Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Plus for better sound quality, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 for the lower price. The Bose SoundLink Plus ranks #22 of 77 large speakers at $199.99. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 ranks #47 at $100, $99.99 cheaper.
What the Bose SoundLink Plus offers: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Close to 20 hour battery life. Vibrant sound with booming bass, clean mids. Bluetooth 5.4 with good range. Premium tactile grille, smooth silicone. Quality build at $269. Watch for: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 offers: Balanced sound quality with deep resonant bass and crisp treble, large dynamic range. Multi-host Bluetooth connectivity for 2 phones, daisy chaining up to 100 speakers. Elegant modern design with smooth curves and premium materials. Watch for: 8 hour battery at medium volume. Not at loud as others. Not as deep of bass as the newer Onyx. External AC power brick for charging.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Battery life favors the Bose SoundLink Plus: rated for 20 hours against 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Bose SoundLink Plus at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4, which has no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #22 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (HK Connect) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 3.4" (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 11.4" x 11.4" x 5.1" (290 x 290 x 130 mm) |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | 60W |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5" (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78" (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Mifa Wildbox
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Plus: $199.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Close to 20 hour battery life. Vibrant sound with booming bass, clean mids. Bluetooth 5.4 with good range. Premium tactile grille, smooth silicone. Quality build at $269.
Cons: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
Full Bose SoundLink Plus review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 3.4" (231 x 99 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5" (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78" (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Teufel Rockster Cross
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Sonos Move 2
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bose SoundLink Max
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Sonos Move
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Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4: $100 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Balanced sound quality with deep resonant bass and crisp treble, large dynamic range. Multi-host Bluetooth connectivity for 2 phones, daisy chaining up to 100 speakers. Elegant modern design with smooth curves and premium materials.
Cons: 8 hour battery at medium volume. Not at loud as others. Not as deep of bass as the newer Onyx. External AC power brick for charging. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (HK Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 11.4" x 5.1" (290 x 290 x 130 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Geri’s Collection: Harman Kardon Onyx 7 vs Onyx 4
- OCM Reviews: Onyx Studio 4 Vs Onyx Studio 5 - Sound Quality Comparison - Bluetooth Speaker
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers! More from alanrossreviews →
- Reddit Search for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs W-King D8
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Sony SRS-XB43
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs JBL Xtreme
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Doss Soundbox XL
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Sony ULT Field 5
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