Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks higher than the Pioneer PBM5 (#12 vs #112 of 113 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 choice. 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 much less than the Pioneer PBM5 at 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg). Watch for: Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating.
The Pioneer PBM5 is the longer-running, tougher choice. A loud karaoke boombox with two mic inputs, a guitar input, lights, a shoulder strap and a choice of USB-C or AC power. It is rated for 13 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. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 cannot. The catch: Williston Audio Labs was not impressed with its sound: there is very little bass below 100Hz, and the amplifier’s output has a big dip from 1.6kHz to 10kHz that leaves the upper mids and treble recessed.
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 Pioneer PBM5.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Output: the Pioneer PBM5 was measured at 105 dB maximum against 96 dB for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8, so it gets clearly louder before it runs out of headroom.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Pioneer PBM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 Discontinued | $149.00 |
| Ranked | #12 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #112 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 13 hours at 60% volume (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 105dB at 2m (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | USB-C or AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (presets + user EQ) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes (MP3 only) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 300W peak (Manufacturer specified), about 90W measured |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 8.9”H x 17.4”W x 8.1”D (226 x 442 x 207 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 133mm (5.25”) woofers + 2x 51mm (2”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (2 inputs) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: reviews by Alan Ross and YARNZO Tech.
- Pioneer PBM5: reviews by Williston Audio Labs and AnotherReview ByFrank.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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