Short answer: the Hopestar A90, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 measures as well as it (#24 vs #22 of 91 boombox speakers, 3.9/5 vs 3.9/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Hopestar A90 is still sold new at $351.65.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 does well: The iconic circular cabinet and integrated handle make it an attractive room-to-room speaker. The tradeoff: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy.
The case for the Hopestar A90: A huge, powerful 700W boombox with eight drivers (two 5” woofers, two 3.5” midranges and four tweeters), a removable 36,000mAh battery and a wireless microphone. Watch for: The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 was the better, more refined listen in a direct comparison.
Buy the Hopestar A90, since the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | Hopestar A90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $351.65 |
| Ranked | #24 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #22 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6-8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | - |
| 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/) | - |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 700W |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) | 24.6” x 9.9” x 13.4” (624.5 x 252.5 x 341.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 5” woofers + 2x 3.5” midranges + 2x 2.5” tweeters + 2x 2” ceramic tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.4 |
| Strap | No | - |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes 1 Included |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Hopestar A90:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Hopestar A90
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Hopestar A90
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs Hopestar A90
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Hopestar A90
- JBL Partybox Encore vs Hopestar A90
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 5: $499.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: The iconic circular cabinet and integrated handle make it an attractive room-to-room speaker. Reviews praise its generous bass, balanced mids and smooth top end at moderate levels, giving it a warm, relaxed presentation for casual indoor music.
Cons: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy. Battery life is only around eight hours at moderate volume, it is not especially loud, and it has no water resistance for outdoor use. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| 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 | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| 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) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 3
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 4
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot S89
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot ZE21
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot ZE41
- See all 61 comparisons
Hopestar A90: $351.65 AliExpress eBay
Pros: A huge, powerful 700W boombox with eight drivers (two 5” woofers, two 3.5” midranges and four tweeters), a removable 36,000mAh battery and a wireless microphone. In side by side tests it had better highs, clarity and soundstage than the Zealot ZE21 while still reaching deep, reviewers picked it over the JBL Boombox 4 for its bass and output, and it sounded powerful and true to the music against the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2. Bluetooth 5.4 with Auracast, IPX6, USB, TF and aux inputs, RGB lights and a strap attachment.
Cons: The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 was the better, more refined listen in a direct comparison. The Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra measured roughly 3 to 5dB louder. There is no app or EQ. It is very large and heavy (13.2 kg boxed), claims only 6 to 8 hours of battery, and it is sold through AliExpress rather than US retailers.
Full Hopestar A90 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 700W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 6-8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 24.6” x 9.9” x 13.4” (624.5 x 252.5 x 341.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5” woofers + 2x 3.5” midranges + 2x 2.5” tweeters + 2x 2” ceramic tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Lights | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes 1 Included |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons