Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks higher than the EcoXGear Defender (#12 vs #84 of 112 boombox speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, is rated 4.1/5 at $184.99 and is still sold new.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 is the better-sounding, lighter pick. A stylish room-to-room speaker with warm, full sound, deep bass, and app EQ in a light, easy to carry body. At 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the EcoXGear Defender at 10 lbs (4.54 kg). The catch: Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating.
The EcoXGear Defender is the longer-running, tougher pick. A rugged, floating waterproof speaker that gets very loud for its size, with a flashlight, bottle opener and power bank. It is rated for 25 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. It is rated IP67, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 has no water resistance. The catch: Its single front-facing driver layout has narrow dispersion: clarity and detail drop noticeably when you move off-axis, and the soundstage is limited.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, the replacement for the discontinued Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8; it is rated higher for sound quality than the EcoXGear Defender.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A stylish room-to-room speaker with warm, full sound, deep bass, and app EQ in a light, easy to carry body.
A rugged, floating waterproof speaker that gets very loud for its size, with a flashlight, bottle opener and power bank.
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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | EcoXGear Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 Discontinued | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #12 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #84 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.1A) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 100W |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 6.7” x 15.4” x 9.6” (170.2 x 391.2 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters | 52mm full-range driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
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