Short answer: the JBL Go 3. It ranks #26 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $39.95; the Harman Kardon Neo ranks #43 and costs $90, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Go 3 side: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. Set against that: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
The case for the Harman Kardon Neo: IPX7 waterproof. The tradeoff: Huge lack of bass.
Buy the JBL Go 3. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Harman Kardon Neo and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Harman Kardon Neo. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Harman Kardon Neo is rated for 10 hours versus 5 hours for the JBL Go 3.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Go 3 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Neo at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | Harman Kardon Neo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $90 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #26 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #43 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | 105Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Max Volume | 88dB | 87dB |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g | 0.6 lbs / 251 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 130Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 2.7" x 1.6" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 4.3" x 4.3" x 1.3" (110 x 110 x 34.1 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 3W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 1.6" (41mm) full-range driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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- Bose Soundlink Micro vs JBL Go 3
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 3: $39.95 Amazon
Pros: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. IP67 rated, survives full submersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Rope loop for clipping to a bag.
Cons: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Full JBL Go 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 2.7" x 1.6" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL GO 3 Review - vs Tribit Stormbox Micro - best small cheap speaker?
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS XIAOMI PORTABLE OUTDOOR SPEAKER “BEST COMPACT SPEAKERS!?”
- Techder Audios: HOPESTAR H54 VS JBL GO 3 “SIMILAR DESIGN BUT SOUND IS DIFFERENT?!’’
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL GO 3 - best bluetooth micro speaker❗❗❗
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS ORTIZAN X10
- Reddit Search for JBL Go 3 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Harman Kardon Neo: $90 Discontinued
Pros: IPX7 waterproof. Elegant matte-metal design with an attachment loop. Echo-cancelling mic for calls; goes louder than its size suggests.
Cons: Huge lack of bass. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Neo review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 105Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.3" x 4.3" x 1.3" (110 x 110 x 34.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1.6" (41mm) full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 130Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 87dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 3W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 251 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Harman Kardon Neo vs Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2
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- Harman Kardon Neo vs Noxgear 39g
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Sony SRS-XB12
- Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL Clip 3
- Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL Clip
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- See all 11 comparisons