Harman Kardon Go Play Review | 130 Data compared

The CNET review describes the Harman/Kardon Go + Play as a premium, exceptional-sounding portable speaker featuring deep audio quality, an eye-catching design, and an effective RF remote. While offering robust sound and video output, the unit is criticized for its high $350 price, lack of compatibility with newer Apple devices, an awkward dock, and the absence of a built-in radio.

The Harman Kardon Go + Play portable speaker delivers a well-judged, highly detailed midrange and crisp, smooth high frequencies, allowing vocals to shine with an admirable scale of sound. However, the review highlights that the lower frequencies are thunderous yet poorly disciplined, often sounding too over-confident and uncontrolled, mimicking heavy in-car audio.

The Harman Kardon Go + Play is characterized as a robust, back-to-basics wireless speaker that prioritizes superior, punchy audio quality and a durable build over a modern feature set. While praised for its eight-hour battery life and sturdy design, the speaker faces limitations regarding its 3.4kg weight, awkward portability, and restricted connectivity that lacks Wi-Fi or advanced codecs.

The Pocket-lint review praises the Harman Kardon Go + Play as a powerful "modern boombox" delivering exceptional, full-spectrum sound with deep, punchy bass, while featuring a premium design with a satin aluminum handle and a useful USB charging port. While offering strong Bluetooth 4.1 performance and an 8-hour battery life, the speaker is criticized for its heavy 3.5kg weight and lack of Wi-Fi or AirPlay, making it less portable and connected than some competitors.

The DLH.net review praises the Harman Kardon Go+Play for its outstanding, clean audio performance, driven by an impressive array of two tweeters, two mid-range drivers, and two subwoofers that deliver deep, nuanced sound across various genres. While highlighted for exceptional clarity, the speaker is noted to suffer from audio distortion at maximum volume when subjected to heavy bass lines.

The 2016 Letem světem Applem review praises the Harman/Kardon GO + Play as a top-tier home audio speaker delivering powerful, room-filling sound with a high-quality frequency spectrum. Key pros include an elegant design with a sturdy stainless steel handle, a dual microphone system for clear calls, and a built-in power bank for charging devices, although the 3,433-gram weight makes it less practical for frequent, active portability.

The GadgetGuy review characterizes the Harman/Kardon Go + Play as a stylish, large "boombox-style" portable Bluetooth 4.1 speaker offering outstanding, room-filling sound. Key advantages include powerful audio performance, a dual-microphone conferencing system with echo cancellation, and a USB power bank feature. However, the speaker is noted for its bulky 418mm wide footprint and reliance on the basic SBC audio codec, lacking support for high-performance options like aptX or AAC.

The Gear Diary review highlights the Harman Kardon Go+Play as a top-tier portable speaker, praising its exceptional, high-output audio, multi-device connectivity, and robust, functional design, including a built-in microphone and USB power bank. While the speaker offers incredible sound, potential drawbacks for some users may include its significantly large, heavily tapered physical footprint which makes its portability feel less practical for active on-the-go use.