Harmon Kardon Go + Play 3: Review

Sleek luxury speaker sets are becoming more prolific in the market place as sound companies realise there's a need for contemporary-looking portable devices that fit naturally into the home and out on the decks.

At the higher end of the market is Harmon Kardon Go + Play 3, a chunky looking speaker that's impressive on sound, but sadly light on innovation.

Offering a robust sound from an elegantly simple set of speakers, the simplicity of the look is a major bonus for the Harmon Kardon range - and this latest looks like one of the chunkier digital radios the UK was pumping out a good few years back.

With an aluminium handle that runs down mid-way on both sides that's as sturdy as it is functional, the Harmon Kardon's portability is a big bonus. Weighing in at just under 5 kilos, the unit's easily portable and doesn't cause many issues when you carry it about.

Which is a bonus, because due to the fact that this is simply a good-looking Bluetooth speaker, even if it boasts two 70mm mid-range drivers, two 20mm tweeters, a passive radiator, and a 130mm subwoofer. It's the underside bass boost speaker that helps beef up the sound making music sound both boisterous enough as it needs to be, but not overwhelming.

Its top also boasts minimalism too, with just a power on button and an active Bluetooth search button as well, which is simple to use. There are also a couple of buttons to allow for skipping of music and also calls, and that's it.

Speaking of calls, while the device is connected for them and can work that day, the sound quality varies for users and callers. It's perhaps not the best look for the device and should probably be left more to earbuds, rather than a wider unit.

And it has to be said, a lack of any customisation or app for it may be a major stumbling block for anyone who's truly fussy about sound and constant tweaking of audio preferences. But if you want to simply connect and play, the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 works for what it needs to.

While it's a little limited to its WiFi range and would work better really just as a static device in a room, the sound quality it offers is superlative. Not just limiting the testing to music but instead podcasts and audio dramas gave the idea of a speaker that's able to cope with whatever changes are on offer - and with ease of doing so as well.

Playing music at a lower end with the speaker also produces a crisp audio experience, but the higher the volume, the more the quality comes through - songs from the likes of Supergrass, Boney M, The Beatles and Benson Boone all sparkled where they should - and there's never a feeling that the equipment's straining either.

Battery life is around 8 hours, so there's a strong argument for using this as a workday tool and buddy - but just not for any incoming calls. A full charge takes about 3 hours, but it's easy to pack a brief burst of power and get going.

Ultimately, Harmon Kardon Go + Play 3 is a nice-looking piece of kit. Its more high-end device reeks of sophistication and visually given its simple design, it doesn't stand out - which is not to damn it with feint praise, more to say that it can blend in nicely to any home serious about sound and looking to add a level of class to its surroundings.

Vitals: 

Model: Go + Play 3
Manufacturer: Harman Kardon
Type : Portable Bluetooth speaker
Output power: 160 W RMS
Connection: Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm audio input
Battery life: Up to 8 hours
Charging time: 3 hours
Frequency response: 43 Hz – 20 kHz
IP rating: Unknown
Active voice control assistant: No
Weight : 4.7 kg
Size : 17.3 x 9.5 x 7.6 inches

A Harmon Kardon Go + Play 3 was supplied for a loan period for the purpose of this review.