What is the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2?
The Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 is a speaker that takes us again to the golden age of the iPod dock. This isn’t some tiny Bluetooth speaker or an excessively pricey one just like the Naim Mu-so.
It’s a large boombox of a factor, however nonetheless has a battery to allow you to use it clear of house. With simply Bluetooth to circulation wirelessly, it’s no longer a hi-tech multiroom speaker, however it’s priced proper at £249 and has rocking bass at a worth maximum don’t get just about replicating.
Related: Best Bluetooth audio system roundup
Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 — Design and Features
What’s happening right here then? The Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 is far greater than the common £250 transportable speaker, utterly at odds with the dimensions and designs utilized by maximum Bluetooth audio system during the last two or 3 years.
It’s extra like a boombox for 2017, however with a glance easy sufficient to keep away from searching ridiculous to your living room. The back and front are coated via a curved woven grille, all-black excluding the brilliant silver Harman Kardon emblem useless centre at the entrance.
It’s almost certainly too huge to take out steadily except you’ve got a automobile or a big rucksack you’ll be able to commit to the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2. But it does have an enormous aluminium care for at the best, telling you it’s completely begging to be taken someplace.
It’s constructed like a tank however is gentle sufficient to take round the home with out it being an ordeal, and rubbery ft at the backside forestall you from having to fret about harmful the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2. They additionally forestall an excessive amount of vibration from being transmitted to the outside on which the speaker rests.
Sure, the Play 2 isn’t the prettiest or subtlest transportable speaker round. But for what is largely a wi-fi celebration speaker, it appears to be like grown-up and has no less than a touch of class. It’s a lot better-looking than the unique Go + Play.
The Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 doesn’t have numerous bonus options. Harman Kardon caught to the bits that might be helpful in a tool like this. You can rate your telephone the use of a USB port at the again, there’s a three.5mm aux enter plus the ability socket reside at the back of a rubbery flap at the rear. This isn’t a full-on water resistant speaker, however this little bit of rubber way you’ll be able to put the Go + Play 2 on rainy grass with out being worried.
As it makes use of a lot more energy than your moderate tiddly transportable speaker, the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 makes use of a fairly top voltage cylindrical energy plug slightly than one that allows you to use your telephone adapter to rate. But I’d a lot slightly have that than wait six hours for the battery to recharge. As is, it takes a few hours, and can ultimate for 8 hours at reasonable quantity.
The one additional I didn’t realize initially was once a mic array that allows you to deal with the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 like a speakerphone. I will be able to’t consider the use of a speaker this massive as such, and can admit I converted to the use of the telephone beautiful briefly after making an attempt it out, however the function is there if you wish to have it.
Harman Kardon Go Play 2 – Sound Quality
Sound high quality is the actual key function of the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2, and what higher a focal point is there for a speaker?
The major method the Harman Kardon flattens the similarly-priced festival is bass intensity. Where maximum Bluetooth audio system simply can’t ship sub-bass frequencies, they’re no drawback for the Play 2.
You get forged, deep, party-ready bass whether or not you’re enjoying at max quantity or the decrease degree I’ve been the use of to concentrate to a couple tracks whilst running. Harman Kardon says the frequency reaction begins at 50Hz, however the Go + Play 2 does in fact make some noise within the 40-50Hz vary too. Plenty of £200-odd wi-fi audio system are kind of silent beneath 60Hz.
Turning down the audio geek dial a bit of, this implies the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 can produce really deep bass, the kind you’ll be able to really feel to your chest when a kick drum kits. Being used to reviewing small audio system or greater ones which can be bassy however finally end up sounding muggy and muddled consequently, it is a refreshing exchange.
The bass is robust however doesn’t wreck the sound. There is a certain low/sub-bass emphasis, although, which turns out like Harman Kardon appearing off what its engineers have controlled to cram right into a nonetheless quite small shell. At occasions it made me concern about court cases from neighbours, and will also be distracting with tracks that experience numerous ‘non-synthetic’ low bass.
Sad because it sounds, a couple of occasions I did want there was once an app that might allow you to make the bass much less robust, if just for the sake of my neighbours. Harman Kardon does be offering an app for its wi-fi audio system, however it does not function EQ.
This is the one main factor you could wish to believe: when you reside in a shared area with deficient sound isolation, your flatmates received’t thanks for purchasing a Harman Kardon Go + Play 2. Much as they’ll make you convey it into the living room for area events.
The remainder of the sound is remarkably transparent and tasteful given the low-bass clout. Listening to it subsequent to my favorite small wi-fi speaker, the £200 Riva S, the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 has cleaner, brighter treble and a much broader, greater soundstage.
Take off the entrance grille and you’ll be able to see why the Go + Play 2 sounds just right. There are two tweeters, two greater bass drivers and a couple of matched passive radiators. That’s the spherical factor you notice within the centre, with any other one at the again, to keep away from distortion.
For a wi-fi speaker, separation is superb and there’s a just right quantity of element. This is this kind of speaker you could purchase for barbecues after which finally end up the use of as your major hi-fi. It is also larger than maximum wi-fi audio system of this value, however it sounds higher than with regards to they all, too.
There are a couple of techniques it would fortify, although. The upper-mids aren’t fairly as wealthy as they might be, which means that the element in vocals is delivered in fairly a matter-of-fact method, slightly than the smoother presentation you could get from a couple of fine bookshelf audio system. As discussed earlier than, the low-bass energy will also be distracting. Because the emphasis within the very low-frequency sign up, it doesn’t ruin the rhythm or power of song, however slightly extra self-discipline and bass velocity would make the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 appear that bit extra delicate.
However, the principle level to remove is that it is baggage of a laugh, and sounds just right, too.
Should I purchase the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2?
The Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 is a brilliant wi-fi speaker – person who turns out to return from yet again. It was once a time when there was once a far larger distinction between small and massive transportable audio system, and that is larger, louder and extra thrilling than maximum competitors.
Numerous chances are you’ll favor the Sonos Play:1, a real non-portable multiroom house speaker that has a extra easy-listening sound and smoother mids. However, the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2’s low-bass energy is fairly outstanding. It’s an actual celebration in a field, however one that does not industry away all constancy.
Verdict
Big, robust sound makes this a really perfect transportable purchase – if you do not thoughts a larger field.
Watch: Portable and Bluetooth speaker information
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