Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks #13 of 70 boombox speakers by sound quality at $186.99; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 ranks #19 and costs $499.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 gets right: An elegant circular design with a carrying handle, and a bass-heavy, balanced sound. The catch: only 7-8 hours of battery at 40-50% volume, and it isn’t as loud as newer models.
On the Onyx Studio 9 side: Auracast multi-speaker connection alongside classic stereo pairing, and USB-C charging instead of an AC brick, for $313 less. The tradeoff: slightly recessed mids and a boosted upper-mid, with less deep bass than earlier Onyx Studio speakers.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $186.99 |
| Ranked | #19 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #13 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (see https://www.reddit.com/r/Bluetooth_Speakers/comments/w339x5/how_to_harman_kardon_onyx_studio_5_6_dual_sound/) | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Output Power | 50W | 50W RMS |
| Dimensions | 11.3" x 11.3" (285.8 x 285.8 mm) | 11.4" x 11.3" x 5.1" (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 101dB |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: $499.99 Amazon
Pros: Elegant circular design with carrying handle. Bass-heavy with balanced mids and highs. Rechargeable Li-ion battery rated 7-8 hours at 40-50% volume.
Cons: Warm sound with boosted bass. 8 hour battery at medium volume. Not at loud as others.
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11.3" x 11.3" (285.8 x 285.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| 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 |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head 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.
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg |
- Buy Used
As an eBay Partner, I 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
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs JBL Boombox 4
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 10, 2026 at 7:14 AM UTC 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.