Sprint Special Edition Harman/Kardon M8

Granite1 · Apr 10, 2014

Happened across this earlier today whilst on Tapatalk:
Sprint Special Edition Harman/Kardon M8 - xda-developers

Looks like the Sprint version of the M8 is a little different from the other variants.

Apparently it has special branded Harman/Kardon JBL speakers, but it wasn't announced because of patent and marketing agreement delays.

Also read here: Sprint To Get Harman/Kardon Audio Special Edition HTC One M8 | Androidheadlines.com

Nice, I haz Sprint!

kylecummins · Apr 10, 2014

Posted it in the m8 carrier and spec thread

KOLIO · Apr 10, 2014

Granite1 said:
Happened across this earlier today whilst on Tapatalk:
Sprint Special Edition Harman/Kardon M8 - xda-developers

Looks like the Sprint version of the M8 is a little different from the other variants.

Apparently it has special branded Harman/Kardon JBL speakers, but it wasn't announced because of patent and marketing agreement delays.

Also read here: Sprint To Get Harman/Kardon Audio Special Edition HTC One M8 | Androidheadlines.com

Nice, I haz Sprint!

Any chance one of you SPRINTSTERS out there could do a side-by-side w/another carrier M8 (& post your opinions/results)?

THX!

Tlicious1020 · Apr 10, 2014

From reading that article it sounds like our phones already have Harmon/Kardon included in BoomSound. That's if you have a Sprint phone.

Newalker91 who works for Sprint says “The Sprint version has Harman/Kardon speakers in it whereas the other versions do not. They were waiting to announce this for all of the patents and agreements with JBL and Harman/Kardon to pass. This was confirmed by our HTC Midwest Account Manager.

He goes on to say “It’s the same M8 that is already available. They haven’t been marketing it as such yet due to a delay in the legal realm trying to get agreements pushed through. Soon they will be adjusting their marketing to include that the Sprint version exclusively offers Harman/Kardon technology in their BoomSound setup.”

Granite1 · Apr 10, 2014

Tlicious1020 said:
From reading that article it sounds like our phones already have Harmon/Kardon included in BoomSound. That's if you have a Sprint phone.

Newalker91 who works for Sprint says

SolApathy · Apr 10, 2014

Looking forward to the OTA that would unlock that..Though I wonder if it would enable some locked hardware, or if it will be more of a software EQ update.

rangergrrl · Apr 11, 2014

I looked I the suggested .xml and I do have an item for it. Currently set to false.

Rdjr74 · Apr 11, 2014

So who are the other M8 speakers made by?

shandroid · Apr 11, 2014

Very interesting

PyroSporker · Apr 16, 2014

Rdjr74 said:
So who are the other M8 speakers made by?

It is unclear which carrier/region/country the M8 that iFixit took apart was from. It is also unclear yet if the Sprint version INDEED has a different hardware speaker set or not. (I'm thinking not - and they have identical hardware, but we will see)

The M8 that iFixit disassembled had speakers that appear to have been made by AAC Technologies?
A newer model speaker version compared to the HTC One (M7) from 2013.

(2013) http://www.cinda.com.hk/attachment/201308261520541_en.pdf
"And the company has provided positive outlook on dual-speaker design trend (such as HTC

sikclown · Apr 16, 2014

PyroSporker said:
It is unclear which carrier/region/country the M8 that iFixit took apart was from. It is also unclear yet if the Sprint version INDEED has a different hardware speaker set or not. (I'm thinking not - and they have identical hardware, but we will see)

The M8 that iFixit disassembled had speakers that appear to have been made by AAC Technologies?
A newer model speaker version compared to the HTC One (M7) from 2013.

(2013) http://www.cinda.com.hk/attachment/201308261520541_en.pdf
"And the company has provided positive outlook on dual-speaker design trend (such as HTC

PyroSporker · Apr 17, 2014

sikclown said:
iFixit took apart the Verizon version

that is awesome. I saw the tree(a tiny little sapling no doubt), but missed the forest.

Verizon U.S. or Verizon U.K./EU?

(purely a joke ^)

sikclown · Apr 17, 2014

PyroSporker said:
that is awesome. I saw the tree(a tiny little sapling no doubt), but missed the forest.

Verizon U.S. or Verizon U.K./EU?
(purely a joke ^)

I missed it the first 7 times I looked at the iFixit teardown too

Verizon UK? what's next Sprint Ukraine? (too soon?) :rolleyes:

KOLIO · Apr 29, 2014

It's official now,congrats to those on SPRINT:

Sprint introduces its exclusive HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon - CNET

Blade of 3 · Apr 29, 2014

SolApathy said:
Looking forward to the OTA that would unlock that..Though I wonder if it would enable some locked hardware, or if it will be more of a software EQ update.

Thought it was a whole new device?

sikclown · Apr 29, 2014

Blade of 3 said:
Thought it was a whole new device?

It is a new device but HTC confirmed it is the same hardware, just black with champagne speaker grills and Harman Kardon stamped on the back. Plus it comes with those HK headphones. Other than that it is just software; I think everyone is assuming we will see that software in an update.

