Short answer: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. It ranks #3 of 85 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $385. The Tronsmart Fiitune X30 ranks #45, rated 3.3/5, at $144.90, $240.10 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Go + Play 3 is clearly better. In side by side tests listeners found it better in every way, with deep, clear bass and mids, while the X30 has punchy mid-bass but little deep bass and loses quality at higher volume. Both have good separation of instruments and voices.
Features: the X30 adds Hi-Res certification, LDAC, IPX6 and a claimed 14 hours, at 3.6 kg. The Go + Play 3 has no water rating and claims 8 hours at 4.7 kg.
Evidence: The X30’s rating comes from listening comparisons, not measurements.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $240.10 you would save on the Tronsmart Fiitune X30 does not close the gap.
Water resistance is not close: the Tronsmart Fiitune X30 is rated at IPX6 (powerful water jets), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | Tronsmart Fiitune X30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $144.90 |
| Ranked | #3 of 85 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #45 of 85 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | - |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IPX6 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, LDAC |
| Power Bank | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS | 80W |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 14.6” x 7.7” x 5.1” (370 x 195 x 130 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | Racetrack woofer + 2x midrange + 2x tweeters + upward-firing driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to 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 September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
Older model: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2. 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 →
| 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 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
- 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 54 comparisons
Tronsmart Fiitune X30: $144.90 AliExpress Tronsmart Best Buy eBay
Pros: A three-way, six-driver design (racetrack woofer, two midranges, two tweeters and an upward-firing driver) with 80W, Hi-Res certification, LDAC, a claimed 14 hours of battery and IPX6. It plays loud with a lot of mid-bass, reviewers found good separation of instruments and voices, and some listeners found it warm and full at high volume.
Cons: Side by side it clearly lost to the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3, the Soundcore Boom 2 and the EarFun UBoom X: listeners described muddy, dark mid-bass that fails to reproduce low notes, dull and underemphasized treble, and a boxy, sterile sound at low volume next to the JBL Xtreme 4. The evidence is listening comparisons, not measurements.
Full Tronsmart Fiitune X30 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Dimensions | 14.6” x 7.7” x 5.1” (370 x 195 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | Racetrack woofer + 2x midrange + 2x tweeters + upward-firing driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jagist reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 Vs Harmon Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs HK Go + Play 3 - No chance? - Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - Complete opposite of eachother? - Sound Test
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs Soundcore BOOM 2 - LETS BOOM! - Sound Test
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs Earfun UBOOM X - BOOMY SOUND! - Sound Test
- Storytripper HD: JBL Xtream 4 vs Tronsmart Fiitune X30 More from storytripperhd →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons