Short answer: the Aiwa Exos-9 for the higher ranking, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 for the lower price. The Aiwa Exos-9 ranks #8 of 70 boombox speakers at $250. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks #10 at $139.99, $110.01 cheaper.
On the Aiwa Exos-9 side: Still a great sounding speaker even against today’s models. The tradeoff: Features are lacking, generally not recommended anymore, not sold new anymore.
The case for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: Warm sound with boosted bass. Set against that: Not as loud as others.
One note: the Aiwa Exos-9 is discontinued, but it still ranks #8 of 70 boombox speakers, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Aiwa Exos-9 if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| Aiwa Exos-9 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 Discontinued | $139.99 |
| Ranked | #8 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #10 of 70 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 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 | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 15.2 lbs / 6.9 kg | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg |
| Power Bank | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | Yes (with adapter) | - |
| Output Power | 200W | 50W RMS |
| Dimensions | 19.4" x 7.5" x 11.7" | 10.55" x 11.91" x 6.28" (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" dual voice coil woofer + 2x 3" midwoofers + 2x 1" silk dome tweeters | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 42ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 175ms |
| Max Volume | - | 96dB |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
The Two Speakers In Full
Aiwa Exos-9: $250 Discontinued
Pros: Still a great sounding speaker even against today’s models.
Cons: Features are lacking, generally not recommended anymore, not sold new anymore. No water rating. Discontinued.
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 19.4" x 7.5" x 11.7" |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" dual voice coil woofer + 2x 3" midwoofers + 2x 1" silk dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (5-band graphic EQ + 4 presets) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (with adapter) |
| Output Power | 200W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 15.2 lbs / 6.9 kg |
- Buy Used
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: $139.99 Amazon
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass.
Cons: Not as loud as others. No water rating.
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 10.55" x 11.91" x 6.28" (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review - part 2 of 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: Onyx Studio 8 vs HK Onyx 6, Xtreme 3, PartyBox Encore, Go+ Play, Bag of Riddim! part 3 of 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dead room vs Live room - Onyx studio 8 self tuning test! part 1 of 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.