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Harman Kardon Citation One MKII Smart Speaker $129 + Shipping (Was $300.00) @ PC Byte

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Harman Kardon Citation One MKII Smart Speaker $129 + Shipping (Was $300.00) @ PC Byte
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Lovemybargains on 27/09/2021 - 21:31 pcbyte.com.au (3422 clicks)
Last edited 27/09/2021 - 21:34 by 1 other user

This appears to be a good alternative to the Google Nest Audio. Reviews point to better audio performance.

Electrical & Electronics Bluetooth Speaker Harman Kardon Speakers Voice Assistant

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  • Muzeeb on 27/09/2021 - 21:35

    Material cover looks like it would be a b!$ch to keep clean but it is fire retardant.

    Google indicates there are quite a few other sellers around the same price.

    • FTTNope on 27/09/2021 - 23:56
      +7

      Just vacuum it.

    • montorola on 28/09/2021 - 08:36
      +1

      but it is fire retardant.

      Does this mean I can listen to music while my house is burning down?!

      • Trhrd on 28/09/2021 - 10:19
        +12

        If your network is firewalled.

  • CanadaAye on 27/09/2021 - 21:36
    +3

    These sound good, much better than Google home as you would expect. Quite a bit bigger but look pretty good IMO.

  • AFM7 on 27/09/2021 - 21:40
    +5

    I have 2 of these (got for cheap through recent Telstra Rewards deal). They sound really good, would definitely recommend.

    • ckwatsydney on 27/09/2021 - 21:54
      +1

      Can they be paired as a stereo set?

    • SpeedMeades on 27/09/2021 - 22:08
      +3

      Yep got same deal on telstra plus. Had heaps of trouble connecting them to 5Ghz band and my smart modem 2.4Ghz is very poor range (faulty). No idea why it won’t connect on 5Ghz. Anyone else with this issue.
      The other issue I have compared with Alexa (sound a faaaaar superior by the way on the HK) is the microphone not very sensitive. I can whisper to Alexa even when music is playing and she responds. I practically have to yell over music for google assistant to respond.
      Stereo pair is cool. The bundle was a wicked deal (70k points)

      • cashless on 27/09/2021 - 23:37
        +3

        That’s because Alexa is designed to listen, not playback

        • SpeedMeades on 28/09/2021 - 10:55
          +1

          But it’s shits me. So much so that I’d almost say they are fine as a Bluetooth speaker, subpar as a smart speaker

        • bobvegas on 29/09/2021 - 20:35

          Alexa has higher quality microphones. A 5 microphone directional array mic. Google only use 2, 3 in the new Hub. Kardon might only have 2 or even 1

  • jimojr on 27/09/2021 - 21:42
    +8

    $130delivered on Kogan and 6% off Kogan E-Gift Cards @ Suncorp Rewards.

    • chyawala on 28/09/2021 - 03:37

      And looks like 2% cash back at CR for "new" customers too.

  • haz on 27/09/2021 - 21:43
    -1

    Does it charge via a USB-c or some other connector?

    • ATangk on 27/09/2021 - 21:47
      +1

      It says 230V input so I'm guessing its an AC adapter rather than USB.

    • SpeedMeades on 27/09/2021 - 22:09
      +5

      Mains power only. Not portable

  • empty on 27/09/2021 - 21:55
    +1

    Anyone know when was this first released?
    Looks really good price but concern that the manufacturer may not keep the firmware updated as long as Goolge will do with its speakers.

    • Muzeeb on 27/09/2021 - 22:16

      18 months ago roughly

  • tephra on 27/09/2021 - 21:58
    +5

    I bought a two-pack from Qantas a little while back.. To replace our Sonos One…

    On the plus side youtube music integration is awesome (as you would expect).

    On the downside, I do think the Sonos One is better sounding, the mid-high range in particular is a lot clearer on the S1.

