Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8, because the Aiwa Exos-9 is no longer sold new. The Onyx Studio 8 has a warm sound with boosted bass, though it is not as loud as others. The Exos-9 still sounds great even against today’s models, but its features are lacking and it is generally not recommended anymore.
Buy the Aiwa Exos-9 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, which replaces the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Aiwa Exos-9 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 Discontinued | $199.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #9 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (5-band graphic EQ + 4 presets) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 15.2 lbs (6.9 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | Yes (with adapter) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 200W | 50W RMS |
| Dimensions | 19.4” x 7.5” x 11.7” (492.8 x 190.5 x 297.2 mm) | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” dual voice coil woofer + 2x 3” midwoofers + 2x 1” silk dome tweeters | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Aux Latency | - | 42ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 175ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Strap | - | No |
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