Harman Kardon - Go + Play 3

Go play 3 is the only answer but get the max for beach and travel

The Harman Kardon Go Play 3 is a great option.

The Harmon kardon go play 3 will go on sale every now and then for around 150-160. Definitely worth it if you can get it. It is a bigger speaker and battery life isn’t the best but the sound quality and bass for the price are great.

Harmon kardon go play 3 when it’s on sale

True, it is not very portable

You're not into bass. I got it 2 days ago and I'm going to return it because the bass isn't enough. JBL extreme 4 has more bass but I want more

I agree, the bass in HK play 3 is so sweet.

I just ordered mine! They have a few left in stock!!$129 https://ebay.us/m/eje6am

Where the hell do you see it at that price? Excuse my French! I'm only seeing it for $262

Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3....when it is $160. I grab it more often than my Boombox 2.

HK GO Play 3.

The exposed Subwoofer is dumb but they make covers now. It's still a little less heavy and smaller than the Boombox 2. Maybe the HK GO+Play Mini.

You can sometimes find the Harman Kardon Go+Play 3 for 250. I had one till it was stolen. I loved it. Otherwise Brane-X from Brane Audio is my #1 choice.

Jeeeeez that is bonkers! Let me know when that happens if you happen to catch it. That's cheaper than my current Bluetooth speaker which I got at Walmart for 149.99. Soundcore Motion X600. I didn't have the money to get anything more expensive. Soon I'll probably get 2 Go+Play 3's though.

Yes, GO+Play 3 delivers the best sound and power - and no surprise you'll have to haul that 4.5 kg beast around. I’ve got a nice carrying case, subwoofer protection grille to make it more travel-friendly, and planning a battery upgrade for all-day playtime. The only considerable factor against portable use is it's weight (that you trade for the best sound).

Harman lists a brand-refurbished Go+Play for 250$ now. Could be a nice deal, I've ordered a second unit for myself to pair in stereo.

I would advise getting a pair of quality wired bookshelf active speakers and optionally add a used 200W sub for this budget. Use a simple $30 Bluetooth receiver for a start to connect them to your source, and upgrade to a WiiM Pro / Plus streamer later ($150). Totally possible if you don't need it portable. It would sound way better in your living room than any plastic bluetooth option. And cost less. For exact product names, listen to this guy here: https://youtu.be/fsqklNeZLio?si=hI4cfLwYlnsh70uy If you need it moveable though ( like getting it outside) I would suggest a pair of Harman Go+Play 3. You'll get a pair of 160W true stereo system with deep bass, not very good for Rock music, but adjustable with an EQ until 70% volume. AND excellent for electronic /disco out of the box. I use this so far, but I move them between a few locations frequently.

Get 1-2 pieces of HK Go+Play 3, or HK Onyx. As stated earlier, nothing will beat these at combined indoor+terrace/lawn/outdoor use, with reasonable portability and sound quality. Not even close. Further strengthened by the fact that you can get that set below $300 for a pair. I have 2x GP3 and I took the best sound to places never thought possible. Oh, before that I had 2x Go Play Mini, and before that 2x Go+Play powered by D batteries.

2 x Harman Go+Play 3, wired with LDAC receiver. (Almost) full 3-way stereo that I sometimes bring outdoors and into the wild.

I'm with you, and also have two! But really, one should have two of any speaker (given you can pair them in stereo). It's like you should take two beers with you, bit one.

This review covers these three models paired in TWS mode: * 2x Earfun UBOOM L ($50 each) * 2x Earfun UBOOM X ($118 each) * 2x Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 (usually $250-$350 each, got them on sale for $128) All have impressive clarity and soundstage when in TWS mode but obviously the UBOOM X and Harman are in a different class than the smaller/cheaper UBOOM L (was initially comparing two UBOOM Ls to one UBOOM X, then ordered a second UBOOM X and had TWS stutter issues, then got the Harmans). # Pros common to UBOOM L and X * iOS and Android app (speaker info, battery status, firmware updates, EQ and other customizations, etc.) * Excellent battery life * USB-C charging * Ruggedized and IP67 waterproof * Regularly available at lower prices than the competition # Cons common to UBOOM L and X * Off-axis sound quality is mediocre. # UBOOM L Pros * Small and light enough for travelling or tossing in a bag * Inexpensive # UBOOM L Cons * Not as much bass and limited volume (to be expected since the other speakers are \~7 times bigger) # UBOOM X Pros * More immersive sound than UBOOM L * Many EQ profiles * Shape, handle, and strap make it somewhat easy to move around for its size/weight * Lighting effects * Huge battery (60 Wh) # UBOOM X Cons * Hefty for traveling, especially if using a pair * When using an EQ (Oluv or custom) while in TWS mode, audio drops intermittently and sometimes frequently (might happen 5 times in 5 minutes, might not happen for hours). Don't have this problem with the other speakers in TWS (edit: this is a known issue; explanation from Earfun [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bluetooth_Speakers/comments/1htkbxi/comment/m5g0p77/)). # Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 Pros * The best audio quality of all of them * Sounds significantly better off-axis than the UBOOMs. * Though TWS mode is the way to go, a single Go + Play 3 still sounds quite good (while the sound quality of a single UBOOM L or X isn't as impressive). * Upscale aesthetics and clean look * Glass surface with touch-buttons (also a con) # Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 Cons * Normally expensive * Slightly heavier than the UBOOM X * Awkward shape and handle * No app (there is an EQ available via button combinations, though the Harman sounds excellent with the default profile) * Gotta pair in stereo mode every time they're turned on (a minor complaint as it only takes seconds, but don't have to do this with the Earfuns). * Lacks IP67 waterproof rating and isn't ruggedized like the Earfuns. Downward facing sub doesn’t have any protection beyond being recessed (they're meant to be used on a flat surface). * Fabric cover attracts dust/hair and won't be as easy to clean. * Touch-buttons are difficult to see/use in the dark. * Doesn't charge over USB-C (but at least there's no transformer and it uses a standard non-polarized C7 Figure 8 PC cable). * Smaller battery (26 Wh) # Conclusion * Returned the UBOOM Xs. The TWS stuttering issue means no custom/Oluv EQ, which results in sound quality that isn’t nearly as satisfying. * Kept the UBOOM Ls for work and travel. They're very portable, and sound great in a small quiet space when pointed right at you. * Kept the Harmans for use around the house, porch, and backyard. They can't touch my Denon Polk hi-fi setup, but they're still very enjoyable, and being *somewhat* portable makes them far more useful (though they aren't suitable for many situations given the lack of ruggedization or IP67). Edit: Cleaned up wording, added a few details, linked to Earfun's explanation about TWS stutter.

>only 4 hours of battery. I’m getting more than 4 hours of battery life, but yeah not being ruggedized and lacking IP67 waterproofing is indeed a significant limitation for the Harman.