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 X10-1 (#24 vs #84 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 pick. The iconic circular cabinet and integrated handle make it an attractive room-to-room speaker. It links with other speakers (Wireless Dual Sound), which the W-King X10-1 cannot. The catch: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy.
The W-King X10-1 is the longer-running choice. It is rated for 42 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 lacks. Watch for: Rolled off treble, not much bass.
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 X10-1.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | W-King X10-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $139.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #84 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 42 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | No |
| 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) | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (2 modes - Indoor/Outdoor) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 70W RMS (120W peak) |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) | 12.4” x 5.5” x 5.3” (315 x 140 x 135 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 3.66” (93mm) subwoofers + 2x 1.2” (31mm) neodymium tweeters + 3x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- 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 X10-1: $139.99 Amazon $139.99 AliExpress eBay
Pros: 70W RMS output with 120W peak power, 108dB max volume, exceptional 42-hour battery life with power bank, IPX6 waterproof, Bluetooth 5.0 with 100ft range, EQ with indoor/outdoor modes, dual subwoofers with tweeters and passive radiators, TWS stereo pairing, MicroSD and USB playback, AUX input, built-in microphone. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Rolled off treble, not much bass.
Full W-King X10-1 review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2021 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 70W RMS (120W peak) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 42 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.4” x 5.5” x 5.3” (315 x 140 x 135 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 3.66” (93mm) subwoofers + 2x 1.2” (31mm) neodymium tweeters + 3x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (2 modes - Indoor/Outdoor) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons