Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 for clean sound, the JBL Xtreme for battery life. The Xtreme runs 15 hours against the Onyx Studio 4’s 8 hours at medium volume, but it has issues with bass distortion at high volumes. The Onyx Studio 4 is the more balanced of the two with deep resonant bass, crisp treble and a large dynamic range, at $100 versus $200.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the Tribit Stormbox Lava instead.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Xtreme is rated at IPX7 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 | JBL Xtreme | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 Discontinued | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #58 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #63 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (HK Connect) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Connect) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters + 1x passive radiator | 2x 63mm woofers, 2x 35mm tweeters |
| Dimensions | 11.4” x 11.4” x 5.1” (290 x 290 x 130 mm) | 11.1” x 5” x 4.8” (283 x 126 x 122 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4:
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 Onyx Studio 4: $100 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, rated 4.1/5.
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (HK Connect) |
| 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 | 11.4” x 11.4” x 5.1” (290 x 290 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Zealot S97
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Tronsmart Halo 100
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs JBL Xtreme 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Doss Soundbox XL
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs W-King D8
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Sony SRS-XB43
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Klipsch Detroit
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Sony ULT Field 5
- See all 38 comparisons
JBL Xtreme: $200 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Xtreme 5, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5.
Pros: 15 hour battery. IPX7 water resistance. JBL Connect for pairing with other JBL speakers. Built-in microphone for calls.
Cons: Issues with bass distortion at high volumes. An older speaker outclassed by newer releases of the Xtreme. External AC power brick for charging. Discontinued.
Full JBL Xtreme review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.1” x 5” x 4.8” (283 x 126 x 122 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 63mm woofers, 2x 35mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons