Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It ranks #14 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $248.90; the EcoXGear Defender ranks #84, rated 2.5/5, and costs $299.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The EcoXGear Defender is the longer-running, tougher choice. A rugged, floating waterproof speaker that gets very loud for its size, with a flashlight, bottle opener and power bank. It is rated for 25 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It is rated IP67, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 lacks. The catch: Its single front-facing driver layout has narrow dispersion: clarity and detail drop noticeably when you move off-axis, and the soundstage is limited.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 is the better-sounding, lighter option. An elegant home portable with warm, spacious sound, strong deep bass, and stereo pairing with a second unit. At 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the EcoXGear Defender at 10 lbs (4.54 kg). It links with other speakers (Wireless Dual Sound), which the EcoXGear Defender cannot. The tradeoff: Consumer Reports finds the bass prominent and boomy, mids hazy, treble slightly smeared and the soundstage congested.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It is rated higher for sound quality than the EcoXGear Defender and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged, floating waterproof speaker that gets very loud for its size, with a flashlight, bottle opener and power bank.
An elegant home portable with warm, spacious sound, strong deep bass, and stereo pairing with a second unit.
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Specifications Side By Side
| EcoXGear Defender | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | $248.90 |
| Ranked | #84 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #14 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.1A) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | 50W RMS |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 6.7” x 15.4” x 9.6” (170.2 x 391.2 x 243.8 mm) | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) (round design) |
| Drivers | 52mm full-range driver | 120mm woofer + 2x 25mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 37Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 266ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
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