KOLIO · Apr 29, 2014

I'm hoping the local SPRINT stores have a display model that I can compare w/the T-MOBILE variant (mine),just for curiosity sake.

PyroSporker · Apr 30, 2014

KOLIO said:
I'm hoping the local SPRINT stores have a display model

I was on my way home from work tonight and stopped at Sprint to inquire about the release date and determine my 14 day return debacle. No display model yet at the store near me, and of course they were clueless about the re-release of the device at all. It was difficult to try to explain to someone new with no knowledge of even the regular M8...
I didn't have my M8 with me, and couldn't make it home and back before closing, otherwise I would have returned it on the spot (the reported online e-sale date of the 2nd and street date of the 9th are just outside the 14 day window)

I'll be back there Thursday to complete my return and find out when they will have a display unit.

sikclown · Apr 30, 2014

FYI Someone is claiming on another forum that they received the HK OTA update. Supposedly they are already running the leaked ROM so perhaps that is why they got it. Not sure yet.

PyroSporker · May 2, 2014

KOLIO said:
I'm hoping the local SPRINT stores have a display model

PyroSporker said:
I'll be back there Thursday to complete my return and find out when they will have a display unit.

Returned. Had to pay the restocking fee, kinda mad about that since the phone had a defect.

Now do I order online tomorrow, or wait for the 9th...
If something is wrong with the device they mail me, I don't want to waste up to 7 of 14 days waiting for them to mail me another one or for the phone to be available in brick and mortar stores...

Store associate thought they would have a floor display model on the 8th. Probably varies by store.

Tlicious1020 · May 2, 2014

What's up with Sprint not giving us those damn Harman/Kardon ear buds? Dan, you deserve a kick in the nuts.

PyroSporker · May 5, 2014

Tlicious1020 said:
What's up with Sprint not giving us those Harman/Kardon ear buds?

The Sprint M8 that was released a few weeks ago, inside the box, comes a surprisingly great pair of earbuds, for free. They have great overall sound...

The H/K Sprint M8 comes with the H/K AE-S earbuds. It is a Sprint specific model (hence the -S?) probably based only upon the special champagne gold coloring to match the handsets accent color?
You can find the regular (silver) H/K AE earbuds on Amazon for $49.99...?

shandroid · May 5, 2014

PyroSporker said:
The Sprint M8 that was released a few weeks ago, inside the box, comes with a surprisingly great pair of earbuds, for free. They have great overall sound...

The H/K Sprint M8 comes with the H/K AE-S earbuds. It is a Sprint specific model (hence the -S?) probably based only upon the special champagne gold coloring to match the handsets accent color?
You can find the regular (silver) H/K AE earbuds on Amazon for $49.99...?

FYI
I read that the HTC versions are designed to work with HTC regarding the volume controls and the standard silver pair are designed for iphones.

I may pick this up on Friday, my only concern is keeping the cool software bits should I decide to root it. I think I would have to keep with sense based ROMS to do that.

sikclown · May 5, 2014

shandroid said:
FYI
I read that the HTC versions are designed to work with HTC regarding the volume controls and the standard silver pair are designed for iphones.

I may pick this up on Friday, my only concern is keeping the cool software bits should I decide to root it. I think I would have to keep with sense based ROMS to do that.

You would likely have to stick with a Sense based ROM for the software bits (which already exist out there in the wild) but another developer may bake it into their ROM if it is possible.

PyroSporker · May 8, 2014

Stopped by Sprint on the way home from work tonight. They had the H/K Edition M8 in the back, not on the floor yet until Friday. They brought it out and let me look it over. They would have sold me one but it is not in their system yet.

The black back panel is a thing of beauty. Everything I have wanted and hoped for. I think it is despicable that it has not been an option until now and only specific to the H/K version so far. The black is very glossy and readily shows oil/fingerprints, it may be a point of contention for some.

The gold speaker grilles are sure attention grabbing, and in my opinion gaudy. I already ordered a set of black speaker grill covers from SmartSkins ahead of time. I'm hoping the color is a close enough black to match the rest of the body and that the gold area around the grill holes does not show too much...
If I could buy replacement speaker grilles (even the gun metal gray ones), that would look better than the gold and complement the black better, I would at any cost. I've got my heat gun fired up, ready, and waiting.
The gold ring around the camera looks really nice and tasteful. Reminds me of the gold ring'd variant Evo 4G and Evo 3D.

I also noticed the power button seemed a little different - or at least different than the Gun Metal Gray floor display unit. It stuck up farther and had a firmer action to it
Different power buttons have already been documented across the Gray model from different factories and I don't know if this falls in line with them or if it is another new irregularity

Didn't get to try playing back any audio but oh well

Sprint Special Edition Harman/Kardon M8

Zercron Encrusted Tweezer

Android Expert

KOLIO

Guest

Android Enthusiast

Zercron Encrusted Tweezer

Just another robot

Well-Known Member

Android Enthusiast

Well-Known Member

Android Expert

Android Expert

Android Expert

Android Expert

KOLIO

Guest

Well-Known Member

Android Expert

KOLIO

Guest

Android Expert

Android Expert

Android Expert

Android Enthusiast

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

Android Expert

Android Expert

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads