Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Harman Kardon Citation 200

Last updated: September 22, 2026

These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ranks #5 of 16 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $297.71; the Harman Kardon Citation 200 ranks #13 of 78 large speakers by sound quality at $130.

Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Harman Kardon Citation 200

The case for the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content. The tradeoff: What Hi-Fi’s own comparison found the pricier Sonos Era 300 has more power, punch and detail, and Siri cannot launch Spotify, Tidal or other non-Apple services directly, only Apple Music by voice; everything else has to be sent over AirPlay from a phone.

The case for the Harman Kardon Citation 200: Deeper bass than any Onyx. The tradeoff: Overly boomy by default, you can short press the Bluetooth and volume down buttons simultaneously to decrease the bass, and the Bluetooth and volume up buttons simultaneously to increase it.

Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ($297.71) for a powered desktop speaker; the Harman Kardon Citation 200 ($130) suits a large speaker instead.

There is a real gap in water resistance: the Harman Kardon Citation 200 at IPX4 (splashing) against the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen, which has no water resistance.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

Apple HomePod 2nd Gen Harman Kardon Citation 200
Price$297.71 each$130 Discontinued
Ranked#5 of 16 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers#13 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Aux InputNoNo
Battery LifeNo Battery8 hours (Manufacturer specified)
IP RatingNoneIPX4
Party ModeYes (AirPlay 2 multi-room)No
Power InputExternal AC adapter (detachable cable)USB-C
StereoNoPartially (1 woofer)
Weight5.1 lbs (2.3 kg)6.3 lbs (2.85 kg)
Wi-FiYesYes
AppYes (Apple Home)Yes (Harman Kardon app)
Built-in MicrophoneYes (far-field array, no physical mute switch)Yes
EQYes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction)No
Power BankNoNo
TWSYes (stereo pairing via Home app)No
Drivers4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters5" woofer, 1" tweeter
DiscontinuedNoYes
InputsWi-Fi, AirPlay 2-
XLR InputNo-
RCA InputNo-
TRS InputNo-
Optical InputNo-
Coaxial InputNo-
USB InputNo-
HDMI InputNo-
AES InputNo-
BluetoothNo-
Dimensions6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm)7" x 8.6" x 6.8" (178 x 219 x 172 mm)
Voice AssistantsApple SiriGoogle Assistant
Streaming ServicesAirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only-
Omnidirectional-No
Bluetooth Codecs-SBC
USB Playback-No
Bluetooth Version-4.2
Frequency Response-40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Amplifier Power-50W
Digital Aux Input-No

More top alternatives to Harman Kardon Citation 200:

Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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The Two Speakers In Full

Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: $297.71 each Amazon eBay

Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ranking card

Pros: What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content. A 4-inch high-excursion woofer moves 20mm of travel, paired with five angled horn-loaded tweeters, and the S7 chip continuously measures the room and re-tunes the output in real time, even as you move the speaker. “Hey Siri” is reliably heard from across a room even at full volume, and two units can be stereo-paired for a genuinely bigger sound.

Cons: What Hi-Fi’s own comparison found the pricier Sonos Era 300 has more power, punch and detail, and Siri cannot launch Spotify, Tidal or other non-Apple services directly, only Apple Music by voice; everything else has to be sent over AirPlay from a phone. There is no way to stream to it over Bluetooth at all, no 3.5mm or other wired input, no battery, and no IP rating, so it’s an AC-only speaker for an already-committed Apple household.

AES InputNo
AppYes (Apple Home)
Aux InputNo
Battery LifeNo Battery
BluetoothNo
Built-in MicrophoneYes (far-field array, no physical mute switch)
Coaxial InputNo
Dimensions6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm)
DiscontinuedNo
Drivers4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters
EQYes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction)
HDMI InputNo
IP RatingNone
InputsWi-Fi, AirPlay 2
Optical InputNo
Party ModeYes (AirPlay 2 multi-room)
Power BankNo
Power InputExternal AC adapter (detachable cable)
RCA InputNo
StereoNo
Streaming ServicesAirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only
TRS InputNo
TWSYes (stereo pairing via Home app)
USB InputNo
Voice AssistantsApple Siri
Weight5.1 lbs (2.3 kg)
Wi-FiYes
XLR InputNo

Harman Kardon Citation 200: $130 Discontinued eBay

Harman Kardon Citation 200 ranking card

Pros: Deeper bass than any Onyx.

Cons: Overly boomy by default, you can short press the Bluetooth and volume down buttons simultaneously to decrease the bass, and the Bluetooth and volume up buttons simultaneously to increase it. Discontinued.

Amplifier Power50W
AppYes (Harman Kardon app)
Aux InputNo
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Bluetooth Version4.2
Built-in MicrophoneYes
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions7" x 8.6" x 6.8" (178 x 219 x 172 mm)
DiscontinuedYes
Drivers5" woofer, 1" tweeter
EQNo
Frequency Response40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
IP RatingIPX4
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeNo
Power BankNo
Power InputUSB-C
StereoPartially (1 woofer)
TWSNo
USB PlaybackNo
Voice AssistantsGoogle Assistant
Weight6.3 lbs (2.85 kg)
Wi-FiYes