Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 vs JBL Boombox 4

Last updated: October 1, 2026

Short answer: the Onyx Studio 7 for value, the JBL Boombox 4 for sheer output. The Onyx Studio 7 brings warm sound with boosted bass but can sound a little sterile. The Boombox 4 offers pretty insane output capability for its size, yet it is pretty overpriced for the category and costs $301.05 more.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 vs JBL Boombox 4

Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Boombox 4 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.

There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Boombox 4 is rated for 28 hours, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 only 8 hours.

There is a real gap in water resistance: the JBL Boombox 4 at IP68 (extended submersion) against the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7, which has no water resistance.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 at Amazon ($248.90) →Buy the JBL Boombox 4 at Amazon ($549.95) →

Specifications Side By Side

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 JBL Boombox 4
Price$248.90$549.95
Ranked#14 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#20 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Aux InputYesNo
Aux Latency0ms-
Bass Extension (-10dB)37Hz41Hz
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)28 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Built-in MicrophoneYesNo
IP RatingNoneIP68
Bluetooth Latency266msAAC 144ms, SBC 48ms
Maximum SPL96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)
Party ModeYes (Wireless Dual Sound)Yes (Auracast)
Power InputDC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A)AC Power cord
StereoPartially (1 woofer)Yes
OmnidirectionalNoNo
TWSNoYes
Weight6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)13.2 lbs (5.98 kg)
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBCSBC, LC3, AAC
AppNoYes
EQNoYes (7 band)
Power BankNoYes (USB-C, up to 30W)
USB PlaybackNoNo
Amplifier Power50W RMS210W AC / 200W battery
Dimensions11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) (round design)20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm)
Drivers120mm woofer + 2x 25mm tweeters2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators
Digital Aux InputNoYes (USB-C)
Bluetooth Version4.25.4
StrapNoNo
Removable Battery-Yes
FM Tuner-No
Microphone Input-No
MicroSD Playback-No
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 at Amazon ($248.90) →Buy the JBL Boombox 4 at Amazon ($549.95) →

More worthwhile head-to-heads for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7:

Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 7: $248.90 Amazon eBay

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 ranking card

Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked lower, rated 4.1/5.

Pros: The addition of dual tweeters gives the Studio 7 a wider, more spacious presentation than older Onyx models. It delivers strong, deep bass, useful large-room volume and can pair with a second Studio 7 for stereo. Measured bass extension of 37Hz (-10dB).

Cons: Consumer Reports finds the bass prominent and boomy, mids hazy, treble slightly smeared and the soundstage congested. Battery life remains only about eight hours, it has no water rating or advanced codecs, and it is not an especially loud outdoor speaker.

Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 review and specifications →

Amplifier Power50W RMS
AppNo
Aux InputYes
Aux Latency0ms
Bass Extension (-10dB)37Hz
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Bluetooth Latency266ms
Bluetooth Version4.2
Built-in MicrophoneYes
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) (round design)
Drivers120mm woofer + 2x 25mm tweeters
EQNo
IP RatingNone
Maximum SPL96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Wireless Dual Sound)
Power BankNo
Power InputDC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A)
StereoPartially (1 woofer)
StrapNo
TWSNo
USB PlaybackNo
Weight6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)
Check current price at Amazon ($248.90) →Search eBay for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 →

JBL Boombox 4: $549.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay

JBL Boombox 4 ranking card

Older models: the JBL Boombox 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5), the JBL Boombox 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5) and the JBL Boombox (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).

Pros: Pretty insane output capability for the size. IP68 protection and Auracast pairing with other current JBL speakers. Measured bass extension of 41Hz (-10dB).

Cons: Pretty overpriced for the category. Better than the Boombox 3 mostly because there are more 7 EQ bands instead of just 3 and it can be better tuned. Try Oluv’s EQ for it. Out of the box sounds worse than the Boombox 3. No Aux input.

Full JBL Boombox 4 review and specifications →

Amplifier Power210W AC / 200W battery
AppYes
Aux InputNo
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz
Battery Life28 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, LC3, AAC
Bluetooth LatencyAAC 144ms, SBC 48ms
Bluetooth Version5.4
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputYes (USB-C)
Dimensions20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm)
Drivers2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators
EQYes (7 band)
FM TunerNo
IP RatingIP68
Maximum SPL115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)
MicroSD PlaybackNo
Microphone InputNo
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Auracast)
Power BankYes (USB-C, up to 30W)
Power InputAC Power cord
Removable BatteryYes
StereoYes
StrapNo
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight13.2 lbs (5.98 kg)
Check current price at Amazon ($549.95) →Check current price at B&H Photo Video →Search eBay for JBL Boombox 4 →