If you’re a connoisseur of great sounds and high-end audio equipment—especially speakers— then you are sure to be familiar with the name Harman Kardon. They’re a world-famous audio brand, beloved by sound and speaker enthusiasts everywhere, and they are also owned by Samsung. Well, Harman Kardon just announced a brand new lineup of smart speakers called the “Citation Series” at CES 2019 in Vegas, and I have some of the juicy details.
What’s great about the Citation Series Speakers?
The Harman Kardon Citation Series aren’t just speakers, they are “smart” speakers. That means they do a lot more than pump out great audio. No, these speakers come with Google Assistant and Chromecast built right in, plus they boast LCD touch screens. So, streaming the newest or most popular music is as quick and easy as saying “Hey, Google, play Billie Eilish.” You could also use the voice-activated features to create calendar reminders, generate to-do lists, get the latest forecast, control compatible and connected smart home devices and more.
“Consumers increasingly look to their home entertainment systems to do more than just play music,” said Michael Mauser, President, Lifestyle Audio at HARMAN in a press release about the Citation Series Speaker announcement. “While features like voice control and multi-room streaming are becoming standard, the Harman Kardon Citation Series is anything but. The pairing of our unprecedented audio legacy and premium design with smart features and ease of use gives Citation the opportunity to truly transform the listening experience.”
Additionally, sometime in early 2019 the speakers will be updated with AirPlay 2 support, allowing users to wirelessly stream music from an iOS device, Apple TV, or HomePod by asking Siri.
Harman Kardon Citation Series design
From a design perspective, the speakers feature an industrial design accented with tasteful elements, including elegant aluminum detailing, and Winter Gray or Classic Black wool fabric. There are also numerous speakers in the Citation Series, including five tabletop speakers (Citation One, Citation 100, Citation 300, Citation 500, and Citation Surround), a soundbar called Citation Bar, a subwoofer called Citation Sub, and a floorstanding speaker called Citation Tower. And, audio lovers can use the speakers individually or build a 5.1-channel surround sound system with multi-channel and multi-room abilities.
The speakers have a price range running from a starting price of $199.95 (USD) for a countertop speaker to $2,499.95 for a pair of tower speakers.
What do you think of the new Citation Series smart speakers? Do you think you would invest in a set when they come out? What would you buy? Let me know in the comment section below, and don’t forget to check out all the smart speakers available right now online at Best Buy.
