature

The default setting of a lot of stereo systems EQs/even your smartphone audio (whether Harman Kardon; or other well-known brands such as Bowers & Wilkins), have the equaliser Hz settings all at ''50%'' that is all options of Hz 'in the 'middle'.
This results in a 'muddy/flat' sound lacking in treble and bass.
These stereo systems, it's really important to turn up (esp) the treble and bass in the equaliser settings to the ''smile'' configuration; try this out;
100 Hz about +8; 350 Hz about just above the middle point; 1 kHz about just above the middle point; 3.5kHx slightly higher at about +1; 10 kHz all the way up to +9; Subwoofer about +8

be happy at least you got your car! I bought an mk8 golf 150cp with HK and a lot of options and after 1 YEAR!!!! they still don't know if or when they will produce the car. I live in Europe. so yeah....

Still thinking whether upgrade stock to HK sound..

At my age the standard VW system on my mk7.5 is good enough. As far as your system is concerned, I believe the microphone icon may be just for talk radio. The music note icon sounded the best out of all of them. The rest sounded a little tinny ! Thanks again, RickGTI….. 🇺🇸

Can you somehow do a comparison to the base system,I’m from SA and I have the base system which probably the worst system iv heard,is anyone else experiencing the same?

I cant wait a test where we can see how a hamburger tastes in a GTI.

Hi I ordered a golf life mk8 but I was wondering do they all come with hardmon speakers if not does the standard speakers suck

I just purchase a 2023 GTI MK8. The most major thing that I’m upset about is the HK replacing Fender. The Fender was a fantastic sound. Highs were clean and the sub was really warm and full. Since I listen to mostly rock 70s, 80’s to now) I don’t need this hip hop punch or the other low end used today in pop.

I am trying quite diligently, to find someone with a MK8 who has upgraded a head unit and maybe speakers while keeping the infotainment as-is. It’s THAT different than my ‘15 MK7. I’m an audiophile and musician, so it’s a big deal! 😁

I would not recommend to anybody to choose HK to MK8 Golf. I have a Golf 8 Variant Style model, and the HK sound system is a piece of shit. There is not any treble, the full music looks like origin from a box.

What would you say is better about the Fender system. And what improvements do you think the HK has over the previous Fender?

Replace the amplifier with an dsp amp.

Dynaudio system with discover pro on a golf 7 was literally better than this HK 😣

these speakers are not produced by hk and the woofers are made of paper like the basic system 🤮🤮

Boring

You are too young for understanding sound quality.
Go make your homework boy.