Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4. It ranks #47 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $100; the B&O Beosound Level ranks #60 and costs $2250, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 gets right: Balanced sound quality with deep resonant bass and crisp treble, large dynamic range. Set against that: 8 hour battery at medium volume. Not at loud as others. Not as deep of bass as the newer Onyx.
On the B&O Beosound Level side: Premium Scandinavian design with elegant domestic sculpture aesthetic. The catch: Not very deep bass, peaks in midrange. Hugely expensive.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4. It ranks higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Level and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the B&O Beosound Level. It ranks near the bottom of the 77 large speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the B&O Beosound Level is rated for 16 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4.
If water resistance matters to you, the B&O Beosound Level at IP54 (splashing) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 | B&O Beosound Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 Discontinued | $2,250.00 |
| Ranked | #47 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (HK Connect) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | None | IP54 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 102mm woofers, 1x 51mm fullrange, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 11.4" x 5.1" (290 x 290 x 130 mm) | 13.7" x 9.1" x 2.2" (348 x 230 x 56 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 39Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 60W | 105W |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~60Hz |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
| Max Volume | - | 96dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Brane X vs Zealot S97
- Klipsch Detroit vs Ultimate Ears Megablast
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs Soundcore Trance/Rave Mega
- B&O Beosound Level vs LG Xboom XG7
- B&O Beosound Level vs Soundcore Rave Neo
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4: $100 Discontinued
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Zealot S97
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs JBL Xtreme 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Tronsmart Halo 100
- 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
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Klipsch Detroit
- See all 17 comparisons
B&O Beosound Level: $2,250.00 Amazon
Pros: Premium Scandinavian design with elegant domestic sculpture aesthetic. Battery, WiFi, and Bluetooth enable AC/portable use, upright/flat/wall-mount positioning. Modular design with upgradeable wireless module, sound processing, and battery. 16-hour battery with quick-connect Mag-Safe rear charging puck. 105W output.
Cons: Not very deep bass, peaks in midrange. Hugely expensive.
Full B&O Beosound Level review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~60Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.7" x 9.1" x 2.2" (348 x 230 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 102mm woofers, 1x 51mm fullrange, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 105W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound Level vs Ultimate Ears Megablast
- B&O Beosound Level vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- B&O Beosound Level vs LG PN7
- B&O Beosound Level vs Soundcore Rave Neo
- B&O Beosound Level vs Sony SRS-XG300
- B&O Beosound Level vs Klipsch Detroit
- B&O Beosound Level vs Doss Soundbox XL
- B&O Beosound Level vs JBL Xtreme
- See all 12 comparisons