The Harman Kardon Luna is a compact Bluetooth speaker that prioritises style and simplicity.
With a classy design that stands out from typical portable speakers, it manages to look refined while still being practical. It’s built to handle everyday use, with IP67 water and dust resistance and a compact, travel-friendly form.
And under the surface, it delivers well-balanced sound, multi-point Bluetooth support, and a straightforward, no-fuss user experience.
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Design
The Luna stands out with its unique and stylish design. Unlike other more outdoorsy portable speakers, the Luna is wrapped in soft fabric, with an anodised aluminium panel on top that houses the play, pause, volume and Bluetooth controls.
It doesn't look like a rugged speaker. It looks classy, fitting into any environment, whether that's a living room, office or outdoor space.
That's not to say it isn't durable though. The Luna has an IP67 resistance rating, which means it's fully protected against dust and can survive immersion in water for up to 30 minutes. This makes it perfectly suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and you won’t have to worry about a splash of rain or water.
It's also compact and travel-friendly. Weighing around 1.13 kilograms, it fits easily into a backpack or travel bag.
Sound Quality
The Luna delivers a full and balanced sound, which is impressive for a speaker of its size.
Inside, it uses a two-way speaker setup, a 20mm tweeter for the high frequencies and a 48 x 90mm woofer for mids and bass. These are accompanied by two side-mounted passive radiators, which help boost the bass frequencies. The result is a sound profile that's warm, clear and well-defined across the board.
Bass performance is particularly strong. The Luna is able to produce good low-frequency tones without becoming boomy or muddy. Vocals are clean and sit well in the mix, and the treble has enough brightness to keep things crisp without sounding too sharp. I tested a few different genres, from podcasts and jazz to pop, rock and electronic, it sounds very good across them all.
The Luna also maintains clarity at high volumes. It can easily fill a medium-sized room, and the sound remains crisp even at near-maximum volume.
You can also pair two Harman Kardon speakers together to create a surround sound feel. Just make sure you're using a speaker that's compatible with this feature. At the time of writing, that includes the Luna, the Onyx Studio Series and the Citation Series.
Connectivity & Unique Features
The Luna uses Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring fast, stable connections and low power usage. Pairing is straightforward and easy. Just press the Bluetooth button on top and that's it.
It supports multi-point Bluetooth, which lets you connect two devices at once. This is especially handy if you regularly switch between devices, or if two people want to take turns playing music without having to disconnect and reconnect each time.
But, if you're looking for a portable speaker with all the bells and whistles like voice assistants, smart home features or a custom equaliser, this isn't it. There's no app, no smart features and no voice control. Just Bluetooth and a few buttons.
Whether that's a positive or a drawback depends on what you want from a speaker. Personally, I was a bit disappointed that there was no EQ to fine-tune the sound exactly how I wanted it. But at the same time, I appreciated the simplicity. Just connect and start listening. It's that easy.
Battery Life
Harman Kardon claims the Luna has a 12-hour battery life. From my testing, this was true but only when listening at moderate volume levels. At higher volumes, the battery drains faster, but it still lasts long enough for an afternoon gathering or an outdoor session.
Charging is done via the USB-C port on the back, and a full charge takes around 2.5 hours. This is about average for a portable speaker. There’s also a row of LEDs on the top showing the battery level, so you can easily see when it needs charging.
Disappointingly, there's no wireless charging here, and more notably, there's no fast-charging feature that gives a quick burst of battery life after a short top-up. That said, the battery is reliable enough that it never really became a problem.
Verdict
The Harman Kardon Luna is all about style and simplicity. It’s not trying to be a do-it-all smart speaker, it’s designed to look classy, sound great, and be easy to use.
What really sets it apart is the design, it looks like something you'd happily leave on display in your living room or office, as opposed to something that looks like you should be taking it mountain climbing. And despite the premium look, it’s tough enough to handle outdoor use thanks to its IP67 water and dust resistance as well.
Sound-wise, it punches above its weight. The Luna delivers a full, balanced sound that stays clear even at high volumes.
And while it doesn’t have voice assistants, a companion app, or custom EQ settings, which can feel a bit limiting, anyone who just wants a speaker that looks good, sounds good, and works straight out of the box will love the Harmon Kardon Luna.
