Short answer: the Bugani Brief Pro, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks higher than it (#12 vs #28 of 91 boombox speakers, 4.1/5 vs 3.8/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Bugani Brief Pro is still sold new at $99.98.
The case for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: At 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg), Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 combines a 120mm woofer and 2x 20mm tweeters with Bluetooth and aux. The catch: Bass is limited by its 35Hz specification.
The Bugani Brief Pro is the longer-running option. Crystal clear and detailed with good separation of instruments and vocals, impressive for a two-way layout of two 4” woofers and two 44mm tweeters on 80W RMS. It is rated for 12 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. Watch for: It turns a little harsh and fatiguing at 80% to 100% volume while losing bass, and it doesn’t reach as deep as the Go + Play 3, which reviewers still preferred for its thicker, richer bass.
Buy the Bugani Brief Pro, since the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Bugani Brief Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 Discontinued | $99.98 |
| Ranked | #12 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #28 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | - |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | - |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 80W RMS (160W peak) |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | - |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 4” woofers + 2x 44mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 8: $199.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked lower, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: At 3.3 kg, Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 combines a 120mm woofer and 2x 20mm tweeters with Bluetooth and aux. Claimed 8 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life and up to 96db make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. A built-in microphone and the Harman Kardon One app with EQ. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 35Hz specification. Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review - part 2 of 3 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Onyx Studio 8 vs HK Onyx 6, Xtreme 3, PartyBox Encore, Go+ Play, Bag of Riddim! part 3 of 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dead room vs Live room - Onyx studio 8 self tuning test! part 1 of 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers!
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Bugani Brief Pro: $99.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Crystal clear and detailed with good separation of instruments and vocals, impressive for a two-way layout of two 4” woofers and two 44mm tweeters on 80W RMS. It plays louder than the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 and, in side by side sound tests, many listeners preferred it to the JBL Xtreme 4 and found it close to the EarFun UBoom X. A claimed 12 hours of battery, Bluetooth 5.3 and stereo pairing, at a low price.
Cons: It turns a little harsh and fatiguing at 80% to 100% volume while losing bass, and it doesn’t reach as deep as the Go + Play 3, which reviewers still preferred for its thicker, richer bass. No published water rating.
Full Bugani Brief Pro review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W RMS (160W peak) |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 4” woofers + 2x 44mm tweeters |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jagist reviews: Bugani Brief Pro Vs Harmon Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Bugani Brief Pro vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 - HiFI Sound Comparison! More from Dominik Reviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Bugani Brief Pro vs Earfun UBOOM X - Very similar? - Sound Test
- Dominik Reviews: Bugani Brief Pro vs JBL Xtreme 4 - Not so extreme? - Sound Test
- Dominik Reviews: Bugani Brief Pro vs Soundcore Boom 2 - Soundcore still holds up?
- Dominik Reviews: Teufel BOOMSTER 4 vs Bugani Brief Pro - Cheaper and Better! Sound Test
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