Short answer: the Harman Kardon Luna 2 for better sound quality, the JBL Flip Essential for the lower price. The Harman Kardon Luna 2 ranks #23 of 142 medium speakers at $199.95. The JBL Flip Essential ranks #69 at $130, $69.95 cheaper.
What the Harman Kardon Luna 2 offers: Articulate, spacious midrange with precise imaging and instrument separation. Tight, well-controlled bass from the 62mm x 82mm woofer and passive radiator despite the compact body, and it stays cleaner at volume than pricier rivals like the Sonos Play. IP67 rated, and two units pair via AirTouch for true stereo sound. Watch for: Treble can sound bright and edgy, and it loses more output off-axis than some rivals. Some listeners hear mid-range rattling on certain tracks, similar to sibling JBL models. 12-hour battery life trails category leaders like the JBL Charge 6, which doubles it. Single unit is not stereo (1.1 driver layout).
What the JBL Flip Essential offers: A genuinely portable 471g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, a 3.5mm aux input and 16W output from two full-range drivers. It is a simple, no-app option for wired sources, travel and casual listening where its cylindrical shape and modest size are a genuine advantage. Watch for: Bass is lighter than the Flip 5 and the 80Hz claimed low-frequency limit means it cannot deliver real low-end weight. Battery life is only a claimed 10 hours, there is no speakerphone, EQ or party mode, and its older Bluetooth 4.1 platform and discontinued status make it a basic used-market choice.
Buy the Harman Kardon Luna 2 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Flip Essential when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Luna 2 | JBL Flip Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $130 |
| Ranked | #23 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #69 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (4 presets + custom) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (735 g) | / 1 lbs (471 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.5" x 3.3" x 3.2" (216 x 84 x 81 mm) | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 62mm x 82mm woofer with passive radiator, 20mm tweeter | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 40W (25W woofer + 15W tweeter) | 16W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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 Luna 2: $199.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Articulate, spacious midrange with precise imaging and instrument separation. Tight, well-controlled bass from the 62mm x 82mm woofer and passive radiator despite the compact body, and it stays cleaner at volume than pricier rivals like the Sonos Play. IP67 rated, and two units pair via AirTouch for true stereo sound.
Cons: Treble can sound bright and edgy, and it loses more output off-axis than some rivals. Some listeners hear mid-range rattling on certain tracks, similar to sibling JBL models. 12-hour battery life trails category leaders like the JBL Charge 6, which doubles it. Single unit is not stereo (1.1 driver layout).
Full Harman Kardon Luna 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W (25W woofer + 15W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.5" x 3.3" x 3.2" (216 x 84 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 62mm x 82mm woofer with passive radiator, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (4 presets + custom) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (735 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- What Hi-Fi?: Harman Kardon Luna 2 review
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Sonos Play & Harman Kardon Luna 2 - listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Harman Kardon Luna 2 UNBOXING vs HK Luna Short Test More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Storytripper HD: Harman Kardon Luna vs Luna 2 More from storytripperhd →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs Harman Kardon Luna
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- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs JBL Charge 5
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs JBL Flip 7
- See all 67 comparisons
JBL Flip Essential: $130 eBay
Pros: A genuinely portable 471g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, a 3.5mm aux input and 16W output from two full-range drivers. It is a simple, no-app option for wired sources, travel and casual listening where its cylindrical shape and modest size are a genuine advantage.
Cons: Bass is lighter than the Flip 5 and the 80Hz claimed low-frequency limit means it cannot deliver real low-end weight. Battery life is only a claimed 10 hours, there is no speakerphone, EQ or party mode, and its older Bluetooth 4.1 platform and discontinued status make it a basic used-market choice.
Full JBL Flip Essential review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Weight | / 1 lbs (471 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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