    Just feels like the tweeter setup is off or something…

    So if your prioritising ease of use over sound quality, then these are great - however if your expecting sonic-amazeballs then look elsewhere :) You get what you pay for :)

    • C0mbat on 27/09/2021 - 21:59
      +1

      You're now comparing something that costs $130 to something that costs $300. What's your thoughts on it at $130?

      • BuddhaBoy on 27/09/2021 - 22:08

        You beat me to this.

        $$ vs quality comparison would be appropriate in this instance.

      • SydStrand on 27/09/2021 - 22:19
        +8

        It's a fair comparison. Their RRPs about the same. If you're comparing discounted price, then $130 vs $220ish. is closer.

      • tephra on 27/09/2021 - 23:42
        +2

        Well, I've kept them, because the ease of use wins over a slight degradation in SQ…

        At RRP then no, I wouldn't… But on sale I think they are a BUY :)

  • 9hundred on 27/09/2021 - 22:03

    spend you disposable income on speakers

    • MrBillions on 27/09/2021 - 22:09
      +4

      was going to spend it on avos but they cancelled my order

      • bio on 27/09/2021 - 23:58

        Avos is no good, try Sonos.

        • Daabido on 28/09/2021 - 09:55

          Try Avon.

  • MrBillions on 27/09/2021 - 22:08

    it's not just about the sound, it's also about the eco system

  • May4th on 27/09/2021 - 22:23
    +7

    Looks like something i might buy if my income was tripled

    • andresampras on 27/09/2021 - 22:54
      +5

      so 6x your income would get you a stereo pair woo!

  • cheapismymiddlename on 27/09/2021 - 22:29
    +2

    Seems to be around the $130 from a simple search. How's it a bargain?

  • pzhon on 27/09/2021 - 22:38

    wondering if seller is Harman Kardon authorized dealer? Anyone advise?
    Thanks

  • living4music on 27/09/2021 - 23:53
    +2

    Please note you can’t do EQ on these. Whatever it sounds, that’s what you hear. No App from HK, even Google home doesn’t allow you to change Bass/Mid/Treble…Really wish they would do something about this issue. For many people, these have too much Bass.

    • Jenbrook on 28/09/2021 - 02:09

      Could you connect your iPhone via Bluetooth and use the EQ settings from the Apple Music app?

      • Bujji11 on 28/09/2021 - 06:01

        Yes you can

    • Irishness on 28/09/2021 - 09:55
      +2

      yes this is annoying especially as previously you could adjust EQ settings through google home app until they removed the functionality

  • wfh on 28/09/2021 - 00:24
    +1

    Think money better spent getting Sonos Ones (when on sale) :D

  • Archer12 on 28/09/2021 - 00:48
    +3

    Also got recently on Telstra deals

    Have connected them to Chromecast with google tv as a pair via BT, the connection with various apps is hit and miss, something to do with how those apps send surround sound.

    However when they do work bt lag is bearable, so I've been using them as a pseudo sound bar with some quirks as per above.

    Regular casting on wifi as expected with google home, setup as a pair fairly easy

    Also note these don't connect to the rest of the citation series soundbars etc, so if you were hoping to buy and add on sub or Sb, it's a no go

    Hope that helps

    • WillisAU on 28/09/2021 - 09:35

      Hang on, did you say that you are using these as TV speakers? I did some (very quick) research when they came up on the Telstra Plus deal, but thought that these couldnt be used for TV sound output?

      • Archer12 on 28/09/2021 - 10:11

        Using them via Bluetooth, if you have a chromecast with google tv (or any other smart mirroring that has Bluetooth) you can do it. Ymmv on apps and also the delay that is inherent with bt connections

        I've had issues where it connects to Netflix, then when going back to YouTube, it doesn't work and vice versa. But say you're watching a movie and get it on netflix, it works fine, no obvious delay.

        In my experience, hit and miss but yes its possible. Doesn't work as seamlessly as a sound bar or sonos (wifi based)

        • WillisAU on 28/09/2021 - 11:40

          So yeah I've got a chromecast - are you saying that it works by watching netflix/youtube/etc via screen mirroring? You cant cast video apps and get the sound through the HK speakers?

