Updated Harman/Kardon Go + Play - connection only via Bluetooth, no cradle, no Wi-Fi, battery life 8 hours, for 20,000 rubles this is a very interesting device, modern music Center…

Contents of delivery

• Column
• power unit
• Network cable
• Instructions

Let me immediately note that in the USA and Europe the device is simply called Harman/Kardon Go + Play, in Russia it is Harman/Kardon Go + Play Mini - in any case, focus on appearance devices.

Design, construction

Seven years ago I wrote a review of the first Harman/Kardon Go + Play, then it was a unique device in its own way, intended for owners Apple technology– mainly for smartphones and players.

The system quickly became a cult favorite because you could listen to music from iPhone 3G/3Gs, iPod Touch, plus there was a convenient carrying handle, batteries were located in the lower part of the case, and you could take the Go Place Play with you outside or on a picnic. Later, a version of the system without a cradle appeared, with the same design. Well, now, in 2016, the most serious update in recent years appears on sale - and here you are, playing with me on a very interesting device.

I would like to note that in Russia the attitude towards Harman/Kardon is initially good, many of my friends want and use exactly headphones and “Harman” speakers (that’s what they call them), in any test they say that H/K has better sound anyway. Why this is so, I don’t know. Apparently, many people know that the company deals with car audio; they are captivated by the serious, strict design, and the sound, of course. True, in last years Sometimes frankly strange devices appeared in budget categories, but this is also a moot point, I didn’t like the Harman/Kardon Soho II NC, a friend bought it and says it’s best headphones in his life in all respects.

I personally adore large noise-cancelling headphones, they fit perfectly, I like the sound.

But let's get back to the column. It has become noticeably smaller in size, the speakers have disappeared from the front panel, but the carrying handle has not gone away. On the top panel - regular ones, not touch buttons turning on, adjusting the volume, activating pairing mode, Play/Pause, they are a pleasure to use. Each press is accompanied by its own sounds. On the bottom there are four massive legs, at the back, under a tight plug, there are USB connectors for charging other devices, microUSB for service, AUX and an input for a network cable. The power supply on the cable, given the size of the device, could easily have been installed inside the case; an extra hundred grams would not have made a difference.

The device comes in two colors, black and white, I like both, I don’t know which one I would choose.

Most of the body is covered in hard fabric; over time, dust will likely accumulate in the folds, so be prepared to periodically go over the walls with a vacuum cleaner brush. I’m sure the creators understood that the Harman/Kardon Go + Play could make not only a thing for traveling, but also an excellent universal music center for the home - you can connect any equipment and not carry the speaker from place to place. Accordingly, the only way to get rid of dust at home is with a vacuum cleaner. It turns out that the white Go + Play is more practical.

Like the previous generation speaker, the device is comfortable to carry thanks to its thick metal handle. It’s very good that one of the main distinctive features They didn’t clean it up or make it worse.

Here are the specifications of the Harman/Kardon Go + Play Mini:

• Speakers: 2 x 20mm Ridge tweeters; 2 x 90mm Atlas woofers
• Power: 2 x 25 W
• frequency range: 50 Hz – 20 kHz
• Signal-to-noise: 80 dB (A-weighted)
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1, HFP device or 3.5mm (1/8") stereo mini-jack, USB
• Autonomous power supply: lithium ion battery, work in music playback mode up to 8 hours
• Dimensions: 417.50 x 181.5 x 211.5 mm
• Weight: 3.433 kg

Peculiarities

And in Harman/Kardon Go + Play Mini we see many of the developments embodied in JBL and other HARMAN brands. Firstly, two such speakers can be combined into a stereo pair; unfortunately, I haven’t been able to try it yet – but I’m sure the result will be interesting. They say it could be not only the Harman/Kardon Go + Play Mini, but also another speaker from the company. Secondly, there are two microphones installed here for better voice transmission, I checked, the speakerphone works fine in a quiet environment, although I still like it better in this sense JBL Charge 3. Thirdly, it uses “HARMAN TrueStream is a technology created to provide highest quality audio and improved audio streaming via Bluetooth." I still don’t understand what it is - I only found general words like this booklet: "Think of it as Bluetooth hi-fi" and a vague explanation. The explanation is that depending on the signal quality, the system selects the best codec, etc. This is all great, but in the case of Bluetooth, the same aptX must work on two devices at once for you to feel the effect. Accordingly, TrueStream is a strange function, I don’t know what the company had in mind.

