Short answer: the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It ranks #13 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $130; the B&O Beoplay A2 active ranks #16 and costs $400, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Harman Kardon Citation 200 gets right: Deeper bass than any Onyx. The catch: 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.
On the B&O Beoplay A2 active side: B&O’s True360 sound from both sides. Set against that: Not stereo.
Buy the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It ranks higher for sound quality than the B&O Beoplay A2 active and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the B&O Beoplay A2 active is rated for 24 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Citation 200.
If water resistance matters to you, the Harman Kardon Citation 200 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the B&O Beoplay A2 active at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Citation 200 | B&O Beoplay A2 active | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 Discontinued | $400 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #16 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs / 2.85 kg | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon app) | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7" x 8.6" x 6.8" (178 x 219 x 172 mm) | 10.1" x 5.6" x 1.7" (256 x 142 x 44 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 1" tweeter | 2x 3" fullrange woofers, 2x 0.75" tweeters + 2x 3" passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 50W | 60W |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
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- Bose SoundLink Max vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Bose SoundLink Max
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Motion X600
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Citation 200: $130 Discontinued
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.
Full Harman Kardon Citation 200 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7" x 8.6" x 6.8" (178 x 219 x 172 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs / 2.85 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Ezekielo: Citation 200 vs Beolit 20 with Sound Comparison!
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs JBL Xtreme3 Sound & Bass test
- Ezekielo: Citation 200 vs Onyx Studio 6 vs Bose Portable Speaker Sound Comparison
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Onyx Studio 7 Bass comparison
- Reddit Search for Harman Kardon Citation 200 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs B&O Beosound A5
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Marshall Stockwell 2
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Bose SoundLink Max
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Motion X600
- See all 16 comparisons
B&O Beoplay A2 active: $400 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: B&O’s True360 sound from both sides. Customizable sound via Beoplay app. 22 hour battery (improved from original A2). Stereo pairing with a second A2 Active. Splash/dustproof, USB-C charging. ~1.1 kg with carry strap.
Cons: Not stereo. Discontinued.
Full B&O Beoplay A2 active review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1" x 5.6" x 1.7" (256 x 142 x 44 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 3" fullrange woofers, 2x 0.75" tweeters + 2x 3" passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Select Pro
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Bose SoundLink Max
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs JBL Xtreme 3
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Motion X600
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Marshall Stockwell 2
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- See all 16 comparisons