When considering your next home audio speaker, you might be looking for something that will grab your attention and be a conversation starter at any party. The Harman Kardon latest offering the Aura Studio 4 does just that. Its vibrant lights and rich sound can even make workout sessions feel less like a chore,” says Michael from Trailviber Walking Pad Treadmills.

First Impressions

The Aura Studio 4 costs £286 from Amazon and just like previous models it continues the same iconic transparent dome with a swirling, turbine-like internal structure that lights up with a stunning array of LED lights.

You cannot deny it’s a centrepiece in any room and pairs that up with impressive sound we found it comes with an impressive bass and detailed highs. The downfall of this speaker comes when you see the lack of smart features such as a smart assistant and the Bluetooth support is also a little dated compared to the likes of what Apple & Sonos have on the market.

Design/Build

The Aura Studio 4 has a unique signature build standing 10 inches tall and features a see-through dome that allows viewers to gaze at the lighting display that comes with the speaker it really does dance to the music. The lighting within the Aura Studio 4 comes in several colours each enough to complement your home décor.

This speaker is not very light coming in at 7.9 pounds and is built using a mix of recycled materials:

  • 100% recycled fabric
  • 100% recycled aluminium
  • 85% recycled plastic.

The speaker has a dark-tinted dome that has a subtle, concave diamond pattern at the top of the dome. In the interior of the base, LEDs sit beneath a geometric surface that mirrors the design of the exterior. It’s a unique design unlike anything else on the market I have seen.

Under the plastic dome is a wraparound fabric grille that covers an array of 6 outward-firing 40mm drivers. You get three on the left and three on the right each with 15w of power.  Positioning the drivers this way creates actual stereo separation for those who notice these things. You also get a frequency range of 45Hz to 20kHz. Finally, you are provided with a 100W 130mm subwoofer.

Under the plastic dome sits a plastic ring with controls that sit above the cloth grille.  Starting from the left side is the power button, Bluetooth button and then a plus and minus volume control and two LED buttons.

The first LED button allows you to switch between the 5 colour and pattern cycles you are given the following:

  • Cloud
  • Fireplace
  • Galaxy
  • Polar Light
  • Rainy Night

The below video shows you the cycle of each offering. The second button simply adjusts the brightness level.  We found the buttons to be easy to operate without being too sensitive. My only wish would have been the inclusion of playback controls this has to be done via your mobile phone making the speaker feel a little limited.

The one slight negative I have about this home audio speaker is if the speaker goes into audio standby mode for 20 minutes or more you need to press the Bluetooth and both volume buttons to wake up the speaker it feels a little over the top.

Finally, the connectivity seems to also be an area where the manufacturer has dropped the ball.  The Aura Studio 4 offers Bluetooth 4.2 and only supports the default SBC code. There is not even Wi-Fi support here which would allow for high-res streaming. The device still connects perfectly fine to my iPhone but my concern here is it’s hardly future-proof.

The Star of the Show – The LED Lighting Effects

You might look at the Aura Studio 4 and think it looks like a standout piece of kit when it’s off and sitting in your living room. When you turn it on you are greeted with a sound and lighting display which is truly a mesmerizing sight to see. The geometric pattern of the base is a big reason why you would buy this speaker.  The lights also do a really good job of moving to the tempo of the music.

Audio Quality

We have been testing this speaker for the last few weeks and I have to say it offers a robust sound that really did fill the room. The subwoofer and enhanced bass booster deliver deep lows that will please bass lovers. We also found the mids are clear and the highs are crisp without being too much.   

The inclusion of SBC codec is great but it is missing the additional higher quality codecs such as aptX or LDAC or even Wi-Fi for that matter limits the performance and is a drawback for audiophiles looking for the highest audio quality. However, let’s take a closer look:

We have been listening to this speaker with a wide range of music and if you listen to a track with a strong level of sub-bass it delivers exceptional power around the 50% to 70% range.

Listen to something with less bass and you get that sense of the sound signature. Alice Merton – No Roots for example shews the drums receive some additional depth but are never too much. The vocals benefit from a pleasant blend of low-mid richness and crisp high-mids. The subwoofer is the standout here you hear a subtle part of the electric bass line, and the overall presentation is exciting. The only downfall is you can not adjust the EQ to your liking via an app so some might consider other options.  

Switch over to more classical tracks, and the lower-register instrumentation gets extra body. There is a spotlight on the higher-register brass, strings and vocals. You will notice that this speaker doesn’t invent sub-bass where it does not exist like others on the market. What it does do is dial it up substantially when it’s there.

Verdict

The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 does stand out and will be a conversation starter when you have friends over. Plus, this speaker delivers some seriously impressive bass you need to consider this speaker!

However, there are a few negatives the Bluetooth connectivity not being the most up-to-date, the lack of features such as smart assistant and high-quality codecs and the fact you have no companion app to adjust the EQ or customise the geometric patterns hold this speaker back from getting 5 stars but its firmly a 4-star speaker!

If features such as the smart assistant and higher quality codecs matter, you might be better off considering the Sonos Era 100, which costs £185 compared to the £286 for the Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4.

If you are looking for a feast for the eyes with excellent sound quality it’s hard to say no to this speaker. This speaker is perfect for someone who puts design and basic functionality at the top of your list.

Product Rating    

Overall ranking: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars – 4.5 stars

The Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 4 is available from Amazon for £286

 

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