Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Marshall Middleton

Last updated: August 28, 2026

Short answer: the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It ranks #13 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $130; the Marshall Middleton ranks #31 and costs $224.90, so there is little reason to consider the other one.

What the Harman Kardon Citation 200 offers: Deeper bass than any Onyx. Watch for: 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 Marshall Middleton offers: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Watch for: 5db dip at 1.7khz and 6.3khz. 9khz treble peak. Not a very smooth frequency response. A lot of Marshall’s added dsp echo which cannot be turned off, very distracting and annoying. It’s like forcing you to listen to your music in an echo chamber. Bass is reasonably deep but artificial sounding and flabby, with no attack and no dynamics. Treble is rolled off.

Buy the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Middleton and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.

Battery life favors the Marshall Middleton: rated for 20 hours against 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Citation 200.

Water resistance is not close: the Marshall Middleton is rated at IPX7 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Citation 200 at IPX4 (splashing).

Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Marshall Middleton

Specifications Side By Side

Harman Kardon Citation 200 Marshall Middleton
Price$130 Discontinued$224.90
Ranked#13 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#31 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Aux InputNoYes
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)20 hours (Manufacturer specified)
IP RatingIPX4IPX7
StereoPartially (1 woofer)Yes
OmnidirectionalNoNo
Weight6.3 lbs / 2.85 kg4 lbs / 1.8 kg
WifiYes-
Bluetooth CodecsSBCSBC
AppYes (Harman Kardon app)No
EQNoNo
TWSNoYes
Party ModeNoYes (Marshall Stack)
Power BankNoYes (USB-C)
USB PlaybackNo-
Built in MicrophoneYesYes
Power InputUSB-CUSB-C
Bluetooth Version4.25.1
Dimensions7" x 8.6" x 6.8" (178 x 219 x 172 mm)9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm)
Drivers5" woofer, 1" tweeter2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators
Frequency Response40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Output Power50W50W
DiscontinuedYes-
Digital Aux InputNoNo
Bass Extension (-10dB)-39Hz
Max Volume-99dB

A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:

Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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.

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

The Two Speakers In Full

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.

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
Output Power50W
Party ModeNo
Power BankNo
Power InputUSB-C
StereoPartially (1 woofer)
TWSNo
USB PlaybackNo
Weight6.3 lbs / 2.85 kg
WifiYes

Marshall Middleton: $224.90 Amazon eBay

Marshall Middleton ranking card

Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight.

Cons: 5db dip at 1.7khz and 6.3khz. 9khz treble peak. Not a very smooth frequency response. A lot of Marshall’s added dsp echo which cannot be turned off, very distracting and annoying. It’s like forcing you to listen to your music in an echo chamber. Bass is reasonably deep but artificial sounding and flabby, with no attack and no dynamics. Treble is rolled off.

AppNo
Aux InputYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)39Hz
Battery Life20 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Bluetooth Version5.1
Built in MicrophoneYes
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm)
Drivers2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators
EQNo
Frequency Response50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
IP RatingIPX7
Max Volume99dB
OmnidirectionalNo
Output Power50W
Party ModeYes (Marshall Stack)
Power BankYes (USB-C)
Power InputUSB-C
StereoYes
TWSYes
Weight4 lbs / 1.8 kg