Short answer: the Onyx Studio 6, the newer Onyx 7 costs far more without sounding better. The Onyx 6 ranks #13 and the Onyx 7 ranks #14 out of 113 boombox speakers, with the 6 priced $118.90 less. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 is discontinued; its replacement is the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9.
Both speakers share the identical driver set: two 75mm woofers and two 20mm tweeters, the same 50W RMS output, and the same 37Hz bass extension. Despite that, the newer Onyx 7’s own review describes it as sounding a little sterile with a teeny bit less bass than the Onyx 6, and a side-by-side review from Oluv reportedly favored the Onyx 6 slightly. The Onyx 6’s warm, boosted-bass tuning simply comes across as more engaging.
The Onyx 7 also gave up a meaningful durability feature: it has no water rating at all, while the Onyx 6 carries IPX7 protection for brief submersion. The Onyx 7 does move to a round cabinet design and switches from full stereo to a single central woofer (partial stereo), while the Onyx 6 keeps true stereo separation with its dual-woofer layout.
Everything else lines up closely: both run about 8 hours per charge at medium volume, both support Wireless Dual Sound party-mode pairing, both include an aux input and built-in microphone, and neither has an app or onboard EQ.
Buy the Onyx 6 for the same sound with slightly more bass, true stereo separation, IPX7 water resistance, and a much lower price.
Buy the Onyx 7 only if you specifically prefer its round design and don’t mind paying more for a speaker that sounds a bit more sterile and drops water resistance entirely.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 at IPX7 (brief submersion) against the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7, which has no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 Discontinued | $248.90 |
| Ranked | #13 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #14 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz | 37Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms | 266ms |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2A) | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| 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/) | No |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs (2.94 kg) | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 50W RMS |
| Dimensions | 5” x 11.5” x 11.2” (128 x 291 x 284 mm) | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) (round design) |
| Drivers | 1x 120mm (4.7”) woofer + 1x 25mm (1”) tweeter + 1x passive radiator | 120mm woofer + 2x 25mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Alan Ross Reviews: Onyx Studio 7 vs Onyx Studio 6 - massive deep bass battle 😁
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 2 mini or Onyx Studio 6 - best speaker for bass?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers!
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: