Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 if sound quality matters most, the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 if price matters most. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks #11 of 75 boombox speakers at $199. The Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 ranks #45 at $90, $109 cheaper.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 offers: At 3.3 kg, Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 combines 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with Bluetooth and aux. Claimed 8 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life, up to 96db and stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Watch for: Bass is limited by its 35Hz specification.
What the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 offers: Under $100 with LED lights synced to music. Simple controls, solid Bluetooth range. Mic input for karaoke/emcee. Built-in FM radio with 16 presets. Aux port. Watch for: Lacking detail compared to the Onn Large Party Gen 2 and not as deep of bass. Only available in the United States and Canada.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 is rated for 20 hours, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 only 8 hours.
Water resistance is not close: the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 is rated at IPX7 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $90 |
| Ranked | #11 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #45 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Sync Mode) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 50W RMS / 200W peak |
| Dimensions | 10.6" x 11.9" x 6.3" (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 9.6" x 10.9" x 15.1" (244.1 x 277.9 x 383 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 8" (203mm) woofer + tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| FM Tuner | - | Yes (16 presets) |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
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- JBL Partybox Encore vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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 Amazon eBay
Pros: At 3.3 kg, Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 combines 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with Bluetooth and aux. Claimed 8 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life, up to 96db and stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 35Hz specification.
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 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 | 2x 75mm woofers + 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 | Yes |
| 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!
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Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2: $90 Walmart eBay
Pros: Under $100 with LED lights synced to music. Simple controls, solid Bluetooth range. Mic input for karaoke/emcee. Built-in FM radio with 16 presets. Aux port.
Cons: Lacking detail compared to the Onn Large Party Gen 2 and not as deep of bass. Only available in the United States and Canada.
Full Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS / 200W peak |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 10.9" x 15.1" (244.1 x 277.9 x 383 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer + tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes (16 presets) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Sync Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: ONN Large Party Speaker Gen 2 vs Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 🤜🤛A Family Feud🔌Plugged In Bass Boost On More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Skullcandy Barrel XT vs ONN Medium Party Speaker Gen. 2 😬(Both Bass Boost On🔉) The Price is Right?🤑
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