Normally I deal with JBL, one of the companies Harman Kardon owns, so it’s good to get a breath of fresh air one could say. Harman Kardon is known all over the globe as a wicked speaker manufacturer. Some of the HK systems in cars blow the competition away. So when I received the Go + Play to review, the bar was already raised high.
When you take out all of the stuff in the big box the Go + Play comes with, you’ll have to take a minute and check out the device itself. What looks like a creature with two big oval eyes staring back you is the Go + Play. It looks very 1930s mixed with contemporary features, like the round bottom it features. It’s essentially a boombox with a snug iPod cradle on top, volume and power buttons, and some ports. The ports are handy and you’ll find S-Video, USB, power, and auxiliary all waiting to take advantage of your iPod. The remote is very similar to the JBL Radial iPod dock and goes well with the system. In terms of looks, this thing kills.
Word is, however, that looks can be deceiving. I was worried this thing wouldn’t get as loud as I’d like it to. Then I looked at the spec sheet and saw that it has two 30-watt tweeters and two 30-watt woofers that use Harman Kardon’s Ridge and Atlas drivers. With speakers on each side of the device, everyone will hear the beat.
Excited, I grabbed my 5G 30GB iPod and put it in the slot on the Go + Play. Without using any of the included iPod adaptors, it fit well enough and snug enough that it doesn’t move whatsoever. I threw on some Chemical Brothers to try it out and the results surprised me. For a boombox that you carry around, this thing gets loud. Loud enough to use it for a party, an event, or breakdancing in the park. You will piss off your neighbors at half-volume and at full-volume you’ll risk going deaf and getting evicted.
Just because the Go + Play is loud doesn’t mean the sound is good though. Luckily, in this case it does. Unless you crank it at full-volume and play some trash metal or something, the Go + Play will not distort. Whether you fancy rock, techno, electronic, rap, or chamber music, you shouldn’t have to worry about the music degrading into awful noise. Chances are you’ll only use the Go + Play at quarter- or half-volume anyway.
The real party starts when you waste $8 at your local supermarket or deli to pick up the 8 D-cell batteries it takes to power this thing on the go. With an MSRP of $349, I’m very disappointed that Harmon Kardon didn’t include a built-in, rechargeable battery. Sure, this system sounds great, is pretty, and can be taken anywhere. But for the price of it, you could probably be satisfied with something less expensive and with a rechargeable battery.
What really gets me is that you only get “16 continuous hours of play when used at a normal volume”. The Go + Play does go into sleep mode when there’s no music playing or no iPod plugged in, so that’s nice. I didn’t get a chance to even find a place where I can buy D-cell batteries, so I can’t report on how long the batteries last. Either way, you’ll be the Radio Raheem of the 21st Century for sure.
It’s worth a quick mention that the brushed-metal handle bar on the Go + Play is fantastic. Carrying it around is easy, it’s solid, and it really makes the overall look complete. Funny how a bent metal bar can make a product.
So should you buy a Go + Play? The market for iPod docks is flooded, but the Go + Play steers off in the direction of a retro boombox. Is it worth $349 for good looks, great sound, and portability in one package? I’d have to say yes. After buying this, you won’t need to ever get a stereo system again until either your iPod or Go + Play break. Harman Kardon has another hit product on its hands and iPod owners are lucky enough to have access to it.
I have only one question, will it work with the new ipod 160gb classic, if it does, then I am sound and do you get a subwoofer, or are you able to connect one?
Works well with our IPod 160Gb
However we have noticed that the G&P is turning itself off in the middle of playing (whilst connected to AC power). It does this even though the IPod is still playing.
just got one yesterday and having the same problem. it turns it self off every 5 minutes. this is not cool but you can’t beat the sound when it is working.
