Harman Kardon has more or less mastered the art of combining sexy, elegant design with quality audio performance, so the pocketable Esquire Mini Bluetooth speaker comes as a bit of a surprise. Visually, the speaker lives up to the Harman Kardon branding, but its audio performance does not distinguish itself from other modest-sized competitors. Unfortunately, its price distinguish it: At $149.95, the Esquire Mini feels about $50 more expensive than a speaker that tends to distort should be. A speaker this size needn't have deep bass response, but a speaker this price shouldn't suffer from distortion. If you don't mind a slightly higher price and a slightly larger frame, the Editors' Choice Bose SoundLink Mini ( at Amazon) offers far better sound quality with similar portability. DesignThe Esquire Mini exudes class, looking like the kind of gadget a CEO has in his or her briefcase or coat pocket. Measuring 3 by 5.5 by 0.9 inches (HWD), the 8.4-ounce speaker is offered in black, b...
The suave, svelte Harman Kardon Esquire Mini delivers certain musical genres cleanly and crisply, but others can suffer from distortion or weak bass.
Crisp audio performance; Can get quite loud for a speaker this size; Handsome, easily portable design; Built-in speakerphone
Distorts on some deep bass tracks, even at modest volumes; Classical tracks tend to sound thin and lacking in lows