If Sonos’ recent app woes have turned you off the firm’s products, here’s a great deal on an alternative to the Sonos Arc soundbar. The Harman Kardon Citation Multibeam 1100 is now just £299 at Peter Tyson – down from its RRP of £799. That’s a saving of £500.
Best Harman Kardon Citation Multibeam 1100 deal
At launch, the Citation Multibeam 1100 was priced similarly to the Sonos Arc, which inevitably led to comparisons between the two. The Award-winning Arc came out top in that battle, but this discount makes the Harman Kardon a different proposition altogether…
Its curved edges and oval profile are very similar to the Arc’s, and it boasts a hi-res, full-colour touch-sensitive LCD panel, which is a joy to use. This also makes set-up and calibration a doddle, though it does come at the expense of a mobile app. It’s also placed on the top of the ‘bar, meaning you have to stand over it if you want to read what’s on-screen – not ideal. The soundbar’s front blinking lights to tell you what functions it’s performing aren’t quite the same.
But get it going and you soon forgive any such design quirks. The Multibeam 1100 sounds much bigger than it is, with a surprising amount of volume and bass. It remains measured throughout, and refuses to be overwhelmed. Its low frequencies aren’t quite as well portrayed as the Sonos Arc’s, but at this discount, that’s eminently forgivable.
Its surround processing has a welcome solidity too, making for a strikingly cinematic experience. And it’s yours for under £300. Sold.
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