Why You Can Trust CNET Save $140: Harman Kardon smart speaker on sale for just $90
Or get a smaller discount on a smaller speaker from JBL.
The most affordable speaker in Harman Kardon's multiroom smart speaker lineup just got much more affordable. With a list price of $230, the Harman Kardon Citation One smart speaker is currently discounted by $140 at Best Buy to bring its price to a very attractive $90.
The squat, 4.4-pound speaker measures 5.5 inches wide by 7.1 inches tall and looks elegant with its blended wool fabric cover -- available in black or gray, and both color options are on sale. It offers Google Assistant for hands-free control of your tunes and other smart features, and it supports Chromecast for multiroom audio via Wi-Fi. There's also Bluetooth for pairing directly with a phone or tablet, but there's no wired connection. With one 20mm tweeter and one 89mm woofer, the speaker pumps out 40 watts of mono sound, but you can pair a second Citation One in the same room for stereo sound.
CNET hasn't reviewed it, but the reviews I've seen elsewhere are generally positive and describe a rich, bass-heavy sound.
The Citation One is on sale now because it'll soon be replaced by the Citation 200 this fall. The $300 Citation 200 will offer bigger sound with its 50-watt output and greater portability with a battery and changing base and IPX4 splash-proof protection. And for your bedside, the Citation Oasis will be released this fall for $200. It has only 12-watt output but features a built-in alarm clock and wireless phone charging capabilities. In addition to Chromecast , both new speakers will also support Apple AirPlay , which the Citation One lacks.
Tiny JBL speaker on sale, too
If you want to spend even less for a mini Bluetooth speaker that you can take anywhere, the JBL Go 2 is on sale at Best Buy and Amazon for $29 or $30 (depending on the color you choose). That's a $10 or an $11 savings from its list price, but we expect the Go 2 to drop to $20 in time for the holiday shopping season.
The Go 2 can fit in your pocket, is fully waterproof and has speakerphone capabilities. Rated for 3 watts of power, it's not the best speaker for headbangers but makes a good travel companion for streaming videos and watching movies. It will soon be pushed aside by the JBL Go 3 this fall. Read our JBL Go 2 review and check out the JBL Go 2 on sale at Best Buy and on Amazon.
