Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 on measured sound quality, the Skullcandy Barrel on price. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks #11 of 75 boombox speakers at $199. The Skullcandy Barrel ranks #41 at $159, $40 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 Skullcandy Barrel offers: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. 12 hour battery life. Bass Boost mode. Multi-Link feature connects up to 99 speakers. Doubles as phone charger. Watch for: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. Not as loud as the top ranked speakers. Rolled off treble.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Skullcandy Barrel if the price matters more than sound quality.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Skullcandy Barrel at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8, which has no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Skullcandy Barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $159.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 60W |
| Dimensions | 10.6" x 11.9" x 6.3" (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 20mm drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- 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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Skullcandy Barrel: $159.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. 12 hour battery life. Bass Boost mode. Multi-Link feature connects up to 99 speakers. Doubles as phone charger. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. Not as loud as the top ranked speakers. Rolled off treble.
Full Skullcandy Barrel review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
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