I own the Harmon Kardon Go + Play. It is worth every penny paid! Look out Bose there is something out there that surpasses you in sound quaility as well as dollars and cents! The reto look, the portability, ease of handling, I could go on and on. I wish I had more control of the sound on the unit, fortunatley I can control the sound via ipod EQ. It makes that old James Cleveland recording “I don’t feel no ways tired yet” come Ialive cause I don’t feel no ways tired of listening to my Harmon Kardon Go + Play!
WOW!!.. great sound everywhere.. you can place this ipod dock anywhere and still sounds good.. bass, treble everything pointed to one target(audiophiles). they said this one has a cheap looking remote but I think that they were wrong. I think they are expecting gold plated remote. but who cares? its working right? and what about the ipod not vertically positioned to its viewer? well I guess Ipods really is meant to be viewed up close right?.. then they said “so why did HK put an option to control menus?” – well I guess its a nice option right? its better than putting your arm towards the unit to control it rather than just pushing the button from a remote.. it would be nicer for HK to include a screen big enough to navigate the menus of the ipod.. so that even you are 2 to 3 feet away you may be able to use the option of navigating menus. If you ask me how satisfied I am in buying this beauty! my answer is I can’t and I wont even trade this one with my life.. that’s how good this is!! if you dont believe me you might as well hear it for your self.. and YES!! it’s really really better than bose’s Ipod docks!
WOW!!.. great sound everywhere.. you can place this ipod dock anywhere and still sounds good.. bass, treble everything pointed to one target(audiophiles). they said this one has a cheap looking remote but I think that they were wrong. I think they are expecting gold plated remote. but who cares? its working right? and what about the ipod not vertically positioned to its viewer? well I guess Ipods really is meant to be viewed up close right?.. then they said “so why did HK put an option to control menus?” – well I guess its a nice option right? its better than putting your arm towards the unit to control it. it would be nicer for HK to include a screen big enough to navigate the menus of the ipod.. so that even you are 2 to 3 feet away you may be able to use the option of navigating menus. If you ask me how satisfied I am in buying this beauty! my answer is I can’t and I wont even trade this one with my life.. that’s how good this is!! if you dont believe me you might as well hear it for your self.. and YES!! it’s really really better than bose’s Ipod docks!
So, is it better than B & W zeppelin speakers.I want to buy one ,please tell me which one to buy.
The B&W Zep sounds better, but it doesn’t have the battery power option, so that’s why I opted for the HK…..also the HK is substantially less money….
I’ve heard the Zepplin in the Macintosh store and it really doesn’t have the Bass quality that the Go+Play has… the Go+Play sounds better than most stationary iPod docks so portability really doesn’t compromise any sound quality
After being in Singapore last week and comparing the HK Go + Play with the Bose Sounddock, there was no competition. I bought the Go + Play yesterday at an Apple store nearby.
BTW, I wrote HK beforehand and asked about the iPod turn-off issues… turns out this has been addressed and is not an issue with newer HK’s… so BUY!
Hi Jeremy,
My name is Amy and I just bot the HK few days back. I have the same problem with the self-turning off. Don’t know if problem is with the Ipod (never happened before) or with the speakers.
Are you still enjoying your speakers?
hi i also have the same problem with you, mine is turning off after 8 mins. or so? how did u fix it? thankss….
I think this is one of the coolest portable Ipod docks in the market. Where can you get one for this price which sounds this good and to top it all off, IT WORKS ON BATTERIES. Perfect for my beach vacations. I turned in on the other day on the beach and everybody was wondering, how the hell I was generating so much sound with such a small device. AWESOME! !!!!!!!
I agree that the sound is the best I’ve heard (and I’ve been shopping). I did read somewhere though, that it does not charge the newer iPods – does anyone know more about this? How much of a pain is it to have to charge the iPod elsewhere?
Question… I have a 1st Gen iPhone, will it work on this and how? Charging and such what can I expect with a 1st gen?
My sister presented the HK Go for my 40th birthday ( yeah I got a great Sis). I have been blown over by the base because that is one aspect that is lacking in smaller docks etc.
My only grouse is that the remote if used for anything besides volume levels gets confusing especially since you cant see the menu on the ipod because of the angle.
