Short answer: the Klipsch Groove, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #105 of 157 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 2.8/5) at $9 and is still sold new; the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 ranks #138 (rated 2.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 157 medium speakers, and the Earfun Uboom L, ranked #1 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Klipsch Groove is the better-sounding pick. Pretty balanced sound in a compact, splash-resistant form factor. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 lacks. Watch for: Bass doesn’t go as deep as class leaders.
The Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is the lighter choice. Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. At 0.8 lbs (350 g) it weighs much less than the Klipsch Groove at 1.7 lbs (770 g). Watch for: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume.
Buy the Klipsch Groove. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Groove | Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 9.00 | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #105 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #138 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 0.8 lbs (0.35 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 5” x 6” x 2.6” (127 x 152 x 67 mm) | 7.5” x 5.1” x 1.3” (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3” full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators | 4x 1.25” (32mm) full-range drivers |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS | 16W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Klipsch Groove compares with other leading options:
- Earfun Uboom L vs Klipsch Groove
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Klipsch Groove
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Klipsch Groove
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Klipsch Groove
- Minirig 4 vs Klipsch Groove
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Klipsch Groove: 9.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty balanced sound in a compact, splash-resistant form factor. IPX4 water resistance and ~8 hour battery life make it durable for outdoor and poolside use. 3-inch high excursion full-range driver paired with dual side-firing passive radiators.
Cons: Not stereo. Bass doesn’t go as deep as class leaders. Distortion sets in at higher output levels. Older Bluetooth 4.0 architecture without app EQ.
Full Klipsch Groove review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5” x 6” x 2.6” (127 x 152 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3” full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Groove vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
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- Klipsch Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
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Harman Kardon Esquire 2: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone.
Cons: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 5.1” x 1.3” (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25” (32mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (0.35 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Ultimate Ears Roll 2
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs LG Xboom XG5
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs LG Xboom Go PL5
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Sony SRS-XE200
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
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- See all 72 comparisons