Scored using Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
Explore Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0

Harman Kardon Citation 100 Review | 130 Data compared

Avg. price:~£260Audio output power:50.00 WBattery life:?IP rating:?Bluetooth version:4.2Weight:2700 g

Harman Kardon Citation 100 Review: Compare 130 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Portable Speakers category and whether it is worth buying.

6.8/10

Overall score

Score
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of products in the Portable Speakers category, based on technical analysis and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference for identifying the best products in the Portable Speakers category.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

80%

6.8

Technical score

20%

?

User score

â–²Better than 58% of portable speakers
7.5

Value for money

Value for money
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

6.8

Overall score

30%

9.2

Price

â–¼Worse than 60%
6.8

Technical score

Technical score
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

32%

6.8

Audio

20%

7.1

Battery

18%

6.7

Durability

16%

6.3

Connectivity

8%

7.0

Controls

3%

6.5

Design

3%

8.4

Smart features

â–²Better than 67%
?

User score

User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

  • No image
No image
Where to buy
    N/A~ £260
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of portable speaker Harman Kardon Citation 100

Technical score
Technical score
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

32%

6.8

Audio

20%

7.1

Battery

18%

6.7

Durability

16%

6.3

Connectivity

8%

7.0

Controls

3%

6.5

Design

3%

8.4

Smart features

6.8
User score
User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

?
Popularity
Popularity
1.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you prefer products in the Portable Speakers category that have been chosen and reviewed by many other buyers.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Popularity:
Harman Kardon Citation 100 has a popularity score of 1 point, which is lower than 59.2% of products in this category.
1.0
Value for money
Value for money
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

70%

6.8

Overall score

30%

9.2

Price

7.5
Audio output power
50 W
This portable speaker has an audio output power of 50 W which is higher than that of 75.8% of portable speakers and equal to that of 3.3% of portable speakers.
Driver unit size
102 mm
This portable speaker has a driver unit size of 102 mm which is larger than that of 90.7% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.7% of portable speakers.
Number of drivers
2
This portable speaker has 2 drivers, which is more than 24.5% of portable speakers and equal to the number in 45.5% of portable speakers.
Frequency response tolerance
3 dB
This portable speaker has a frequency response tolerance of 3 dB which is lower than that of 23.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 69.2% of portable speakers.
Lowest frequency
50 Hz
This portable speaker has a lowest frequency of 50 Hz which is lower than that of 59.9% of portable speakers and equal to that of 9.1% of portable speakers.
Show more
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth audio. 5.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Bluetooth version
4.2
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth version 4.2 which is older than that of 53.8% of portable speakers and equal to that of 17.8% of portable speakers.
Maximum Bluetooth range
10 m
This portable speaker has a maximum Bluetooth range of 10 m which is longer than that of 4.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 70.2% of portable speakers.
Bluetooth profiles supported
A2DP; AVRCP; HFP; HSP
Bluetooth LE Audio
no
This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth LE Audio. 2.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
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Battery life
?
Battery capacity
?
Charging time
?
Maximum charging input power
?
Built-in rechargeable battery
no
This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery. 81.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Requires wired mains power and has no built-in rechargeable operating battery.
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IP rating
?
Water resistance
no
This portable speaker is not water resistant. 61.7% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Dust resistance
?
Waterproof depth rating
?
Drop resistance
?
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On-device controls placement
top; bottom
Touchscreen
no
This portable speaker does not have a touchscreen. 0.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Smartphone app control
yes
This portable speaker supports smartphone app control. 46.1% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Compatible mobile app provides speaker control or settings.
Remote control
no
This portable speaker does not include a remote control. 15% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Fast pairing
no
This portable speaker does not support fast pairing. 22.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
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Weight
2,700 g
This portable speaker weighs 2,700 g which is heavier than that of 77.5% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.5% of portable speakers.
Height
27.5 cm
This portable speaker has a height of 27.5 cm which is taller than that of 88.9% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.1% of portable speakers.
Width
17.2 cm
This portable speaker has a width of 17.2 cm which is narrower than that of 53.2% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.4% of portable speakers.
Depth
16.3 cm
This portable speaker has a depth of 16.3 cm which is deeper than that of 83.1% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.3% of portable speakers.
Carry options
none
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Companion app name
Harman Kardon Citation
Firmware updates
yes
This portable speaker supports firmware updates. 52.9% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
Firmware update method
OTA; App
Voice assistant support
yes
This portable speaker supports voice assistants. 73.6% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Supports direct voice-assistant control.
Spotify Connect
no
This portable speaker does not support Spotify Connect. 10.8% of portable speakers offer this feature.
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Harman Kardon Citation 100 vs the average portable speaker