I would sum up by saying – ROBUST looks, Punchy sound.
I just purchased the HK Go&Play, plugged it in and immediately had issues with the sound. I troubleshooted by reseating my IPOD and was only able to get 3 out of the 4 speakers to work. Anyone have a suggestion? I left a voicemail for HK Customer Support to give me a call. I really like the style of this unit, but if I can’t get all 4 speakers to work, back it will go and I will purchase a Bose. I’ll greatly appreciate any assistance. Thanks, FF
Thats because only 3 of the 4 speakers are meant to work… the 4th one is just for cosmetic purposes.
Actually your reply is not quite correct, the 2 front speakers are meant for the sound one of the back speaker is meant for the Base and the 2nd back speaker is meant as an air channel.
Just checked out the thing at a mac store. Played Linkin Park side by side with the Bose SII and HK clearly rocked. The cost in Singapore for both is the same currently. I have a couple questions and would really appreciate if someone can respond, so that I can seal the deal.
1) I am planning to place it near a wall (thats the only place I can at home). Will the sound quality be impacted since there are 4 speakers and 2 of them will be facing the wall?
2) I have an ipod mini (antique now but still working perfectly) and iphone. Will it run both?
3) This looks like an older model, is it still worth buying it or are there newer better HKs now?
Appreciate your responses. Thanks in advance.
To answer your question, both Ipod will work but the iphone will not charge but still it will work. If it is an older model like you say it is, does it have in the rear of the unit 4 different hook up options? such as usb and sVideo? If so you will be able to connect your ipod mini to a tv and see pictures as well but you will not be able to do the same with the Iphone as it is of a newer generation, if not don’t worry about it as the newer Go + Play doesn’t offer you the connections of USB and SVideo anyway, but other than this both HK have the same drivers etc for the exception of the older model not being able to charge the newer ipods.
Hope this helps.
Gates
I just bought the Go and Play and I have a couple of questions – PLEASE help!
I have a 5G 30GB older ipod. The G &P came with various adaptors for the dock. I cannot make the little plastic thing stay at the dock?!? Am I doing something incorrect – it just lays there without clicking into place.
Next question – the manual says: IMPORTANT! Turn the adjustable ipod knob in the center of the docking station to match your specific ipod model – nothing else. There are no other directions, so what should I do. The knob just twirls around without any indication of an ipod model.
Thanks for ANY Help! Dale
How does HK Go&play compare to BOSE WAVE RADIO II (who also commes with an optional ipod dock). Has anyone ever compared those two?
The have approx. the same power requirements (60W) so they might perform equally good.
Bye.
The Bose Wave Radio II is supposed to have better sound clarity as compared to the Bose ipod docks (which honestly sucks at higher volume levels!), but then it is much more expensive too. Comparing it with HK, the Wave Radio II with the ipod docking kit will probably offset you by twice as much as the HK will (but then it has radio functions, if thats important to you).
You should try listening to both before you buy. I have tried listening to most of the brands around and am certain on buying the HK.
The only thing The Bose has over the predecessors is it charges newer iPods, the Ipod dock clicks in to hide and has battery power other than that it is not significantly better than the previous models. Do the taste test or should I say the quality sound test. Go where they sell them both and give it a try. I myself almost had purchased the Bose until I heard the HK and after that it was music to my ears. HK to me was by far the better choice. So good in fact that I made a mount in my SUV to have it play in it versus the car audio system, now when I travel long trips my HK comes with me, when I go camping my HK comes with me, when i go in the shower my HK comes with me but outside the shower that is as it is not waterproof, get the picture? it’s with me all the time. I have a $10,000 home stereo system (Rotel) and it is great but my HK is the next best thing, I would not part with it for anything else. My girlfriend calls it our bunny as I attached two straps to it to mount it in the SUV for when we travel as it just sits in the back giving us perfect listening pleasure. Go ahead, buy it you’ll never regret it.
Gates