Finally, there is a USB port for charging various gadgets; smartphones charge quite quickly, iPad Pro You won't be able to charge quickly. And the function supposedly works with the simultaneous connection of three devices, I tried connecting the iPhone 6S Plus and MacBook laptop Air, music from the smartphone was transmitted, the system on the computer showed the connection to the speaker, but the sound was not transmitted to Go + Play. Let me remind you that with JBL speakers there is seamless transmission from two or three devices at once - two people can easily play music one at a time. I started connecting the iPad Pro, connected it, but the sound could not be transmitted either. In general, I found out through experience that sound can only be transmitted from one device at a time - either a smartphone, or a tablet, or a laptop. You can also answer a call only from one gadget at a time. In general, there is no such thoughtful work with several gadgets as JBL speakers.

There is also a note about the quality of the Bluetooth connection. On the one hand, there is apparently a powerful transmitter here; even at a distance of ten meters, sound in the apartment is transmitted without interruption, despite the presence of partitions. On the other hand, you listen to music, answer a call, playback does not continue automatically after the end of the call. Sometimes it happens that after playback stops, the smartphone for some reason disconnects from the speaker.

Working hours

The stated operating time is about 8 hours, in reality the speaker works less at medium volume, you can count on six hours - either I have such a copy, or the developers measured the indicators a little differently. It takes about four hours to charge the battery, and don't forget that a portable battery won't help here; you'll need an outlet.

On the other hand, it’s very cool that the speaker can work without being connected to the network. At the dacha, they put it near the outdoor kitchen, while they were cooking and sitting at the table, they just spent the charge of the device - but along with their favorite music.

Sound

Unfortunately, the company doesn’t want to tell you what the Ridge tweeters are and what the Atlas woofers are – apparently, they decided to give their own names to the speakers, but why is the question.

Among the concern's portable devices, this is one of the most powerful, it feels like some kind of 2.1 system for a computer. There is simply no comparison in sound with JBL Charge or even Xtreme - Harman/Kardon Go + Play is more powerful, cleaner, more interesting in terms of capabilities, the system doesn’t just overwhelm you with bass, thanks to well-chosen acoustic components, you can really listen to music here, and not create a background for work or leisure. Actually, this is noted by both users and fellow journalists - the first Go + Play was amazing simply by the fact of its existence; let me remind you, it was one of the first speakers created for the iPhone. The second has not changed in terms of sound, but the new product has been completely rethought and allows you to listen to a variety of tracks with excellent quality for a “portable” device, and use a variety of streaming services.

I recommend listening to it yourself before purchasing.

Conclusion

As is often the case with Harman/Kardon products, not everything is perfect from a software point of view - and the HK Remote application for iOS could use an update. It’s strange that over-the-air updates are not supported, and it’s strange that the speaker doesn’t have many of the functions characteristic of HARMAN products – I wrote about everything above. It turns out that the gadget will only help you listen to music from one device at a time, well, you can also answer the call and take Go + Play with you outside.

But the sound and design of the device make up for all the flaws.

The price in Russia is about 20,000 rubles, a little cheaper than JBL Xtreme, but the sound, I repeat, is different. Harman/Kardon fans will definitely not be disappointed; the system is worth the money. I recommend listening and buying.

Maybe in future firmware they will add some new functions for the speaker, we’ll see (hard to believe).

We present to your attention a review of wireless speaker Harman Kardon Go Play mini.

The device went on sale in 2016 and still occupies a leading position among similar gadgets.

Contents:

Appearance: what's new?

Battery

Harman Kardon Play Mini is new to the line acoustic speakers from the equipment manufacturer of the same name.

In the 2016 model, the performance of the gadget has been improved - now the acoustics have a power of 22 W.

Let us remind you that previous versions of the speakers work on regular AA batteries, which is not at all convenient, but regular use speakers require frequent battery replacement.

The manufacturer guarantees that it works for up to 8 hours (with continuous music playback).

The battery can be fully charged in three hours from the network and in 4-5 hours from portable batteries.

Case design

The appearance of the new model resembles previous devices. It is this oblong shape with a metal handle that is the hallmark of acoustics from Harman Kardon.

The surface of the gadget has changed; now it has a fabric structure.

The speaker handle is made of metal with a matte finish. This allows you to comfortably hold the gadget and the coating does not wear off over time. Let us remember that in previous models the handle was plastic with a chrome finish.

Also, the new speaker has become slightly smaller than the previous model, which is logical from its name.

