Harman Kardon's statement piece speakers are even better thanks to this key upgrade

Stuff / Hot Stuff / Harman Kardon’s statement piece speakers are even better thanks to this key upgrade

Though tech rarely gets lumped in with fine art and fast cars, there are some gadgets that really do earn iconic status. Harman Kardon’s Aura and Soundsticks Bluetooth speakers are among ’em – but that doesn’t mean the audio expert is done iterating. The latest versions are finally adding wireless streaming into the mix.

The Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi standalone speaker and SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi 2.1-channel system look as drop-dead gorgeous as their predecessors, with sculpted glass domes and subtle, mood-setting ambient lighting. There are a few visual tweaks: the Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi wears a deeper black fabric and more distinctive silver trim, while the SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi gets a clear white dome and polished metal centre plate. But the signature styling hasn’t gone anywhere.

The sonic situation is largely unchanged from the outgoing Bluetooth versions. The Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi has a single 5.25in woofer, six 1.6in drivers and a single tweeter, while the SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi has a 5.25in woofer, six 1.6in mid-range drivers, and twin 1in tweeters.

All the important changes are under the skin, with Wi-Fi support adding high resolution music streaming abilities. Both speakers will play nicely with Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and Qobuz Connect, and are Roon Ready. Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast also make the cut.

Bluetooth 6.0 then adds Auracast connectivity on top, meaning multi-room and speaker grouping are on the cards for the first time. It’s unclear whether the SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi keeps the HDMI input that let the old version act as a TV sound system, though.

Harman’s smartphone companion app includes room calibration tools and the ability to program a physical shortcut button to start a particular song or playlist right on the speaker. You can also pick from a bunch of colour presets for the built-in lights, or adjust the hue and brightness manually.

The Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi and SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi are set to launch from March 2026. You’ll be able to order direct from Harman Kardon for £350/€380. No US prices were available at the time of writing.

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Related: Harman Kardon’s new speakers are smarter, sexier, and more sustainable

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A tech addict from about the age of three (seriously, he's got the VHS tapes to prove it), Tom's been writing about gadgets, games and everything in between for the past decade, with a slight diversion into the world of automotive in between. As Deputy Editor, Tom keeps the website ticking along, jam-packed with the hottest gadget news and reviews. When he's not on the road attending launch events, you can usually find him scouring the web for the latest news, to feed Stuff readers' insatiable appetite for tech.