Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. It ranks #10 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $159.99; the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus ranks #26 and costs $169.98, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 offers: Warm sound with boosted bass. The catch: Not as loud as others. No water rating.
The case for the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus: Quite a bit lighter than most of the other boombox size speakers. This speaker will likely move up as we get a good EQ tune that makes it a lot more neutral. Watch for: Warm tuning meaning a rolled off treble and some upper bass boost. Reasonably deep bass, but not as good as the top ranked.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is rated for 20 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8.
If water resistance matters to you, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | Soundcore Boom 2 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.99 | $169.98 |
| Ranked | #10 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #26 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms | - |
| Max Volume | 96dB | 111dB |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg | 8.4 lbs / 3.8 kg |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Output Power | 50W RMS | 140W |
| Dimensions | 10.6" x 11.9" x 6.3" (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) | 17.3" x 9.1" x 5.9" (440 x 230 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 114mm (4.5") woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75") tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- Zealot ZE01 vs Soundcore Rave Party 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 vs Zealot S89
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Zealot S95
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Teufel Boomster 2021
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: $159.99 Amazon
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass.
Cons: Not as loud as others. No water rating.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review and specifications →
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| 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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review - part 2 of 3
- 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!
- Reddit Search for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs Vifa Copenhagen 2.0
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs Aiwa Exos-9
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 vs Zealot ZE41
- See all 21 comparisons
Soundcore Boom 2 Plus: $169.98 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Quite a bit lighter than most of the other boombox size speakers. This speaker will likely move up as we get a good EQ tune that makes it a lot more neutral.
Cons: Warm tuning meaning a rolled off treble and some upper bass boost. Reasonably deep bass, but not as good as the top ranked.
Full Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3" x 9.1" x 5.9" (440 x 230 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm (4.5") woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75") tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 111dB |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 140W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 8.4 lbs / 3.8 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: This sounds totally different now! Soundcore Boom Plus 2 firmware 03.10
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Review - worst boombox speaker under $400?
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus VS Tribit Stormbox Blast 🛜 Boombox Basement Battle 📊Custom EQ 🔥Who You Got?
- Picky Audio: SO CLOSE! Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs JBL Boombox 3
- Picky Audio: Extended Sound Test (Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs JBL Boombox 3)
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: NEW RELEASE! Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Motion Boom Plus🤯Stock EQ, Bass^ Enabled🤜🤛 A Family Feud😆
- GYMCADDY: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Showcase - Lots Of Bass In A Small Package
- EL JEFE REVIEWS: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus 💥 BIGGER & BADDER!
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S95 Vs Soundcore Boom 2 Plus!!!
- Reddit Search for Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs W-King D20
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Zealot ZE01
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Zealot S95
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs LG Xboom Stage 301
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- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs JBL Authentics 300
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
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- See all 28 comparisons