246810TotalAudioConnectivityBatteryDurabilityControlsDesignSmart features
  • 52 mm larger main driver
    This portable speaker has a larger main driver than the average portable speaker (102 mm vs 50 mm).
    102 mm vs 50 mm
  • Supports Wi-Fi connectivity
    This portable speaker supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average portable speaker does not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 30 W more audio output power
    This portable speaker has more audio output power than the average portable speaker (50 W vs 20 W).
    50 W vs 20 W
  • Has Chromecast built-in
    This portable speaker has Chromecast built-in, while the average portable speaker does not have Chromecast built-in.
  • Has a power bank function
    This portable speaker has a power bank function, while the average portable speaker does not have a power bank function.
  • 1 more microphones
    This portable speaker has more microphones than the average portable speaker (2 vs 1).
    2 vs 1
  • Supports party mode
    This portable speaker supports party mode, while the average portable speaker does not support party mode.
    Supports synchronized multi-speaker party/group playback.
  • Supports multi-room audio
    This portable speaker supports multi-room audio, while the average portable speaker does not support multi-room audio.
    Supports synchronized multi-room playback.
  • 52 mm larger main driver
    This portable speaker has a larger main driver than the average portable speaker (102 mm vs 50 mm).
    102 mm vs 50 mm
  • 30 W more audio output power
    This portable speaker has more audio output power than the average portable speaker (50 W vs 20 W).
    50 W vs 20 W
  • 1 more microphones
    This portable speaker has more microphones than the average portable speaker (2 vs 1).
    2 vs 1
  • 10 Hz deeper bass extension
    This portable speaker has deeper bass extension than the average portable speaker (50 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    50 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • Supports Wi-Fi connectivity
    This portable speaker supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average portable speaker does not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Has Chromecast built-in
    This portable speaker has Chromecast built-in, while the average portable speaker does not have Chromecast built-in.
  • Has a power bank function
    This portable speaker has a power bank function, while the average portable speaker does not have a power bank function.
  • Supports party mode
    This portable speaker supports party mode, while the average portable speaker does not support party mode.
    Supports synchronized multi-speaker party/group playback.
  • Supports playback mute
    This portable speaker supports playback mute, while the average portable speaker does not support playback mute.
    Speaker playback audio can be directly muted.
  • Supports multi-room audio
    This portable speaker supports multi-room audio, while the average portable speaker does not support multi-room audio.
    Supports synchronized multi-room playback.
  • Supports automatic room calibration
    This portable speaker supports automatic room calibration, while the average portable speaker does not support automatic room calibration.
  • Supports voice assistants
    This portable speaker supports voice assistants, while the average portable speaker does not support voice assistants.
    Supports direct voice-assistant control.
  • Supports firmware updates
    This portable speaker supports firmware updates, while the average portable speaker does not support firmware updates.
    Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • 12 dB SPL lower maximum sound pressure
    This portable speaker has a lower maximum sound pressure level than the average portable speaker (80 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL).
    80 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
    Requires wired mains power and has no built-in rechargeable operating battery.
  • Does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input
    This portable speaker does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input, while the average portable speaker has a 3.5 mm AUX input.
    No built-in 3.5 mm AUX input.
  • Does not have a battery level indicator
    This portable speaker does not have a battery level indicator, while the average portable speaker has a battery level indicator.
  • 1 fewer USB ports
    This portable speaker has fewer USB ports than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • 1,900 g heavier
    This portable speaker is heavier than the average portable speaker (2,700 g vs 800 g).
    2,700 g vs 800 g
  • 0.8 Bluetooth levels older
    This portable speaker has an older Bluetooth version than the average portable speaker (4.2 vs 5).
    4.2 vs 5
  • 4.21x less popular
    Harman Kardon Citation 100 is less popular than the average portable speaker (1 vs 4.21).
    1 vs 4.21
  • 2.89x more expensive
    Harman Kardon Citation 100 is more expensive than the average portable speaker (£260 vs £90).
    £260 vs £90
  • 12 dB SPL lower maximum sound pressure
    This portable speaker has a lower maximum sound pressure level than the average portable speaker (80 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL).
    80 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL
  • Does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input
    This portable speaker does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input, while the average portable speaker has a 3.5 mm AUX input.
    No built-in 3.5 mm AUX input.
  • 1 fewer USB ports
    This portable speaker has fewer USB ports than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • 0.8 Bluetooth levels older
    This portable speaker has an older Bluetooth version than the average portable speaker (4.2 vs 5).
    4.2 vs 5
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
    Requires wired mains power and has no built-in rechargeable operating battery.
  • Does not have a battery level indicator
    This portable speaker does not have a battery level indicator, while the average portable speaker has a battery level indicator.
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • 1,900 g heavier
    This portable speaker is heavier than the average portable speaker (2,700 g vs 800 g).
    2,700 g vs 800 g
  • 15.1 cm taller
    This portable speaker is taller than the average portable speaker (27.5 cm vs 12.4 cm).
    27.5 cm vs 12.4 cm
  • 8 cm deeper
    This portable speaker is deeper than the average portable speaker (16.3 cm vs 8.3 cm).
    16.3 cm vs 8.3 cm