In the picture below you can see all the visual differences between the new Go Play Mini (left) and the previous version of the Go Play from 2015 (right):

Control

The control keys are located on the top panel of the device. There are five of them in total:

• Key for establishing a Bluetooth connection;
• 2 volume buttons;
• Power key;
• Pause/next track. With one press of this button you pause or play the song. Double click and go to the next song. To rewind the playing track, hold the key pressed until the desired fragment appears.

All ports for connecting charging, headphones or other external devices located on the back of the case.

The ports are hidden by a plug, which prevents them from getting dirty or getting wet.

There are also passive radiators at the rear:

The speaker is available only in two classic colors - black and white.

Specifications

Acoustic characteristics table

Parameter:	Meaning:
Device type	Wireless speaker
average cost	15,000 rubles
Power	2X25 W
Frequency range	50 Hz to 20 kHz
Supported Interfaces	Bluetooth 4.1, AUX, USB 2.0 and micro USB
Speakers	High frequency (2x20 mm) and Low frequency (2x90 mm)
Dimension	47.7x18.1x21.1 cm.

The weight of the gadget is 3 kilograms 400 grams, which is a fairly small indicator for this type of column.

The device is easy to carry with you, and its solid body does not create problems during transportation. For comparison, the previous model in the line weighs one kilogram more.

As you can see, the speaker has a wide frequency range, which allows you to play any musical genre without any problems.

Even rock songs at maximum volume will not create the effect of hissing and noise. The sound is clear, vocals are recognized perfectly even with strong bass.

In addition to excellent sound quality, the advantage of the speaker is the ability to simultaneously connect up to three devices. The connection with the acoustics and your smartphone is established usingBluetooth.

Sound

When listening to songs of different genres (from pop music to rock and metal), very clear and powerful bass is clearly audible.

A distinctive feature of Go Play Mini is the ability of the speaker to “adjust” to any song. The gadget perfectly matches the balance of the sound of voice and music, complementing everything with bass and the effect of the performer’s presence.

You can see an example of the speaker's sound in the video below.

Please note that the sound may differ from the actual the worst side, because you are not listening to it “live”, but through the speakers of the video author’s camera and your device.

Despite this, even on video, the sound is clear and powerful. We also recommend testing the sound at an electronics store.

Setting up work

You can connect the speaker to any sound source, the main requirement is support.

You can easily connect and configure the interaction between acoustics and a smartphone/tablet with, or. You can also connect laptops and desktop PCs to the speaker.

To set up the connection of one or more smartphones with Go Play mini, you only need do the following:

• Activate Bluetooth on mobile device (don't forget to turn on visibility);
• Turn on the column and press the key with the icon "Bluetooth";

• Information about the successful pairing of the two gadgets will appear on the phone screen. After that, go to and start playing tracks. The sound will not be reproduced by the mobile speaker, but by a column.

The Bluetooth signal is not interrupted even at a distance of 7-8 meters between both gadgets. Walls or other massive structures also do not interrupt the connection.

Note! Go Play MiniWorks great in speakerphone mode too. If you receive a call and at this time your smartphone is connected to the speaker, you will be able to communicate with the interlocutor through the speaker. At the same time, the caller will not hear any echo, as happens when activating the loudspeaker mode on a smartphone.

Comparison with competitors

Average market valueHarman Kardon Go Play miniin the Russian Federation is 15,000 rubles.

The Go Play Mini's main competitors are the JBL Xtreme and Philips BM50B speakers.

The first gadget shows enough Good work in the low frequency range.

The battery performance significantly exceeds the declared parameter of the Go Play Mini, because with a capacity of 10,000 mAh it works without interruptions for up to 15 hours.

Also, the speaker is waterproof and allows you to charge up to two phones.

Despite the technical advantage, the Go Play Mini produces clearer sound. Another disadvantage of a waterproof speaker is its cost.

The price in the Russian Federation is 20,000 – 25,000 rubles.

Another competitive gadget is the Philips BM50B speaker. The cost of this acoustics is almost the same as that of Go Play mini (on average 15,000 - 16,000 rubles).

The design of this device is not as practical as that of Harman Kardon, and the Philips speaker itself is more of an auxiliary element that can be connected to a ready-made and configured stereo pair.

The affordable price, nice design and portability put the gadget a step above analogues from other manufacturers. The only negative is the lack of protection from moisture.

It is expected that protection standards will be presented in new models from the company.

