Short answer: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 for better sound quality, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 for the lower price. The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 73 boombox speakers at $385. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ranks #13 at $186.99, $198.01 cheaper.
What the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 offers: Warm sound with boosted bass. Watch for: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 gets right: Auracast multi-speaker connection alongside classic stereo pairing. The catch: Slight recessed mids, boost in the upper mids, rolled off upper treble.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $186.99 |
| Ranked | #3 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #13 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | - |
| Max Volume | 103dB | 101dB |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Power Bank | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Output Power | 160W RMS | 50W RMS |
| Dimensions | 17.3" x 9.4" x 7.6" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 11.4" x 11.3" x 5.1" (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Zealot ZE41 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- Zealot ZE41 vs JBL Boombox 3
- JBL Partybox Encore vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2.
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 →
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 103dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 160W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔
- 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”🔊
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding?
- 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
- Reddit Search for Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 Review
- 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 20 comparisons
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9: $186.99 Amazon
Pros: Auracast multi-speaker connection alongside classic stereo pairing. Harman Kardon One app with EQ. USB-C charging, up from the previous generation’s AC power brick.
Cons: Slight recessed mids, boost in the upper mids, rolled off upper treble. Not as deep bass as previous Onyx Studio speakers.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 11.3" x 5.1" (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 101dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot S89
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