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

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whathifi.com
20/03/2019
Summary of the review
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trustedreviews.com
19/08/2019
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techaeris.com
22/06/2019
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geekspin.co
03/04/2019
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appleinsider.com
12/11/2018
Summary of the review
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forums.appleinsider.com
03/12/2018
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appleinsider.com
03/12/2018
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lbtechreviews.com
08/09/2020
Summary of the review
P
perfectacoustic.co.uk
07/03/2026
Summary of the review
C
computerbild.de
08/02/2019
Summary of the review
S
stereoguide.de
14/06/2021
Summary of the review
P
perfectacoustic.de
20/08/2021
Summary of the review
A
avcesar.com
17/12/2018
Summary of the review
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leclaireur.fnac.com
18/09/2019
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perfectacoustic.fr
22/08/2021
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leclaireur.fnac.com
18/09/2019
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P
perfectacoustic.es
22/08/2021
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F
fwd.nl
20/01/2019
Summary of the review

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Harman Kardon Citation 100

  • Powerful and room-filling sound quality
  • Deep, rich, and punchy bass performance
  • High volume output with minimal distortion
  • Premium, modern, and attractive Scandinavian design with Kvadrat wool fabric
  • Easy and straightforward initial setup using the Google Home app
  • Seamless integration with Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in
  • Reliable dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
  • Multi-room capability and easy stereo pairing with a second unit

What customers don't like about Harman Kardon Citation 100

  • Requires a continuous AC power connection and is not truly portable due to the lack of a built-in battery
  • Over-emphasised, heavy bass that can feel unbalanced or boomy on certain tracks
  • No built-in equalizer (EQ) settings to adjust or reduce the heavy bass levels
  • Noticeable audio lag/delay over Bluetooth, making it unsuitable for watching videos or movies
  • Complete lack of physical audio inputs such as a 3.5mm AUX port or USB port
  • Google Assistant microphone can occasionally be unresponsive or miss voice cues
  • Top-panel touch controls are sometimes reported as sluggish or lacks sensitivity
  • Larger and heavier footprint than expected for its category
  • Native integration lacks direct support for Apple Music via the Google Home app
  • High retail price compared to some competitor smart speakers

Verdict

The Harman Kardon Citation 100 is a compact smart speaker featuring a 20mm tweeter, a 102mm woofer, and a large rear passive radiator delivering 50W RMS output power. It excels with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, integrated Google Assistant, and Chromecast built-in for access to over 300 streaming services, all wrapped in a premium Kvadrat blended wool fabric. Main pros include its powerful bass response, crisp high-volume fidelity, multi-room expanding capabilities, and straightforward setup via the Google Home app. However, significant cons include a complete lack of portability due to having no internal battery, missing physical audio ports like a 3.5mm auxiliary jack or USB input, and a slightly overemphasized bass tuning that lacks neutrality.

Compare Harman Kardon Citation 100 with other products in the Portable Speakers category

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