Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is the better pick: it ranks #24 of 98 boombox speakers by sound quality (rated 3.9/5), against #68 (rated 2.9/5) for the Soundcore Motion Boom+. If you want one new, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 replaces the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 and is rated 4.1/5 at $189.99.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is the better-sounding option. The iconic circular cabinet and integrated handle make it an attractive room-to-room speaker. The catch: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy.
The Soundcore Motion Boom+ is the longer-running, lighter option. 80W stereo from dual 30W woofers + dual 10W tweeters with titanium drivers for treble clarity. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5. At 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 at 6.6 lbs (3 kg). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 lacks. Watch for: Default presets are all warm sounding with rolled off treble.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, which replaces the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | Soundcore Motion Boom+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $122.42 after $40 coupon, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #68 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | USB-C |
| 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) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | Yes (Soundcore app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 80W |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) | 15.1” x 5.1” x 7.7” (384 x 130 x 196 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 30W: Dual drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Aux Latency | - | 17ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 52Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 33ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- 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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Soundcore Motion Boom+: $122.42 after $40 coupon Discontinued Amazon $122.42 eBay
Newer model: the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus, ranked higher, rated 3.6/5, released May 2024. It adds built-in mic and AAC. See every Soundcore Boom generation.
Pros: 80W stereo from dual 30W woofers + dual 10W tweeters with titanium drivers for treble clarity. 13,400mAh battery for 20 hours (12-15 at high volume). IP67 waterproof, floats, rugged build inspires confidence. Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint pairing, Soundcore app EQ, PartyCast 2.0 mode. USB-C input, USB-A output for powerbank. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Default presets are all warm sounding with rolled off treble. Will need a custom EQ to get closer to neutral. A shrill sounding 6kHz peak comes out when volume is above about 60%. Not much deeper bass than a Soundcore Motion Boom and a lot less deep bass than other speakers in the class. Discontinued.
Full Soundcore Motion Boom+ review and specifications →
| Released | May 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | Yes (Soundcore app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 17ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15.1” x 5.1” x 7.7” (384 x 130 x 196 mm) |
| Drivers | 30W: Dual drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Soundcore Motion Boom Plus & Earfun UBoom X - sound test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast Review vs Soundcore Motion Boom Plus - cheap bass! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3 - Extreme review!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Motion Boom Plus or Soundcore Rave Neo (Trance Go) - best Soundcore speaker??
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Motion Boom Plus vs Harman Kardon Go+ Play 2 mini - party vs HiFi
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast or Soundcore Motion Boom Plus or W King D10? 🤪
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast or two Motion Boom Pluses for best cheap boombox?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Review - worst boombox speaker under $400?
- DLX Willington: Tough Game! Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Soundcore Motion Boom Plus Binaural sound samples More from DLXWillington →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: NEW RELEASE! Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Motion Boom Plus🤯Stock EQ, Bass^ Enabled🤜🤛 A Family Feud😆 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
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