Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 for the design, the JBL Boombox 3 for IP67 toughness. The Boombox 3 is IP67 rated, but it has dips in the mid bass that make bass sound undefined and a peak at 700Hz, with mids and treble not quite as good as the Blast. The Onyx Studio 5 brings the elegant circular design and handle, though it is warm with boosted bass, at $499.99 versus $349.95.
Buy the JBL Boombox 3 new; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Boombox 3 is rated for 24 hours, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 only 8 hours.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | JBL Boombox 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $349.95 |
| Ranked | #24 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #27 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | AC Power cable |
| 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) | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 180W AC / 136W battery |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) | 19” x 10.1” x 7.9” (482 x 257 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Strap | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 25ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Microphone Input | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox Encore vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
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 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
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JBL Boombox 3: $349.95 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Boombox 4, ranked higher, rated 4/5.
Pros: IP67 rated. 24 hour battery life (6.5 hour charge time). Doubles as a power bank. PartyBoost links up to 100 compatible JBL speakers. Three-way speaker system with subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Dips in mid bass range which makes the bass sound undefined, bass boosted, peaky at 700Hz, not quite as good mids and treble as the Blast.
Full JBL Boombox 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 180W AC / 136W battery |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 25ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 19” x 10.1” x 7.9” (482 x 257 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) |
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