Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It ranks #14 of 98 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $248.90; the Marshall Tufton ranks #83, rated 2.4/5, and costs $369.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. The addition of dual tweeters gives the Studio 7 a wider, more spacious presentation than older Onyx models. Its bass reaches about 37Hz before falling 10dB, against 42Hz for the Marshall Tufton. At 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) it weighs much less than the Marshall Tufton at 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg). It links with other speakers (Wireless Dual Sound), which the Marshall Tufton cannot. The catch: Consumer Reports finds the bass prominent and boomy, mids hazy, treble slightly smeared and the soundstage congested.
The Marshall Tufton is the longer-running, tougher option. 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It is rated IPX2, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 lacks. The tradeoff: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Tufton and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 | Marshall Tufton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $248.90 | $369.99 |
| Ranked | #14 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #83 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IPX2 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 266ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| 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 | No |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 80W |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) (round design) | 9” x 6.4” x 13.8” (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 25mm tweeters | 1x 5.25” woofer + 2x 2” full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
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 7: $248.90 Amazon $248.90 eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked lower, rated 4.1/5, released Dec 2024.
Older models: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 (ranked higher, rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5) and the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 (rated 3.3/5). See every Harman Kardon Onyx Studio generation.
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 →
| Released | Jan 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 266ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) (round design) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 25mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| 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 | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 2 vs Onyx Studio 7 big bass battle 💋 More from alanrossreviews →
- 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: JBL Boombox 2 bass monster or the mature Harman Kardon Go+ Play 2 mini for bass?? 💥
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers!
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman / Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Onyx Studio 7 - Close battle🔥🔥 More from KULASTECHSHOW20 →
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Onyx Studio 7 Bass comparison
- Geri’s Collection: Harman Kardon Onyx 7 vs Onyx 4
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- See all 72 comparisons
Marshall Tufton: $369.99 Amazon $369.99 eBay
Pros: 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. 3-way speaker design covers full frequency range in 360°. Sturdy construction with IPX2 rating. Measured bass extension of 42Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall. Not as loud as others in the class. Very low water rating
Full Marshall Tufton review and specifications →
| Released | May 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9” x 6.4” x 13.8” (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.25” woofer + 2x 2” full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons