Short answer: the Go + Play 3 has the deeper, more natural bass, while the Boom 2 Plus is the more practical portable-boombox package. Harman Kardon is 3 of 98 and Soundcore is 37 of 98.
The Go + Play 3 reaches exceptionally low for its size and improves on the older model’s naturalness, but it plays only a little over half as loud as the stronger boomboxes, has an eight-hour medium-volume battery estimate, and lacks a water rating. The Boom 2 Plus is lighter and has potential with EQ, but its stock sound is warm with rolled-off treble and less deep bass.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 if warm, unusually deep bass is your main goal and you mostly listen indoors.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus if you need a lighter speaker that is better suited to portable use.
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.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | Soundcore Boom 2 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $179.99 |
| Ranked | #3 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #37 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 111dB (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) | 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS | 140W |
| Dimensions | 17.3” 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 Input | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 114mm (4.5”) woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 $385 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
- 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
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Earfun UBoom X
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs HK Go + Play 3 - No chance? - Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Bugani Brief Pro vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 - HiFI Sound Comparison!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- 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❤❤❤
- Mateusz Cholewa: TEUFEL Boomster 4 vs HK Go Plus Play 3 & Opinion in Subtitles
- Mateusz Cholewa: 140W W-KING X20S vs 160W HK Go Plus Play 3
- 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!!! 😁😁😁
- Jagist reviews: W-king X20s Vs Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!!
- 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 63 comparisons
Soundcore Boom 2 Plus: $179.99 Amazon $179.99 Lowest Soundcore $249.99 eBay
Older model: the Soundcore Motion Boom+ (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5). See every Soundcore Boom generation.
Same family: the Soundcore Boom 2 (smaller model, rated 4.5/5).
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. Measured bass extension of 39Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Released | May 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 140W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.1” x 5.9” (440 x 230 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm (4.5”) woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75”) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: This sounds totally different now! Soundcore Boom Plus 2 firmware 03.10 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Earfun Uboom X Mini Boombox bluetooth speaker, a PROPER review 😝
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Review - worst boombox speaker under $400?
- Techder Audios: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus VS Teufel Rockster Cross "TO MUCH BASS VS CLARITY QUALITY!" More from techderaudios →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus VS Tribit Stormbox Blast 🛜 Boombox Basement Battle 📊Custom EQ 🔥Who You Got? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: NEW RELEASE! Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Motion Boom Plus🤯Stock EQ, Bass^ Enabled🤜🤛 A Family Feud😆
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S95 Vs Soundcore Boom 2 Plus!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Picky Audio: SO CLOSE! Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs JBL Boombox 3 More from pickyaudio →
- Picky Audio: Extended Sound Test (Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs JBL Boombox 3)
- EL JEFE REVIEWS: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus 💥 BIGGER & BADDER! More from ELJefeReviews →
- GYMCADDY: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Showcase - Lots Of Bass In A Small Package More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- See all 97 comparisons