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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Sound
- Active Features
- Connectivity
- Comments
Yamaha MusicCast 50 vs Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Yamaha MusicCast 50
Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3
Tested using Methodology v0.8
Updated Feb 26, 2024 02:34 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v0.8
Updated Dec 05, 2024 05:38 PM
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Amazon.com
BluetoothYes
Wi-FiYes
SpeakerphoneNo
Voice AssistantNo
Battery PoweredNo
BluetoothYes
Wi-FiNo
SpeakerphoneNo
Voice AssistantNo
Battery PoweredNo
Variants
- MusicCast 50 (Birch)
- MusicCast 50 (Black)
- MusicCast 50 (White)
- Aura Studio 3 (Black)
Our Verdict
Yamaha MusicCast 50
Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3
The Yamaha MusicCast 50 and the Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3 are similar speakers with different strengths. The Yamaha can get louder with less compression present at max volume. It's compatible with the MusicCast app, which you can use to pair it with compatible speakers and soundbars. It also features a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound profile to your liking. That said, the Harman/Kardon has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. Some users may also prefer its unique, dome-shaped design with pulsing ambient lights.
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Black
MusicCast 50
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Aura Studio 3
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MusicCast 50
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Aura Studio 3
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MusicCast 50
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Aura Studio 3
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Aura Studio 3
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Aura Studio 3
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Finding storeMain Differences forMusic
Music
Threshold
Music
7.0
7.1
Soundstage
6.8
8.5
EQ
Graphic + Presets
No
Dynamics
8.1
7.5
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Style Photo
RGB Lights
No
Yes
Portability
3.8
3.7
Dimensions Photo
Volume
586 in³ (9,600 cm³)
946 in³ (15,501 cm³)
Weight
9.8 lbs (4.5 kg)
8.1 lbs (3.7 kg)
Power Source
AC Only
AC Only
One-Hand Carry
No
No
Build Quality
6.4
6.4
Build Quality Photo
Material Quality
Good
Good
Water Resistance
No
Unspecified
Dust Resistance
No
Unspecified
Impact Resistance
Unspecified
Unspecified
Floats In Water
No
Unspecified
Controls
4.8
4.3
Controls Photo
Controls Photo 2
Ease Of Use
Good
Okay
Feedback
Good
Okay
Music Play/Pause
No
No
Call Answer/End
No
No
Volume Up/Down
Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Tactile)
Track Next/Previous
No
No
Microphone On/Off
No
No
Additional Controls
Yes
Yes
In The Box
In The Box Photo
Sound
Frequency Response Accuracy
6.8
6.8
Frequency Response Graph
Slope
-0.51
-0.04
Std. Err.
3.29 dB
3.47 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
55.8 Hz
52.6 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
14.5 kHz
12.9 kHz
Raw Frequency Response
Raw Frequency Response Graph
Binaural Recording @ 1m
Binaural Recording @ 2m
Soundstage
6.8
8.5
Directivity Graph
Directivity Index
6.02 dB
2.77 dB
Stereo
Yes
Yes
Dynamics
8.1
7.5
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
95.2 dB SPL
91.7 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
1.35 dB
1.80 dB
Active Features
Battery
0.0
0.0
Battery Life
N/A
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
N/A
Power Saving
No
No
Charging Port
No Battery
No Battery
Battery Powered
No
No
Voice Assistant
0.0
0.0
Alexa
No
No
Google Assistant
No
No
Speakerphone
No
No
Siri
No
No
Voice Assistant
No
No
Voice Activation
No
No
Microphone Mute
No
No
Far-Field Performance
No Assistant
No Assistant
Ambient Noise Performance
No Assistant
No Assistant
App
9.6
0.0
App Picture
App Name
MusicCast
No App
iOS
Yes
No
Android
Yes
No
EQ
Graphic + Presets
No
Stereo Pair Mode
Yes
No
Party Mode
Yes
No
Multi-Room
Yes
No
Connectivity
Wired
Aux Input
Yes
Yes
USB Audio
No
No
Other Ports
Yes
No
Bluetooth
6.6
8.1
Bluetooth
Yes
Yes
Bluetooth Version
4.2
4.2
Bluetooth iOS Latency
-250 ms
112 ms
Bluetooth Android Latency
-290 ms
47 ms
Bluetooth Range
315.0 ft (96.0 m)
206.7 ft (63.0 m)
Multi-Device Pairing
No
No
Wi-Fi
8.3
0.0
Wi-Fi Version
Wi-Fi 5
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Frequency Band
2.4GHz & 5GHz
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Yes
No
Apple AirPlay
Yes
No
AirPlay Latency
5 ms
N/A
Google Chromecast
No
No
Chromecast Latency
N/A
N/A
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Black
MusicCast 50
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Aura Studio 3
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MusicCast 50
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Aura Studio 3
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MusicCast 50
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Aura Studio 3
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Aura Studio 3
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Aura Studio 3
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Yamaha MusicCast 50
Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3
Comments
Yamaha MusicCast 50 vs Harman/Kardon Aura Studio 3: Main Discussion
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