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  1. Home
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JBL Boombox 3 vs Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3

Which Speaker Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      PicturesStylePortabilityBuild QualityControlsIn The Box
    Sound
      Frequency Response AccuracyRaw Frequency ResponseSoundstageDynamics
    Active Features
      BatteryVoice AssistantApp
    Connectivity
      WiredBluetoothWi-Fi
    Comments

Products

JBL Boombox 3
Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Oct 31, 2025 08:26 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 14, 2025 08:15 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
JBL Boombox 3 Picture
Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Picture
Bluetooth
Locked
Wi-Fi
Locked
Speakerphone
Locked
Voice Assistant
Locked
Battery Powered
Locked
Bluetooth
Locked
Wi-Fi
Locked
Speakerphone
Locked
Voice Assistant
Locked
Battery Powered
Locked
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Bluetooth For Sound

Our Verdict

JBL Boombox 3

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3

The JBL Boombox 3 and the Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 are medium-sized portable Bluetooth speakers with different strengths. The Harman/Kardon puts out more consistent bass, so kick drums have just the right amount of punch. On the other hand, the JBL's almost 30-hour battery life is much longer than the Harman/Kardon's seven hours. The JBL is also rated IP67, so it'll withstand getting wet at your garden party, and it has a companion app, unlike the indoor-oriented Harman/Kardon. If you know you'll only use it indoors, the Harman/Kardon is well worth a look. If not, the JBL is the better pick. 

2 

Variants

  • Boombox 3 (Black)
  • Boombox 3 (Squad)
  • Go + Play 3 (Black)

Review

See JBL Boombox 3 Review
See Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Review
21 
16 

Check Price

Black
Boombox 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Go + Play 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Squad
Boombox 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Go + Play 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Go + Play 3
SEARCH
B&H
 
Black
Go + Play 3
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Go + Play 3
SEARCH
Harman/Kardon

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 
 

0.0
0.0
JOIN NOW  to see main differences

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo 
 

JBL Boombox 3 Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

RGB Lights  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Dimensions Photo 
 

JBL Boombox 3 Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Volume 
 

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Power Source 
 

Locked
Locked

One-Hand Carry 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Photo 
 

JBL Boombox 3 Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Material Quality 
 

Locked
Locked

Water Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Dust Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Impact Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Floats In Water 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Photo 
 

JBL Boombox 3 Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Controls Photo 2 
 

JBL Boombox 3 Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Ease Of Use 
 

Locked
Locked

Feedback 
 

Locked
Locked

Music Play/Pause 
 

Locked
Locked

Call Answer/End 
 

Locked
Locked

Volume Up/Down 
 

Locked
Locked

Track Next/Previous 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone On/Off 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo 
 

JBL Boombox 3 In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Show Text 
Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Graph  

JBL Boombox 3 Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

JBL Boombox 3 Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

JOIN NOW
JOIN NOW

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

JOIN NOW
JOIN NOW

Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Directivity Graph  

JBL Boombox 3 Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Directivity Index 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Stereo 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

JBL Boombox 3 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power Saving 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Powered 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Voice Assistant 
 

N/A
N/A

Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Speakerphone 
 

Locked
Locked

Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Activation 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Locked

Far-Field Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

App 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture 
 

JBL Boombox 3 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

JOIN NOW

for pictures & test results

App Name 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Party Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Room 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Other Ports 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wi-Fi 
 

N/A
N/A

Wi-Fi Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

AirPlay Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Google Chromecast 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast Latency 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Boombox 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Go + Play 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Squad
Boombox 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Go + Play 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Go + Play 3
SEARCH
B&H
 
Black
Go + Play 3
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Go + Play 3
SEARCH
Harman/Kardon
Back to Top

JBL Boombox 3

Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3

Comments

  1. Comparison
Active 5 months ago
 ·  • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Boombox 3 vs Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


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2 
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  1. 2
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     Christopher Steward • Updated 5 months ago • Posted 5 months ago

    Would you mind letting me know where this comparison was made, so I can correct any errors? Thanks for flagging this.

    edit: Apologies, one of my colleagues already fixes this text error. Thanks again for flagging it!

    Edited 5 months ago: Clarified sources
    Reply
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  2. 2
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    AppleJuice
     19
     • Posted 5 months ago

    “The Harman/Kardon gets a little louder than the JBL” No it does not… at least not according to your own test.

    Reply
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