Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality at $385; the Bogasing S8 Pro Max ranks #24 of 103 large speakers by sound quality at $123.49.

Why pick the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: Warm sound with boosted bass. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bogasing S8 Pro Max lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bogasing S8 Pro Max lacks. The catch: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.
The Bogasing S8 Pro Max is the longer-running, lighter choice. A true three way stereo design in an aluminium body: a 70mm woofer, two 52mm midrange drivers and two 31mm silk tweeters angled outward, backed by two 80mm passive radiators. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. At 3.4 lbs (1.55 kg) it weighs much less than the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg). The tradeoff: Its tuning is bright: the 3D mode pushes the mids and treble hard, can sound sharp or tiring at higher volumes, and sometimes adds an echo effect to vocals.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at $385 if you want a boombox speaker. Buy the Bogasing S8 Pro Max at $123.49 if you want a large speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | Bogasing S8 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $123.49 |
| Ranked | #3 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 103 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 3.4 lbs (1.55 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Power Bank | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS | 100W (40W woofer, 2x 20W midrange, 2x 10W tweeters) |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 4.3”H x 11.1”W x 2.6”D (110 x 281 x 65 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 70mm woofer + 2x 52mm midrange + 2x 31mm silk tweeters + 2x 80mm passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Harman Kardon Go + Play 3:
- EarFun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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 Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5). See every Harman Kardon Go + Play generation.
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2. An aux input, a built-in microphone, a power bank function, stereo pairing and hidden button combinations for adjusting bass and treble. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
Full Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔ More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding? More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast - outdoor soundtest
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Mateusz Cholewa: LOEWE WE Hear Pro SUPER STEREO vs HiFi Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 DEEP BASS 💪vs HK Go Plus Play 3 DEEP BASS❤❤❤
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Earfun UBoom X
- Mateusz Cholewa: TEUFEL Boomster 4 vs HK Go Plus Play 3 & Opinion in Subtitles
- Jagist reviews: Bugani Brief Pro Vs Harmon Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Jagist reviews: Bugani Boost Max Vs Harmon Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!! 😁😁😁
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs HK Go + Play 3 - No chance? - Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Mateusz Cholewa: 140W W-KING X20S vs 160W HK Go Plus Play 3
- Jagist reviews: W-king X20s Vs Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!!
- Dominik Reviews: Bugani Brief Pro vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 - HiFI Sound Comparison!
- Jagist reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 Vs Harmon Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!!
- Jagist reviews: Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3 Vs W-king H330!!!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs EarFun Uboom X
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 60 comparisons
Bogasing S8 Pro Max: $123.49 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bogasing S8 Pro (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5). See every Bogasing S8 Pro generation.
Pros: A true three way stereo design in an aluminium body: a 70mm woofer, two 52mm midrange drivers and two 31mm silk tweeters angled outward, backed by two 80mm passive radiators. Its 3D mode throws a noticeably wider soundstage than mono rivals like the Bose SoundLink Plus and JBL Charge 5, and in side by side listening it came across as fuller, punchier and more detailed than both the JBL Charge 5 and the Soundcore Motion X600. Unlike many portables it stays clean at full volume without audible compression or distortion, where the Bose SoundLink Max, Marshall Middleton and Loewe We Hear Pro all strained. Vocal mode is the most neutral preset. Plays FLAC and other lossless files from USB drives and microSD cards, has an aux input and a built-in mic, and two units pair for stereo.
Cons: Its tuning is bright: the 3D mode pushes the mids and treble hard, can sound sharp or tiring at higher volumes, and sometimes adds an echo effect to vocals. Bass is punchy but not especially deep, and the Tribit Stormbox Lava, Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 and Loewe We Hear Pro all deliver warmer, fuller low end at moderate volume; the Sony ULT Field 5 also sounded richer at moderate levels. Bass mode is its quietest preset rather than its fullest. There is no app or adjustable EQ, only three fixed sound modes.
Full Bogasing S8 Pro Max review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W (40W woofer, 2x 20W midrange, 2x 10W tweeters) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.3”H x 11.1”W x 2.6”D (110 x 281 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 70mm woofer + 2x 52mm midrange + 2x 31mm silk tweeters + 2x 80mm passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 3.4 lbs (1.55 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max 100W vs JBL Xtreme 4 Audio Test More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max 100W vs BOSE Soundlink MAX
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro MAX KILLER? vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 5 vs BOGASING S8 Pro MAX
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” vs Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”
- Mateusz Cholewa: LOEWE We Hear Pro Super Stereo vs HiFi BOGASING S8 Pro MAX
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro MAX HiFi? vs MARSHALL MIDDLETON
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA Deep Bass vs Bogasing S8 Pro MAX - HiFi?
- Mateusz Cholewa: SONY ULT Field 5 vs BOGASING S8 PRO MAX
- Dominik Reviews: Bose Soundlink Plus vs Bogasing S8 Pro Max - 3D vs Mono! More from Dominik Reviews →
- Mateusz Cholewa: LG XBOOM Bounce vs BOGASING S8 Pro Max
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs Teufel Rockster Cross
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs Loewe We. Hear Pro
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Bogasing S8 Pro Max vs Bose SoundLink Max
- See all 18 comparisons

