Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 ranks higher than the Sony ULT Field 7 (#24 vs #59 of 98 boombox speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, is rated 4.1/5 at $189.99 and is still sold new.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is the better-sounding, lighter choice. The iconic circular cabinet and integrated handle make it an attractive room-to-room speaker. At 6.6 lbs (3 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Field 7 at 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg). The catch: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy.
The Sony ULT Field 7 is the longer-running choice. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 lacks. Watch for: A peak around 8kHz, and bass does not reach as deep as the top-ranked speakers.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, the replacement for the discontinued Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 7.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | Sony ULT Field 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $448.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #59 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | AC Power cord |
| 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) | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 100W |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) | 20.2” x 8.8” x 8.7” (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~52Hz |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5:
- 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 On-The-Go 2 Plus vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 $499.99 eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5, released Dec 2024.
Older model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 (rated 3.3/5). See every Harman Kardon Onyx Studio generation.
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 →
| Released | Sep 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers! More from alanrossreviews →
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman / Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Onyx Studio 7 - Close battle🔥🔥 More from KULASTECHSHOW20 →
- OCM Reviews: Onyx Studio 4 Vs Onyx Studio 5 - Sound Quality Comparison - Bluetooth Speaker
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Sony ULT Field 7: $448.99 Amazon $448.99 eBay
Older model: the Sony SRS-XG500 (ranked lower, rated 3/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Same family: the Sony ULT Field 1 (smaller model, rated 3.1/5), the Sony ULT Tower 10 (larger model, rated 3.9/5), the Sony ULT Field 3 (larger model, rated 3.4/5), the Sony ULT Field 5 (larger model, rated 3.5/5), the Sony ULT Tower 5 (larger model, rated 4.5/5), the Sony ULT Tower 7 (larger model, rated 4.7/5), the Sony ULT Tower 9 (larger model, rated 4.2/5) and the Sony ULT Tower Max (larger model, rated 4.8/5).
Pros: Sony ULT Field 7 uses 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters. Its 6.3 kg, claimed 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of ~52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its ~52Hz specification. There is no companion app. A peak around 8kHz, and bass does not reach as deep as the top-ranked speakers.
Full Sony ULT Field 7 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 20.2” x 8.8” x 8.7” (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9”) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Dominik Reviews: Sony ULT Field 7 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast Both good? 😂 More from Dominik Reviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: SONY ULT Field 7 💣vs JBL Boombox 3 🧨 Showdown! 🪇Let’s Shake it Up! 🔋Battery Powered Basement Battle More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jagist reviews: Xdobo Wow Max Vs Sony Ult Field 7!!! More from Jagistreviews →
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