Design
Available in black or gray models, the 7.1-by-12.1-by-5.6-inch (HWD) Citation 300 is wrapped in a flame-retardant, dirt-repellent fabric made by Kvadrat. The cloth grille hides dual 20mm tweeters and dual 89mm woofers from view, with each driver receiving 25 watts for a total 100-watt output. The top panel is spare in its design. There’s a small color display that’s relatively sharp and responsive to touch. Album art displays when available, along with artist info, and the screen has controls for playback and track navigation (when not in use, it goes dark). Swiping up on the screen allows you access to the Bluetooth pairing button, the Settings menu, the Mic Mute function, and basic system information. There’s also a Google Assistant button here, but you can of course summon the Assistant by using the “OK Google” trigger words when the mics are enabled.
Performance
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Citation 300 delivers serious thump, and at top volumes it doesn’t distort. This speaker can get quite loud—and it’s clear that the DSP is working hard on this track at top volumes, as the bass tends to thin out slightly. At moderate volumes, the bass feels fuller, and even at somewhat high volumes, it still packs plenty of depth and punch.
The Google Assistant-enabled Harman Kardon Citation 300 holds its own in a growing field of Smart Speakers.
There are no reviews yet.