Harman Kardon Citation MB 700

On its own, this soundbar isn’t perfect, but it makes a pretty good addition to your multi-room set-up

Whenever we listen to a multi-room product, we want class-leading sound, of course, but almost as important is that its audio performance matches the DNA of its family members.

So in a way, though the Harman Kardon Citation Multibeam 700 is one star short of a full complement, this is actually the perfect result. It fits seamlessly into a strong line-up of speakers, allowing Citation fans who want to match up their music and TV sound to buy with supreme confidence.

A feature-laden soundbar

Not that the Multibeam is a product only for those already committed to the Citation ecosystem. This is an extremely competent and feature-laden soundbar in its own right. The fact it stayed plugged in to our TV for so long after testing is testament to that.

So, what do you get for your money? The Multibeam is the smaller and cheaper of two Citation soundbars, but that doesn’t mean it is lacking in features. The headline is its surround sound technology. Using drivers at each end of the soundbar, as well as those facing straight at the listener, the Citation Multibeam achieves a 5.1 effect seeking to envelop you in sound without the need for multiple speakers.

Unlike some rivals, these drivers can also be bypassed for more traditional stereo listening, which is a big plus – especially if you use the Multibeam as a wireless speaker for your music, too.

Harman Kardon’s intention is for their soundbars to be used as part of a home entertainment hub, rather than for boosting TV audio alone. It has all the same streaming features as the other Citation speakers, including Bluetooth, Chromecast and Apple Airplay.

There are fewer physical connections than on some rivals – one HDMI ARC connection, aux in and optical in – but there’s nothing missing that’s absolutely necessary. A wired internet port might be nice, but the Citation has both 2.4G and 5G wi-fi transmitters, so it shouldn’t drop out if your signal is strong enough.

The cleanliness and simplicity of the design is one of its major strengths. There is a touch-screen strip across its crown – through which you can set it up, select inputs – but there is little you’d have to know to get it up and running.

The automatic set-up sends out a series of audio signals to optimise the Multibeam’s output for its specific environment. It will stop the surround effects crashing off nearby walls, and keep the output balanced even if one end is more boxed in than the other.

There’s a lot going on with the remote control too, including various sound modes that are worth fiddling with. Though other than perhaps a minor EQ tweak, it will be used mainly for switching surround effects on and off.

It takes only a few minutes to realise the Multibeam has that same pleasant overall character as its Citation relatives – easy on the ear, though not without the ability to entertain.

Much care has been taken to avoid rough edges or sparkly treble and there’s a satisfying amount of bass that perhaps belies the soundbar’s 79cm wide frame. The Multibeam houses a pair of 25mm tweeters and five 5cm woofers, and they work hard to direct audio towards the listener with decent clarity.

Several soundbars have attempted surround sound, and this kind of direct presentation is often overlooked – especially at this price. The surround speakers add a little atmosphere and space, but is it true enveloping surround sound? Of course not. However, it is a worthwhile addition that helps immerse you in what you’re watching.

Flat dynamic expression

Ultimately, the same things keep the Multibeam from a five-star review that have done so with other Citation products we’ve heard – a slight flatness in terms of dynamic expression. It's not so much an issue with TV sound as it is when playing music, there’s also a less than regimental sense of timing.

It isn’t that the Multibeam is boring, as such. It just falls a step behind classleading soundbars such as the Sonos Beam, which has fewer features but is also cheaper. It also leaves us wanting for a little more when it comes to emotion.

However, the Multibeam has a lot going for it. If you want the surround features, but can’t quite stretch to the Sonos Arc, it makes for a talented and cost-efficient substitute, and is part of a highly competent multi-room family.