Harman Kardon Citation 500 Review | 130 Data compared

The AVForums review of the Harman Kardon Citation 500 highlights the speaker's exceptional, room-filling sound, robust 200W RMS power, and stylish Kvadrat fabric finish. Key pros include powerful, deep bass from dual five-inch drivers and high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz audio streaming via Google Chromecast. However, the reviewer notes cons such as the unit’s large, heavy design that limits placement, potential bass bloat on lighter furniture, and a complete lack of physical audio inputs.

The Harman Kardon Citation 500 is a powerful, premium smart speaker with built-in Google Chromecast, delivering room-filling volume, a detailed mid-range, and controlled bass. While praised for its,coherent, and punchy audio performance at high volumes, the unit's primary limitation is its outdated Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, which significantly degrades sound quality compared to Wi-Fi streaming.

The Ambient's review highlights the Harman Kardon Citation 500 as a powerful, high-end smart speaker featuring premium Kvadrat fabric design, 200-watt output for room-filling sound, responsive Google Assistant, and AirPlay 2 support. While praised for performance and aesthetics, the 7.6kg unit is noted for its large, heavy footprint, high cost, lack of physical audio inputs, and a sometimes laggy touchscreen interface.

The Hi-Fi+ review praises the £580 Harman Kardon Citation 500 as a powerful, Kvadrat fabric-clad, mains-powered smart speaker capable of filling large rooms with detailed, expansive audio via 200 watts of amplification and dual 25mm tweeters. While featuring user-friendly Google Assistant and Chromecast functionality, the review notes cons regarding its capped 24-bit/96kHz digital resolution and lack of premium Bluetooth codecs, like aptX, in favor of Bluetooth 4.2.

The Hi-Fi Choice review highlights the Harman Kardon Citation 500 as a powerful 200W wireless speaker featuring 24-bit/96kHz support, built-in Google Assistant, and an elegant Kvadrat wool design, ideal for filling large rooms. While praised for its smart functionality and robust sound, the 7.6 kg speaker is limited by a lack of physical audio inputs, exclusive reliance on wireless connectivity, and an outdated Bluetooth 4.2 standard.