Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks higher than the ION Pathfinder 280 (#12 vs #100 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, deeper-bass pick. A stylish room-to-room speaker with warm, full sound, deep bass, and app EQ in a light, easy to carry body. Its bass reaches about 35Hz before falling 10dB, against 58Hz for the ION Pathfinder 280. At 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) it weighs much less than the ION Pathfinder 280 at 23.8 lbs (10.8 kg). The tradeoff: Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating.
The ION Pathfinder 280 is the longer-running, tougher choice. A wheeled all day event speaker with a very long battery, lights, FM radio and a full graphic EQ that gets loud without strain. It is rated for 100 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. It is rated IPX5, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 has no water resistance. The tradeoff: Out of the box, the midrange and treble are uneven enough to sound alternately honky and dull, and the bass does not extend as deeply as better party speakers.
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 ION Pathfinder 280.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete 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 wheeled all day event speaker with a very long battery, lights, FM radio and a full graphic EQ that gets loud without strain.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | ION Pathfinder 280 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 Discontinued | $199.99 |
| Ranked | #12 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #100 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 100 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | None | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 100dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) | 23.8 lbs (10.8 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (High/Low frequency) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 120W |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 14.8” x 10.6” x 17.6” (375.9 x 269.2 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 4” (102mm) drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| FM Tuner | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Wheels | - | Yes |
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