Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs JBL Authentics 200

Last updated: October 27, 2026

These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Harman Kardon Citation 200 ranks #13 of 117 large speakers by sound quality at $130; the JBL Authentics 200 ranks #10 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $199.95.

Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs JBL Authentics 200

The Harman Kardon Citation 200 is the battery-powered, tougher option. A portable smart speaker with Wi-Fi, Google Assistant and deep bass for its size, now discontinued but worth buying used. Its battery is rated for 8 hours, while the JBL Authentics 200 needs an outlet. It is rated IPX4, while the JBL Authentics 200 has no water resistance. 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.

Why pick the JBL Authentics 200: A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Harman Kardon Citation 200 lacks. It links with other speakers (Wi-Fi multi-room), which the Harman Kardon Citation 200 cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Citation 200 lacks. The tradeoff: Bass not as deep as others.

One note: the Harman Kardon Citation 200 is no longer sold new, but at #13 of 117 large speakers by sound quality it still outranks most current models, so used is worth considering.

Buy the Harman Kardon Citation 200 at $130 if you want a large speaker. Buy the JBL Authentics 200 at $199.95 if you want a powered desktop speaker instead.

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

Harman Kardon Citation 200 Discontinued

A portable smart speaker with Wi-Fi, Google Assistant and deep bass for its size, now discontinued but worth buying used.

Battery: 8 hrWaterproof: IPX4Weight: 6.3 lbsStereo: Partially
eBay
$130
JBL Authentics 200

A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time.

Woofer: 6"Bass to: 50 HzBluetooth: YesWeight: 9.3 lbs
Amazon $199.95 eBay
$199.95each

Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM 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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Specifications Side By Side

Harman Kardon Citation 200 JBL Authentics 200
Price$130 Discontinued$199.95 each
Ranked#13 of 117 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#10 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers
Aux InputNoYes
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)No Battery
IP RatingIPX4None
StereoPartially (1 woofer)Partially (1 woofer)
OmnidirectionalNo-
Weight6.3 lbs (2.85 kg)9.3 lbs (4.2 kg)
Wi-FiYesYes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz))
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBCSBC
AppYes (Harman Kardon app)Yes
EQNoYes
TWSNoNo
Party ModeNoYes (Wi-Fi multi-room)
Power BankNo-
USB PlaybackNo-
Built-in MicrophoneYes-
Voice AssistantsGoogle AssistantAmazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous)
Power InputUSB-CAC Power Cable (100-240V)
Bluetooth Version4.25.3
Dimensions7” x 8.6” x 6.8” (178 x 219 x 172 mm)10.5” x 6.8” x 6.6” (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm)
Drivers5” woofer, 1” tweeter5” full-range woofer, 2x 25mm tweeters; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator
Frequency Response40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified)
Amplifier Power50W90W
Digital Aux InputNo-
Inputs-Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only)
Woofer Cabinet-ported
Bass Extension (-10dB)-~50Hz
Streaming Services-AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM
XLR Input-No
RCA Input-No
TRS Input-No
Optical Input-No
Coaxial Input-No
USB Input-Yes
HDMI Input-No
AES Input-No

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