Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks higher than the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 (#12 vs #65 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, lighter pick. A stylish room-to-room speaker with warm, full sound, deep bass, and app EQ in a light, easy to carry body. At 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 at 11 lbs (5 kg). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 lacks. The catch: Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating.
The Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 is the longer-running, tougher choice. An affordable waterproof party speaker with a big woofer, lights, a karaoke mic input and FM radio. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. It is rated IPX7, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 has no water resistance. It links with other speakers (Party Sync Mode), which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 cannot. The tradeoff: Lacking detail compared to the Onn Large Party gen 2 and not as deep of bass.
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 Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2.
Want more options? Browse the full 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.
An affordable waterproof party speaker with a big woofer, lights, a karaoke mic input and FM radio.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 Discontinued | $90 |
| Ranked | #12 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #65 of 112 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 | Partially (1 woofer) | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters | 8” (203mm) woofer + tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| FM Tuner | - | Yes (16 presets) |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: