Short answer: the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It ranks #13 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $130; the JBL Xtreme 3 ranks #18 and costs $209.12, 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.
What the JBL Xtreme 3 offers: Better treble and deeper bass than the Xtreme 2. Watch for: Boosted bass.
Buy the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Xtreme 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Xtreme 3 is rated for 15 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Citation 200.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Xtreme 3 at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Citation 200 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Citation 200 | JBL Xtreme 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 Discontinued | $209.12 |
| Ranked | #13 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #18 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs / 2.85 kg | 4 lbs / 1.83 kg |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon app) | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 7" x 8.6" x 6.8" (178 x 219 x 172 mm) | 11.7" x 5.4" x 5.3" (298 x 136 x 134 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 1" tweeter | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 53.5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 50W | 100W |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 133ms |
| Max Volume | - | 105dB |
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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!
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- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Onyx Studio 7 Bass comparison
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JBL Xtreme 3: $209.12 Amazon
Pros: Better treble and deeper bass than the Xtreme 2. More balanced sounding than the Xtreme 4
Cons: Boosted bass. Not as deep bass as better speakers. Not as balanced as better speakers.
Full JBL Xtreme 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 133ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7" x 5.4" x 5.3" (298 x 136 x 134 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 53.5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 105dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.83 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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