These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $399; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks #12 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $199.
One is built for outdoors, the other for a shelf. The SoundLink Max is IP67 dust and waterproof, weighs 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) and has a sturdy carry handle. The Onyx Studio 8 is a 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) indoor speaker with no water rating at all, and Harman Kardon no longer makes it.
Battery is not close. Bose claims 20 hours for the Max, and real world testing found well over 40. The Onyx Studio 8 is rated for 8 hours. The Max also charges your phone over USB-C, which the Onyx cannot.
Where the Onyx Studio 8 holds its own: it reaches deeper, down to about 35Hz against roughly 48Hz for the Max, with a warm, bass-forward tuning, a built-in microphone and an app EQ. The Max has a big upper bass peak and a dipped midrange, and it distorts above about 80% volume.
The Onyx is not as loud, at about 96dB measured, so it suits a room rather than a yard.
Worth knowing: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 is discontinued, though it still ranks #12 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality, so a used unit beats most of what is still sold new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8’s replacement, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, is still sold new.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Max at $399 for a large speaker, or the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 at $199 for a boombox speaker instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the Bose SoundLink Max at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Max | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $199.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #17 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms | 42ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | 175ms |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 50W RMS |
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