Citation One Mk2
How can we have a Mk2 on a new range? Well CItation has taken its time travelling to Australia: we first saw them at IFA in Berlin in 2018. But hey, we get the upgrade advantage straight off, the bonuses including AirPlay 2 and being able to pair them for stereo, since as with many small wireless speakers, the Citation One is mono, using a single 20mm tweeter and accompanying 9cm woofer – both forward-firing, with a bass radiator to the rear. There’s a quoted 40W of amplification built in. At 2kg, it feels pleasantly weighty for the size.
Touch-sensitive controls are on top for volume, Bluetooth pairing, microphone usage, plus a multi-use button for music playback and, here, stopping the alarm. As with the others, set-up is quick and easy through the Google Home app, after which it can be controlled through the on-board microphone and Google Assistant. Note there is no auxiliary input here.
Despite its size, it manages to maintain the Citation range’s signature big sound, yet also remains a smooth and relatively easy listen. A lot of that big sound comes from the bass, which was full, though also a bit pushed — soft and a touch boomy. So it’s not one for sitting in a corner; give it a bit of space to avoid bass issues. Detail wasn’t class-leading either, but the sound was enthusiastic and punchy, and many may be willing to sacrifice a bit of textural insight for that. Yet while it’s not the absolute best-sounding small smart speaker on the market, it is still difficult not to find it likeable. It’s never offensive, and if Google Assistant is your voice control weapon of choice, then there aren’t really any competitors of this type which at this price could top the Citation One Mk2’s sonic performance — except maybe Harman’s own JBL Link series. And certainly if you’re going with a Citation-stocked home, don’t think twice about popping the Citation One in a small room — maybe even two, since you can use a pair of them as wireless rears in a Citation 5.1 surround set-up.