Short answer: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. It ranks #3 of 90 against #24 of 90 for the Onyx Studio 5, and the source calls its bass the deepest of any speaker in this size. Both run 8 hours at medium volume and neither is as loud as the higher-rated boomboxes, so the Onyx’s carrying handle and circular design are its main counterpoints at $499.99.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is no longer sold new.
Water resistance is not close: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is rated at IPX7 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $499.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #3 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (see https://www.reddit.com/r/Bluetooth_Speakers/comments/w339x5/how_to_harman_kardon_onyx_studio_5_6_dual_sound/) |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Power Bank | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS | 50W |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Harman Kardon Go + Play 3:
- Earfun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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
Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2. An aux input, a built-in microphone, a power bank function, stereo pairing and hidden button combinations for adjusting bass and treble. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
Full Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔ More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding? More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast - outdoor soundtest
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Mateusz Cholewa: LOEWE WE Hear Pro SUPER STEREO vs HiFi Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 DEEP BASS 💪vs HK Go Plus Play 3 DEEP BASS❤❤❤
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Earfun Uboom X
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 55 comparisons
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: $499.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: The iconic circular cabinet and integrated handle make it an attractive room-to-room speaker. Reviews praise its generous bass, balanced mids and smooth top end at moderate levels, giving it a warm, relaxed presentation for casual indoor music.
Cons: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy. Battery life is only around eight hours at moderate volume, it is not especially loud, and it has no water resistance for outdoor use. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (see https://www.reddit.com/r/Bluetooth_Speakers/comments/w339x5/how_to_harman_kardon_onyx_studio_5_6_dual_sound/) |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 3
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 4
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot S89
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot ZE21
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot ZE41
- See all 58 comparisons