Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It ranks #14 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $248.90; the B&O Beolit 20 ranks #48, rated 3.4/5, and costs $749, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. An elegant home portable with warm, spacious sound, strong deep bass, and stereo pairing with a second unit. Its bass reaches about 37Hz before falling 10dB, against 45Hz for the B&O Beolit 20. It links with other speakers (Wireless Dual Sound), which the B&O Beolit 20 cannot. The tradeoff: Consumer Reports finds the bass prominent and boomy, mids hazy, treble slightly smeared and the soundstage congested.
The B&O Beolit 20 is the tougher choice. A premium designer portable with 360 degree sound and a top that doubles as a wireless phone charger. It is rated IPX4, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 lacks.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beolit 20 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
An elegant home portable with warm, spacious sound, strong deep bass, and stereo pairing with a second unit.
A premium designer portable with 360 degree sound and a top that doubles as a wireless phone charger.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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 7 | B&O Beolit 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $248.90 | $749.00 |
| Ranked | #14 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #48 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 266ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 93dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 240W peak |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) (round design) | 5.3” x 9.1” x 7.4” (135 x 230 x 189 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 25mm tweeters | 2x 30mm tweeters + 2x 40mm mid-range + 1x 60mm woofer + dual passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7: