Short answer: the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks #21 of 140 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 ranks #123 and costs $200, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus offers: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same. Watch for: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
What the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 offers: 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. Watch for: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume
Buy the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
The Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 140 medium speakers; there are better options higher up.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus is rated for 20 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Esquire 2.
If water resistance matters to you, the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus | Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #21 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #123 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| Output Power | 24W | 16W |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Marshall Emberton III
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Marshall Emberton II
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Harman Kardon Esquire 2
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Harman Kardon Esquire 2
Prices on this page were last checked September 1, 2026 at 2:15 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
Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus: $79.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. Identical driver, tuning, and sound to the Thunderbox Plus and the newer Maxsound Plus V2.
Cons: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category. No true wireless stereo pairing between two units, unlike the V2.
Full Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 24W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Maxsound Plus v1 vs V2 - upgraded Maxsound Plus tested! 🏅
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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 →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| 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
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