Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi: design and Hi-Res Audio

At the beginning of the year, Harman Kardon introduced the Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi three-way speaker, the latest evolution of its eponymous speaker system. Compared to the Aura Studio 5, the major upgrade lies in the speaker's Wi-Fi compatibility, along with numerous other features. Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi, high-resolution streaming, and multiroom: With Wi-Fi come many new specifications, most notably Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay, and Chromecast (integrated). Not to mention the Roon Ready label and Hi-Res Audio certification. Similarly, high-resolution multiroom, in addition to Auracast (see below), is now possible via most of the protocols mentioned above. Otherwise, the features of the Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi remain identical to those of the Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5 already mentioned in our articles and detailed below. Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5, acoustic package. For the first time in Aura history, the speaker features a 25mm tweeter specially calibrated for optimal vocal clarity, accompanying the six 40mm midrange drivers and the 143mm woofer. All of this is supported by Harman's proprietary Constant Sound Field technology, which guarantees a wider soundstage and crystal-clear reproduction, according to the manufacturer. Finally, the total power output is 160W (20W for the tweeter, 2 x 20W for the midrange drivers, and 100W for the woofer). Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5, a sound and light show: In addition to the sound, there is light thanks to the integrated multi-layered dynamic light projection system, which projects visual effects synchronized to the music onto the ceiling, walls, or simply around the speaker. This light show includes five nature-inspired themes (Ocean, Aurora, Blossom, Sunrise, and Fireplace), as well as fixed colors or dynamic modes adjustable via the Harman Kardon One app. Finally, it's worth noting that the speaker is Bluetooth 5.4 compliant and supports stereo pairing and multi-speaker connection via Auracast compatibility. The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5 also supports simultaneous dual pairing to seamlessly play music stored from two different sources. A word from Carsten Olesen, President of Consumer Audio at Harman: "With the Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5, our ambition was to harmonize light and sound in a natural, immersive, and emotionally engaging way," says Carsten Olesen, President of Consumer Audio at Harman. "This speaker doesn't just fill a room with music; it shapes the mood, enhances the space, and resonates deeply with how you live and feel at home." Available in March. Suggested retail price: €379.99. Key features of the Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi: • Type: 3.0 • Tweeter(s): 25 mm • Woofer(s): 143 mm • Midrange(s): 6 x 40 mm • Power: 160 W (20 W + 2 x 20 W + 100 W) • Connectivity: 1 x 3.5 mm mini-jack • Certification(s): Hi-Res Audio • Frequency Response: 45-20,000 Hz • Wi-Fi compatibility • Spotify Connect compatibility • AirPlay compatibility Roon Ready; • Chromecast (built-in) compatibility; • Tidal Connect compatibility; • Qobuz Connect compatibility; • Auracast Bluetooth compatibility; • Bluetooth 5.4 LE compatibility; • Dimensions (W x D x H): 234 x 306.4 x 234 mm; • Weight: 4.2 kg