Take the boom with you.

Harman Kardon’s newly released Citation speakers are both bluetooth and wireless connecting for both in-home and on the go.

The Citation 200 is a full HD 360 degree speaker, resembling a small subwoofer and although a bit weighty at almost 3 kg is a pick up and go.

There are two parts to the Citation 200; the main speaker and its base – and I really love what Harmon Kardon have done here.

Instant charge when placed on to its charging pad – which charges wirelessly (unlike similar speakers that still require a full plug in for a juice up). That said if you’re out and don’t have the charge base with you you can power up with a USB-C cable.

A full charge is going to get you up to 8 hours – given the power that this 360 speaker has that’s not bad – but the charge time is a killer, around 3 hours from empty to full.

Taking the Citation 200 out of the home it exceeded its purported lifespan of 8 hours on battery.

In my tests I paired to both Android (10) and iOS (Apple). Whether in or out of the home off it’s charging base I typically experienced 9 to 11 hours at mid volume music streaming after a full overnight charge.

If you’re looking for something that’s going to rock that beach party, or rattle the walls in your bedroom this is definitely it.

Outputting at 50 watts RMS at 80dB whether in an open wide space or within a room the Citation 200 is one of the highest performing portable speakers I’ve tested so far.

But being a booming wireless speaker isn’t everything that the Citation 200 has – it is also a smart speaker, as we saw with Harman Kardon’s Citation Oasis.

Within your home you can set up Google Assistant which is the built in A.I. and if you have more than one of the Citation speaker series in your home you can pair them up.

The Citation 200 is water resistant -but not waterproof. It can handle a few splashes here and there, but drop it in the pool and it’s all over.

A damn fine audio solution to the summer downunder, the Citation 200 ticks all of the boxes you would expect and has that decent battery life that’s going to keep you rocking out from dawn to dusk.

The post Harman Kardon Citation 200 Speaker Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Harman Kardon sure know a thing or two when it comes to superb audio.

They should do, as they’ve been the elite top shelf brand for decades and first producing audio gear 65 years ago.

Now they’re expanding their smart audio range with their new citation series.

STG received two of their smart speakers in our office, the first one being the Oasis.

Resembling an old school alarm clock the small form factor sized Oasis is a one stop device for all your bedside needs.

Firstly it comes with Google Assistant built in and Apple AirPlay.

Once you set the speaker up in your home and connect it to your WiFi you’ll need the Google Home app to get the smart stuff happening.

In previous devices a year or two back Harman Kardon integrated Amazon’s Alexa, however finding that pretty much everyone uses Google and / or has a Google account they have made the move.

Once you’re good to go in your Google setup you can begin to talk away to the Oasis and control your audio (and other smart home devices if added in to your Google Home).

Being a bluetooth speaker the Apple AirPlay enables you to boom out your personal or streamed playlists from your iOS device.

Connection on both wireless and bluetooth is flawless.

But the Citation Oasis still has more to offer.

A wireless charger on the top of the Oasis will see you right for a full nights charge up.

The ports at the back enable another charge up of a device via USB and there’s even a built-in radio with the antennae socket there aswell as the tried and true 3.5mm port.

The grey coloured mesh and plastic finish should seamlessly fit in to anyones existing decor and the Oasis can belt out the sound that’s for sure.

While the dual speakers come in at 6w you’d believe that they are ten times that power.

The Oasis can also be paired with any other Harman Kardon Citation speakers, so if you get yourself a few of the smart speakers from the Citation series, link them up and have music streaming simultaneously in every room.

As for the Oasis as a standalone it is one superb bedside buddy, or wherever in the home you decide to place it.

It’s Harman Kardon’s professional audio together with A.I. smarts.

The post Harman Kardon Citation Oasis Smart Speaker Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.