Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks #12 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality at $199; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 ranks #65 of 102 large speakers by sound quality at $100.
The case for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: Claimed 8 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life and up to 96db make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 lacks. The catch: Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 is the lighter option. Balanced sound quality with deep resonant bass and crisp treble, large dynamic range. At 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) it weighs much less than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). It links with other speakers (Connect+ up to 100 speakers), which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 cannot. The tradeoff: 8 hour battery at medium volume.
Worth knowing: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 is discontinued, though it still ranks #12 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality, so a used unit beats most of what is still sold new.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 at $199 for a boombox speaker, or the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 at $100 for a large speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 Discontinued | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #12 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #65 of 102 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes (HK Connect) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 60W |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 11.4” x 11.4” x 5.1” (290 x 290 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters + 1x passive radiator |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- 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
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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!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4: $100 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: Balanced sound quality with deep resonant bass and crisp treble, large dynamic range. Multi-host Bluetooth connectivity for 2 phones, daisy chaining up to 100 speakers. Elegant modern design with smooth curves and premium materials.
Cons: 8 hour battery at medium volume. Not at loud as others. Not as deep of bass as the newer Onyx. External AC power brick for charging. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (HK Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.4” x 11.4” x 5.1” (290 x 290 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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