Short answer: the Onyx Studio 8, and the price difference makes it emphatic. The 8 ranks #10 out of 68 boombox speakers at $139.99. The 7 ranks #12 at $298.90 — more than twice the price for a lower placement.
The 8 reaches deeper: 35 Hz against 37 Hz, which is genuinely impressive for the size and puts it among the deeper-reaching speakers in its class regardless of price.
The 8 has an app EQ; the 7 has none at all. That is the decisive practical difference. Our notes describe the 7 as sounding a little sterile, and with no EQ there is nothing you can do about it. The 8 lets you correct its tuning.
What the 7 wins: 400 g of weight, 2.9 kg against 3.3 kg, and a Dual Sound mode that pairs two units — the 8 has no multi-speaker mode. Both are 50 W RMS, both hit 96 dB, both run 8 hours at medium volume.
The shared caveat, and it is a real one: neither has any water rating. No IP rating at all. These are indoor speakers with a handle, and a sudden shower will end one. If it is going outside near a pool or a beach, buy something else — see best speakers for outdoor use.
Both are bought partly for the look, and the brushed-metal-and-fabric design is well executed. That is a legitimate reason to choose one over a better-measuring plastic box, and the portable buyer’s guide makes that case.
Buy the Onyx Studio 8. There is no scenario at list price where the 7 is the better purchase.
Last updated: August 07, 2026
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 | $298.90 |
| Ranked | #10 of 68 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 68 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 37Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | 266ms |
| Max Volume | 96dB | 96dB |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| Party Mode | No | (Dual Sound up to 2 speakers) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | — |
| Output Power | 50W RMS | 50W RMS |
| Dimensions | 10.55" x 11.91" x 6.28" (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 11.25" x 11.25" (round design) |
| Driver | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: $139.99 Amazon
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass.
Cons: Not as loud as others. No water rating.
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 10.55" x 11.91" x 6.28" (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Driver | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review - part 2 of 3
- 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!
- Links
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7: $298.90 Amazon
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass.
Cons: Sounds a little sterile. 8 hour battery at medium volume, teeny bit less bass than the Onyx 6. Not at loud as others. No water rating.
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 266ms |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11.25" x 11.25" (round design) |
| Driver | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | (Dual Sound up to 2 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 2 vs Onyx Studio 7 big bass battle 💋
- Alan Ross Reviews: Onyx Studio 7 vs Onyx Studio 6 - massive deep bass battle 😁
- Geri’s Collection: Harman Kardon Onyx 7 vs Onyx 4
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman / Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Onyx Studio 7 - Close battle🔥🔥
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers!
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 7, 2026 at 5:43 AM UTC 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.