Short answer: the Onyx Studio 9. It ranks #15 of 113 boombox speakers at $184.99; the Studio 5 ranks #24 and costs $499.99, $315 more, so there is little reason to pay extra for the older model.
The Studio 9 modernizes the connectivity without keeping the Studio 5’s ruggedness. It adds Auracast multi-speaker pairing alongside classic stereo pairing, USB-C charging in place of the Studio 5’s AC power brick, and a companion app with EQ that the Studio 5 doesn’t have at all. In exchange it drops water resistance entirely, while the Studio 5 carries an IPX7 rating good for brief submersion.
The tonal balance shifted, too. The Studio 5 is described as bass-heavy with balanced mids and highs, while the Studio 9 has slightly recessed mids and a boosted upper-mid with less deep bass than earlier Onyx Studio speakers, plus a rolled-off upper treble.
Buy the Onyx Studio 9 for the better price, the Auracast support, and the app EQ, unless you specifically need water resistance.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 if you need a speaker you can use near water or in the rain. It’s the only one of the two with any IP rating at all.
Water resistance is not close: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is rated at IPX7 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $184.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | - |
| Amplifier 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 | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
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