Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 ranks higher than the W-King T11 (#24 vs #53 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 W-King T11 at 11.2 lbs (5.1 kg). It links with other speakers (Wireless Dual Sound), which the W-King T11 cannot. Watch for: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy.
What the W-King T11 does well: A capable, weather-resistant party speaker with dual 5.25-inch woofers, a measured -10dB bass point around 43Hz, 112dB maximum output, mic/karaoke input, USB/microSD playback, TWS pairing and low-latency aux. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 lacks. The catch: The tuning can sound hollow through the mids, so deep bass does not always translate to natural vocals or instruments.
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 W-King T11.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | W-King T11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $116.57 |
| Ranked | #24 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #53 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | AC Power brick |
| 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) | 11.2 lbs (5.1 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (multiple modes) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 100W RMS / 240W peak |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) | 8.1”D x 8.6”W x 17.4” (205.7 x 219.5 x 442 mm) tall |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 133mm (5.25”) woofers + 2x ~30mm (1.2”) tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Strap | No | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 66ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 112dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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
- 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 Hopestar A90
- 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 W-King X20S
- See all 62 comparisons
W-King T11: $116.57 Amazon $169.99 AliExpress $116.57 Lowest eBay
Pros: A capable, weather-resistant party speaker with dual 5.25-inch woofers, a measured -10dB bass point around 43Hz, 112dB maximum output, mic/karaoke input, USB/microSD playback, TWS pairing and low-latency aux. Its deep bass and 5.1kg size make it a strong option when punch and portability matter more than audiophile refinement. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-10dB).
Cons: The tuning can sound hollow through the mids, so deep bass does not always translate to natural vocals or instruments. There is no app-based fine EQ, battery life is only a claimed 10 hours, and the external power brick is less convenient than USB-C charging.
Full W-King T11 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS / 240W peak |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 66ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.1”D x 8.6”W x 17.4” (205.7 x 219.5 x 442 mm) tall |
| Drivers | 2x 133mm (5.25”) woofers + 2x ~30mm (1.2”) tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 112dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 11.2 lbs (5.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: W King T11 party boombox and Karaoke machine review vs T9, Stormbox Blast and Boombox 3. More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: This changed my opinion on JBL speakers!
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Dual W-King T11 (EQ1, EQ2) 🆚 JBL Partybox 110 (Bass One) 📛 Are two T11’s TWS Louder than one PB110? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: W-King T11 (EQ1, Firmware 2.32) 🆚 Onn Large Party Speaker (Bass Boost Off/On) - Budget Battle!💥
- Head-to-Head Comparisons