Bluetooth speakers are mainstream in India now. Gone are the days when you had to spend over 20K to buy a quality wireless speaker. Having said that, you still get your money’s worth when you invest in brands like Bose, Harman Kardon and JBL.
That’s why we decided to test the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 speaker, to see if the gulf in quality between the brand and its competitors has narrowed over the years. The pricing tempted us – the speaker will set you back by just under Rs 20,000.
Pros:
- Compact box-like design
- Rich bass and loud music
- Impressive Bluetooth pairing prowess
- Clear voice-calling support via microphone
Cons:
- Average battery life
- Not meant for high-tone music listeners
What’s Good?
It’s hard to dislike the design and construction of the Esquire 2. This speaker epitomises what Harman Kardon stands for: high-quality interiors as well as exteriors.
The compactness of the speaker reminds us of the desktop speakers that were never really up to the mark. But with Esquire 2, you aren’t just getting high-quality music; you’re also getting aesthetics worth revering. We want to give the Esquire 2’s Bluetooth pairing ability a special mention. We never faced issues connecting the speaker to a phone/PC.
Harman Kardon has made sure that the volume control, power button and the Bluetooth button are conveniently located. The built-in sound drivers are affixed to the module inside the speaker, and that invariably adds to the weight of the device, but it isn’t enough to be bothersome.
The voice-calling support via the microphone is definitely one of the best that we’ve come across on a portable speaker. But at this price, we’d expect nothing less.
In terms of audio quality, the Esquire 2 was a delight. We played a few soothing Jazz and Blues tracks, and we were impressed with its crisp and clear voice notes. We pumped up the bass, and discovered the other side of the Esquire 2’s range. It’s got a spectrum that will suit most users these days.
What’s Bad?
We aren’t sure if the Esquire 2 will last us through a train journey. On average, we never managed to get more than 5 hours from the speaker – which is way below the standards that have been set by portable speakers in this price range.
Also, the Esquire 2’s deep bass output leaves us wanting more. The distortion levels at high frequencies have convinced us that these speakers are more likely to be on a Jazz and Blues listener’s wish list. It isn’t really for someone who prefers bass-heavy genres.
The sound stage is one dimensional, and it is very hard to separate the sound of various instruments playing in the track.
Why Buy It?
Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is a commendable upgrade to the Esquire. This portable speaker boasts a compact design like its predecessor, and there’s a definite bump up in the quality of the audio output.
At Rs 19,999, the Esquire 2 feels like a mixed-bag. It tries to do everything, but falters in a lot of aspects. In this price range, you’ve got the likes of Bose, Creative and even Ultimate Ears crying for attention. All in all, the Esquire 2 is better than the first version, but still needs a few adjustments to become a must-have.
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