Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4. It ranks #47 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $100; the Ultimate Ears Megablast ranks #61 and costs $240, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 offers: 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.
The case for the Ultimate Ears Megablast: Alexa integration (Wi-Fi + Bluetooth). 93dB loudest in UE lineup, 40% louder than Megaboom. The catch: Bass is not very deep compared to the competition.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Megablast and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Ultimate Ears Megablast. It ranks near the bottom of the 77 large speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears Megablast is rated for 16 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4.
If water resistance matters to you, the Ultimate Ears Megablast at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 | Ultimate Ears Megablast | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 Discontinued | $240 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #47 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #61 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 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 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 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 55mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 11.4" x 5.1" (290 x 290 x 130 mm) | 9.3" x 3.5" (236.2 x 88.9 mm) (height x diameter) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 60W | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 64Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Zealot S97 vs Klipsch Detroit
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Zealot S97
- Mifa WildCamping vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs LG Xboom XG7
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
Ultimate Ears Megablast: $240 Discontinued Ultimate Ears Megablast
Pros: Alexa integration (Wi-Fi + Bluetooth). 93dB loudest in UE lineup, 40% louder than Megaboom. IP67 waterproof and drop-proof. 16 hour battery. Party mode connects up to 8 speakers. Can use while charging to keep Alexa on 24/7.
Cons: Bass is not very deep compared to the competition. Discontinued.
Full Ultimate Ears Megablast review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 64Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.3" x 3.5" (236.2 x 88.9 mm) (height x diameter) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 55mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs B&O Beosound Level
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs LG PN7
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs Soundcore Rave Neo
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs Orange Box
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs Sony SRS-XG300
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs Klipsch Detroit
- Ultimate Ears Megablast vs LG Xboom XG7
- See all 13 comparisons