Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Marshall Kilburn III

Last updated: October 10, 2026

These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality at $385; the Marshall Kilburn III ranks #42 of 103 large speakers by sound quality at $379.99.

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Marshall Kilburn III

The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 is the deeper-bass option. Warm sound with boosted bass. Its bass reaches about 35Hz before falling 10dB, against 45Hz for the Marshall Kilburn III. The catch: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.

The Marshall Kilburn III is the longer-running, lighter option. Spacious soundstage with broad stereo dispersion from Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-driver layout, delivering warm, room-filling sound with 45Hz bass extension. It is rated for 50 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. At 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) it weighs much less than the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg). It is rated IP54, while the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 has no water resistance. Watch for: Noticeable dips in the midrange compromise frequency response neutrality, making vocals and acoustic instruments sound somewhat recessed or muffled compared to more linear competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 unless the bass dial is dialed back.

Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ($385) for a boombox speaker; the Marshall Kilburn III ($379.99) suits a large speaker instead.

Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Check Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 price at Amazon ($385) →Check Marshall Kilburn III price at Amazon ($379.99) →

Specifications Side By Side

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 Marshall Kilburn III
Price$385$379.99
Ranked#3 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#42 of 103 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
AppYes (Harman Kardon One app)Yes
Aux Latency112ms-
Bass Extension (-10dB)35Hz45Hz
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)50 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Built-in MicrophoneYesNo
EQYes (App EQ)Yes
IP RatingNoneIP54
Bluetooth Latency120ms-
Maximum SPL103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)91dB
Power InputAC Power brickUSB-C
StereoYesYes
OmnidirectionalNoNo
TWSYesYes
Weight10.4 lbs (4.7 kg)6.3 lbs (2.85 kg)
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AACSBC, AAC
Power BankYesYes
Party ModeNoYes (Auracast)
USB PlaybackNo-
Bluetooth Version5.25.3
Amplifier Power160W RMS50W
Dimensions17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm)10.7” x 5.9” x 6.7” (272 x 150 x 170 mm)
Aux InputYesYes
Drivers1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters1x 4” woofer + 2x 2” full-range drivers
Digital Aux InputNoNo
StrapNoYes (built-in strap)
Frequency Response-45Hz - 20kHz
Check Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 price at Amazon ($385) →Check Marshall Kilburn III price at Amazon ($379.99) →

Watch Them Compared

Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.

How Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 compares with other leading options:

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.

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The Two Speakers In Full

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon eBay

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranking card

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.

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Full Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 review and specifications →

ReleasedJul 2023 (3 years ago)
Amplifier Power160W RMS
AppYes (Harman Kardon One app)
Aux InputYes
Aux Latency112ms
Bass Extension (-10dB)35Hz
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC
Bluetooth Latency120ms
Bluetooth Version5.2
Built-in MicrophoneYes
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm)
Drivers1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters
EQYes (App EQ)
IP RatingNone
Maximum SPL103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeNo
Power BankYes
Power InputAC Power brick
StereoYes
StrapNo
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight10.4 lbs (4.7 kg)
Check current price at Amazon ($385) →Search eBay for Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 →

Marshall Kilburn III: $379.99 Amazon eBay

Marshall Kilburn III ranking card

Older model: the Marshall Kilburn II (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.

Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Emberton III (smaller model, rated 2.7/5), the Marshall Middleton II (smaller model, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5) and the Marshall Stockwell III (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 3/5).

Pros: Spacious soundstage with broad stereo dispersion from Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-driver layout, delivering warm, room-filling sound with 45Hz bass extension. Independent physical bass and treble dials allow quick tonal adjustments on the fly, backed by app-based EQ and placement compensation. Battery life is outstanding at up to 50+ hours with USB-C power-bank charging, IP54 splash resistance, 3.5mm aux input, and Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast broadcast support. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).

Cons: Noticeable dips in the midrange compromise frequency response neutrality, making vocals and acoustic instruments sound somewhat recessed or muffled compared to more linear competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 unless the bass dial is dialed back. The Marshall Kilburn II retains slightly punchier perceived loudness at maximum volume due to a more aggressive V-shaped contour. At 2.85 kg with only IP54 splash resistance, it is heavy and cannot withstand water immersion. Lacks a built-in microphone and LDAC codec support.

Full Marshall Kilburn III review and specifications →

ReleasedMay 2025 (1 year ago)
Amplifier Power50W
AppYes
Aux InputYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)45Hz
Battery Life50 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC
Bluetooth Version5.3
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions10.7” x 5.9” x 6.7” (272 x 150 x 170 mm)
Drivers1x 4” woofer + 2x 2” full-range drivers
EQYes
Frequency Response45Hz - 20kHz
IP RatingIP54
Maximum SPL91dB
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Auracast)
Power BankYes
Power InputUSB-C
StereoYes
StrapYes (built-in strap)
TWSYes
Weight6.3 lbs (2.85 kg)
Check current price at Amazon ($379.99) →Search eBay for Marshall Kilburn III →