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 105 boombox speakers by sound quality at $199; the JBL Charge 6 ranks #12 of 173 medium speakers by sound quality at $119.95.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 is the deeper-bass pick. Claimed 8 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life and up to 96db make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Its bass reaches about 35Hz before falling 10dB, against 53Hz for the JBL Charge 6. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 6 lacks. Watch for: Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating.
The JBL Charge 6 is the louder, longer-running option. Seems more neutral than the JBL Charge 5. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 102dB at full volume, against 96dB for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. At 2.2 lbs (990 g) it weighs much less than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). The tradeoff: Still some boosted bass by default.
Worth knowing: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 is discontinued, though it still ranks #12 of 105 boombox speakers by sound quality, so a used unit beats most of what is still sold new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8’s replacement, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, is rated 4.1/5 at $179.99.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ($199) for a boombox speaker; the JBL Charge 6 ($119.95) suits a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
At 3.3 kg, Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 combines a 120mm woofer and 2x 20mm tweeters with Bluetooth and aux.
Amazon $199.00 eBay
Seems more neutral than the JBL Charge 5.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 Discontinued | $119.95 |
| Ranked | #12 of 105 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 173 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | None | IP68 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 102dB (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) | 2.2 lbs (990 g) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (7 band) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 45W |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 9” x 3.9” x 3.7” (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
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