Thematic videos:

• 1. Rating
• 2. Specifications
• 3. Equipment and design: indeed, Mini
• 4. Modern technologies and developments
• 5. Sound quality: four speakers
• 6. Autonomy: eight hours of flawless operation
• 7. Bottom line: Go+Play Mini as an example of a Bluetooth speaker
• 8. Pros and cons

In Russia, stereo devices from Harman/Kardon were known only to avid car enthusiasts for a long time, because the brand produced high-quality musical accessories for Land Rover, Mercedes and BMW. Now there are more and more fans of the brand. Moreover, not so long ago it was presented updated version portable speaker Go+Play, to which Mini is added in Russia and the CIS countries. The changes affected not only the design, but also the set of features.

Information about Harman/Kardon Go+Play Mini

8.0 Rating

Specifications

Options and design: indeed, Mini

The general design concept remains the same - the design has a carrying handle for convenience, and there are rubberized legs for stability. Is it true, new model I hid the speakers under a fabric cover that resembled a metal grill. However, Go+Play still looks expensive and solid.

If previous version due to its size and weight it was more stationary than portable, but now the situation has changed somewhat: the dimensions have decreased to 418x182x212 mm, and the weight is 3.4 kg (and this is 1 kg less).

All control buttons remained in their places. You can turn the device on and off, adjust the volume, pause it, and connect via Bluetooth to another gadget by pressing the rubberized button next to the handle. And on the back side there was a place for connectors for cables: USB port, micro-USB, AUX. The connectors are covered with a rubberized plug. It will save you from light splashes of water and from dust, but still the hero of the review does not have more reliable water protection.

Using micro-USB and AUX, you can synchronize the speaker with a smartphone or tablet, and USB will be needed for charging. The corresponding cable along with the power supply is included in the package, as well as instructions.

Modern technologies and developments

The portable speaker is designed in accordance with all trends, so many modern developments are collected here.

Firstly, the HARMAN TrueStream function is used, whose task is to select a separate codec for each composition, depending on its quality. Thanks to this, absolutely any melody gets a rich sound.

Secondly, in addition to several speakers, the design provides two microphones for best recording vote. Indeed, the speaker works great in both quiet and noisy environments.

In addition, it is possible to simultaneously work with several devices at once. For example, you can combine two speakers at once (these could be Go+Play or earlier boomboxes of the brand) into unified system to get stereo sound. Also, one device can be used by two listeners at once. Bluetooth synchronization allows you to connect the device with two smartphones, tablets or laptops. True, this option needs to be improved - for now the hero of the review does not allow you to play music alternately from one device, then from another.

IN new version speakers, it became possible to connect not only Apple smartphones, but also Android, and even Windows (the previous Go+Play was aimed only at owners of Apple phones).

The developers presented their own application Remote App, available on Play Market, and in App Store. Using the program, the user will be able to play with the settings or use already saved parameters in the equalizer.

Sound quality: four speakers

Under an opaque black or white mesh (depending on the color of the case) four speakers are hidden: two each for low and high frequencies. Two high-frequency Ridge speakers of 20 mm and two low-frequency 90 mm Atlas speakers produce a total power of 50 W. So the volume reserve was impressive. For example, to listen to music in a normal living room, only 30% of the volume reserve is enough.

The advantage of Go+Play is the purity of the sound. Even with increasing volume, an attentive listener will not find any extraneous noise, whistling or other defects.

“Operation” of Harman/Kardon Go+Play Mini speakers

A wide range of supported frequencies (from 50 to 20,000 Hz) allows you to listen to tracks of any genre on this speaker - from classical to heavy metal.

Autonomy: eight hours of flawless operation

According to the manufacturer, the built-in lithium-ion battery allows you to listen to music for 8 hours. In practice, this duration varies depending on the number of connected devices and the volume of the songs. At average volume, you can quite count on 6 hours - then you will have to recharge.

Only a cable and socket are suitable for charging, and a portable POWERBANK is not supported. Unfortunately, technology is not provided here fast charging: It will take about 4 hours to fully charge.

Bottom line: Go+Play Mini as an example of a Bluetooth speaker

This model combines what a demanding music lover needs - excellent speakers, two microphones, a battery with good autonomy, and a stylish design. Perhaps some options still need to be improved. But even in its current form, the Harman/Kardon Go+Play Mini speaker can become an example of portable audio equipment.

The cost at the start of sales was about 20,000 rubles, but after the first use it is clear that this price is completely justified.

• Four speakers for HF and LF
• Large volume reserve
• Stylish design
• Ability to connect to any OS

• Long charging time
• Heavy and large body