Short answer: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. It ranks #3 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $385; the Turtlebox Grande ranks #71, rated 2.6/5, and costs $730, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Turtlebox Grande is the longer-running, tougher option. 10-inch woofer. It is rated for 25 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. It is rated IP67, while the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 has no water resistance. It links with other speakers (Turtlebox Party Mode), which the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 cannot. The catch: In YouTube sound samples it sounds only okay, and bass is shallow for a 10 inch woofer, only down 10dB at about 55Hz.
The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Warm sound with boosted bass. Its bass reaches about 35Hz before falling 10dB, against 55Hz for the Turtlebox Grande. At 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) it weighs much less than the Turtlebox Grande at 18.8 lbs (8.53 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Turtlebox Grande lacks. The catch: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Turtlebox Grande and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Turtlebox Grande | Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $730.00 | $385 |
| Ranked | #71 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #3 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (20V/3A) | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 18.8 lbs (8.53 kg) | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| App | No | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Amplifier Power | 86W | 160W RMS |
| Dimensions | 14” x 8.4” x 11.5” (355.6 x 213.4 x 292.1 mm) | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) woofer + 1x 1.25” (32mm) titanium tweeter | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 112ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 120ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 compares with other leading options:
- EarFun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Turtlebox Grande: $730.00 Amazon eBay
Same family: the Turtlebox Cub (smaller model, rated 3/5), the Turtlebox Ranger (smaller model, rated 3.5/5) and the Turtlebox Gen 3 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.1/5). See every Turtlebox generation.
Pros: 10-inch woofer. IP67 submersible shell with crush-proof ABS exterior. 158Wh battery provides ~3 days of playback. Bluetooth 5.4, party mode (100+ speakers). Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: In YouTube sound samples it sounds only okay, and bass is shallow for a 10 inch woofer, only down 10dB at about 55Hz. It is rated at just 86W, and like the smaller Turtleboxes it won’t reach its claimed 126dB at a standard one meter distance. Expensive for what it delivers. It charges only from its own barrel plug adapter, not USB-C.
Full Turtlebox Grande review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 86W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 14” x 8.4” x 11.5” (355.6 x 213.4 x 292.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) woofer + 1x 1.25” (32mm) titanium tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (20V/3A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 18.8 lbs (8.53 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Turtlebox Grande vs W-King D10
- Turtlebox Grande vs Bumpboxx Flare 8
- Turtlebox Grande vs Bumpboxx Flare 6
- Turtlebox Grande vs Diamondboxx M3
- Turtlebox Grande vs EcoXGear Defender
- Turtlebox Grande vs Gemini GGO-650L
- Turtlebox Grande vs Tronsmart Halo 200
- Turtlebox Grande vs Demerbox DB2
- See all 96 comparisons
Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5). See every Harman Kardon Go + Play generation.
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2. An aux input, a built-in microphone, a power bank function, stereo pairing and hidden button combinations for adjusting bass and treble. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
Full Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔ More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding? More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast - outdoor soundtest
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Mateusz Cholewa: LOEWE WE Hear Pro SUPER STEREO vs HiFi Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 DEEP BASS 💪vs HK Go Plus Play 3 DEEP BASS❤❤❤
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs EarFun Uboom X
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 54 comparisons