        • Bushbasha on 24/10/2021 - 21:15

          Another one for you, how do you use the two speakers together? I've paired both speakers into chrome cast but it only seems to be playing through one although both look paired? Do I need to set the speakers up through google home as a pair or something first?

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2021 - 09:33

    How is the mic in these for conference?

  • TEngineer on 28/09/2021 - 12:26

    Does anyone have a good recommendation for a similar speaker, with wifi connectivity, but that's portable?

  • living4music on 28/09/2021 - 13:24

    If you want to use these speakers via Bluetooth and watch videos, forget it. The lag is terrible, you will see the video go 1-2 seconds before you hear the sound. Only good if you listen only and not watch the video.

  • athua on 28/09/2021 - 17:26

    One thing to note with these speakers is that they are not enrolled with Harman Kardon to automatically receive firmware updates.
    The older firmware on them have issues with Apple Airplay and stop playing after 10 minutes. The updated firmware fixes this issue and you can request for the firmware update by creating a support ticket with Harman Kardon. This process will then enroll the speaker for firmware updates so any future updates will happen automatically like the way the Google Home speakers do their updates.

    https://citationsupporthelp.freshdesk.com/en/support/tickets…

    • ckwatsydney on 05/10/2021 - 20:46

      Thanks mate for sharing.

      How long did you wait before they completed the firmware update?

      Did they send you an email to notify you?

  • cletus75 on 30/09/2021 - 22:13
    +4

    Mine arrived today - at lower volumes, I wasn’t sure why I’d bought it as it wasn’t that different to the Google home (which sounds passable if you tinker with the equaliser), but the HK sounds better the louder it goes. I’ve got a Sonos One and this has to sound 80% as good for less than half the price. I just use them for voice controlled Spotify, so I wasn’t concerned about the ecosystem or multi-room audio.
    Quirks are that the HK is bigger, it’s Google only (Sonos can use Alexa, as well as the Sonos features) and it’s dependent on the Google Home app for configuration, which surprised me. I’d expected them to have their own app (every other piece of audio equipment i have seems to). So it doesn’t have anything like Sonos’ soundstage thing where it sizes the room etc. but sounds good for under $140 delivered.

  • stringbean402 on 04/10/2021 - 11:19

    Mine arrived today (from Mobileciti)

    Bluetooth lag is terrible when using as a speaker connected to Chromecast (Google TV)

    I have submitted a ticket requesting firmware update / fix.

    My current firmware and cast version is,

    Firmware 2578
    Cast 1.40.168834

    Fingers crossed an update fixes the problem, seems like a great product otherwise. Nice audio quality.

    • ckwatsydney on 06/10/2021 - 11:34

      Hey mate. Did the update fix the lag issue?
      Mine after update has still got the lag when using airplay.

      • stringbean402 on 09/10/2021 - 23:30
        +1

        99% fixed. I have it off in a corner so it may just be the distance from the TV, only noticeable now if your really concentrating on the lip sync. Miles better than what it was.

        I am using as an external speaker connected to the newer Chromecast w/google TV. Only wanted it for watching music videos (usually just casting to the TV via YouTube) when we have friends over and having a few drinks, it's perfectly useable for that now.

        Haven't tried via airplay sorry.

        Mine is now showing the following.

        System Firmware - 2699
        Cast Firmware - 1.44.219548

  • diepjds on 05/10/2021 - 09:53

    I bought a pair from Kogan for the same price and made them stereo paired. Setting up was smooth. Sound is nice only for gym music. Otherwise it's pretty average. No EQ sucks. Another very annoying issue is the Google Assistant voice is too loud compared to the music. At volume 6, music from Spotify is very soft while the google voice booms through the walls. Tried all settings in Spotify normalize /unnormalize etc but nothing improved.

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