There are those who have large speaker set-ups at home to blast out their favourite tunes, and those who prefer to be the life of the party by always having a Bluetooth speaker tucked away in a backpack. The Harman/Kardon Traveler, however, feels like something you would carry in a black briefcase, as you cross the globe to sign the next big business deal.
What makes us think so? Well, there is the design. Made out of a slick slab of aluminium, with rubber feet and a leather top which houses a recessed power, Bluetooth, telephone and volume buttons, and small, elegant white lights to indicate charge status, the Traveler is a looker. It also has surprising heft for its small size, and houses a 2,500mAh battery, which allows it to double up as a power bank. The USB-A port on the right side is where a charging cable can be connected to power another device, while the microUSB port above it charges the Traveler itself. Housed between the two is a 3.5mm jack for aux connectivity.
Special Arrangement
Turn on the Traveler, and a soft blue LED indicates its status, accompanied by a little jingle that ends with a solid bassy rumble, foreshadowing the little speaker’s excellent low-end prowess. Start playing music, and the Traveler manages to pump out a pretty decent amount of volume for something this size, with good separation between the highs, mids and lows and a sound signature that stays relatively clean at high volumes. It’s not a party-fuelling soundtrack, but for playing some thumping tracks while unwinding in a posh hotel room after sealing a deal, the speaker delivers plenty.
When not blaring your power playlist, the dual microphones on the Traveler also help it double up as a competent conference speaker, with built-in noise cancellation helping mitigate noisy backgrounds somewhat. It also helps that its uber-sleek design makes it look completely at home on a boardroom table.
Battery life is also good for long days on the road. Harman advertises around 10 hours, and our testing saw us consistently reach the vicinity of the figure.
Special Arrangement
With a price tag in the range of ₹9,000, the Traveler is not exactly cheap. But taking into account the purpose it is built for and what it offers for its asking price, the Traveler offers great value for the jet-setting audio lover. If you fit that description, this is the speaker for you.
