Out of the box, the Harman/Kardon Esquire is unassuming, with a square design that lacks the compactness of the SoundLink Mini and the trickery of the Model XS. But it is wholly practical, and the rock-solid aluminium chassis and leather back add a touch of luxury. Measuring 147mm wide/high and 46.5mm deep, and weighing 700g, it remains portable.
Unlike the other Bluetooth speakers auditioned which use barrel chargers, the Esquire employs microUSB like every (non-Apple) gadget you own. It also has a useful five-dot battery indicator, whereas the rest require either button combinations to speak their charge level or only warn you when they are low. It offers crystal clear hands-free calling and NFC device pairing. Simple button controls adorn the top surface.
More importantly, the Esquire’s 2 x 10W tweeters and bass radiators punch well above their weight. Remarkably, this is the loudest speaker on test by some margin, making it great for uncritical outdoor use. It does share the Geneva Sound Model XS’s interest in mid- and high-range clarity and detail, lapping up both the pop of Naked and The Famous’ Young Blood and driving treble of Cat Power’s He War. Yet bass is still satisfying – not quite as rich as the Bose SoundLink Mini but able to handle AWOLNATION’s Sail with aplomb.
There are a couple of niggles, though. Harmon/Kardon has pulled the apt-X support which is featured in its larger Onyx home speaker, and there’s no full-size USB port for charging a device. And the rather cheap carry case feels like an afterthought.
But the Esquire finishes on a high. It hit its 10-hour claimed battery life, putting it noticeably ahead of its rivals in the longevity stakes, and at a new price of £170 (down from an original £230) it is the joint-cheapest speaker here.