Short answer: the Harman Kardon Luna. It ranks #26 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $290.99; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #142, rated 2.5/5, and costs $294.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Harman Kardon Luna is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A fully waterproof speaker with fairly balanced, bass rich sound, a separate tweeter, and stereo pairing with a second unit. Its bass reaches about 57Hz before falling 10dB, against 70Hz for the B&O Beosound Explore. Watch for: Boosted bass, and less detailed than higher-ranked speakers.
The B&O Beosound Explore is the longer-running, lighter choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery. It is rated for 27 hours of battery against 12 for the Harman Kardon Luna. At 1.4 lbs (631 g) it weighs much less than the Harman Kardon Luna at 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Luna lacks. Watch for: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
Buy the Harman Kardon Luna. It is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A fully waterproof speaker with fairly balanced, bass rich sound, a separate tweeter, and stereo pairing with a second unit.
A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Luna | B&O Beosound Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $290.99 | $294.99 |
| Ranked | #26 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #142 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.1” x 3.1” (210 x 78 x 80 mm) | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 48mm x 90mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 60W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | Yes (carabiner) |
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