Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

Last updated: August 28, 2026

Short answer: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 if sound quality matters most, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus if price matters most. The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 73 boombox speakers at $385. The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus ranks #26 at $169.99, $215.01 cheaper.

What the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 offers: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2. Watch for: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.

What the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus offers: Quite a bit lighter than most of the other boombox size speakers. This speaker will likely move up as we get a good EQ tune that makes it a lot more neutral. Watch for: Warm tuning meaning a rolled off treble and some upper bass boost. Reasonably deep bass, but not as good as the top ranked.

Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus if the price matters more than sound quality.

If battery life is a priority, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is rated for 20 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3.

Water resistance is not close: the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is rated at IPX7 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at no water resistance.

Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at Amazon ($385) →Buy the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus at Amazon ($169.99) →

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

Specifications Side By Side

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 Soundcore Boom 2 Plus
Price$385$169.99
Ranked#3 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#26 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
AppYes (Harman Kardon One app)Yes
Aux Latency112ms-
Bass Extension (-10dB)35Hz39Hz
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)20 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Built in MicrophoneYesYes
EQYes (App EQ)Yes (Pro EQ + presets)
IP RatingNoneIPX7
Bluetooth Latency120ms-
Max Volume103dB111dB
Power InputAC Power brickUSB-C
StereoYesYes
OmnidirectionalNoNo
TWSYesYes
Weight10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg8.4 lbs / 3.8 kg
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AACSBC, AAC
Power BankYesYes (USB-C, 5V/2A)
Party ModeNoYes (PartyCast 2.0)
USB PlaybackNoNo
Bluetooth Version5.2-
Output Power160W RMS140W
Dimensions17.3" x 9.4" x 7.6" (439 x 240 x 192 mm)17.3" x 9.1" x 5.9" (440 x 230 x 150 mm)
Aux InputYesYes
Drivers1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters2x 114mm (4.5") woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75") tweeters
Digital Aux InputNoNo
MicroSD Playback-No
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at Amazon ($385) →Buy the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus at Amazon ($169.99) →

Other pairings from the same speaker class worth checking:

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.

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The Two Speakers In Full

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon eBay

Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranking card

Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2.

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 →

AppYes (Harman Kardon One app)
Aux InputYes
Aux Latency112ms
Bass Extension (-10dB)35Hz
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)
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
Max Volume103dB
OmnidirectionalNo
Output Power160W RMS
Party ModeNo
Power BankYes
Power InputAC Power brick
StereoYes
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg
Check current price at Amazon ($385) →Search eBay for Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 →

Soundcore Boom 2 Plus: $169.99 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay

Soundcore Boom 2 Plus ranking card

Pros: Quite a bit lighter than most of the other boombox size speakers. This speaker will likely move up as we get a good EQ tune that makes it a lot more neutral.

Cons: Warm tuning meaning a rolled off treble and some upper bass boost. Reasonably deep bass, but not as good as the top ranked.

Full Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review and specifications →

AppYes
Aux InputYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)39Hz
Battery Life20 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC
Built in MicrophoneYes
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions17.3" x 9.1" x 5.9" (440 x 230 x 150 mm)
Drivers2x 114mm (4.5") woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75") tweeters
EQYes (Pro EQ + presets)
IP RatingIPX7
Max Volume111dB
MicroSD PlaybackNo
OmnidirectionalNo
Output Power140W
Party ModeYes (PartyCast 2.0)
Power BankYes (USB-C, 5V/2A)
Power InputUSB-C
StereoYes
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight8.4 lbs / 3.8 kg
Check current price at Amazon ($169.99) →Check current price at B&H Photo Video →Search eBay for Soundcore Boom 2 Plus →