Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks #15 of 98 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $189.99; the Marshall Tufton ranks #83, rated 2.4/5, and costs $369.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 is the better-sounding pick. An elegant 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) living-room portable with a measured 41Hz -10dB bass point, 101dB maximum level, three tweeters, app EQ, stereo pairing and Auracast multi-speaker linking. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the Marshall Tufton cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Marshall Tufton. The tradeoff: It has no water resistance, aux input or USB playback, and its eight-hour claimed battery life is short for an outdoor portable.
The Marshall Tufton is the longer-running, tougher pick. 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It is rated IPX2, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 has no water resistance. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 lacks. Watch for: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Tufton and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | Marshall Tufton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189.99 | $369.99 |
| Ranked | #15 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #83 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | 42Hz |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| IP Rating | None | IPX2 |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 80W |
| Dimensions | 11.4” x 11.3” x 5.1” (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) | 9” x 6.4” x 13.8” (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters | 1x 5.25” woofer + 2x 2” full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9:
- EarFun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9: $189.99 Amazon $189.99 eBay
Older models: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 (ranked higher, rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 (ranked higher, rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 (ranked higher, rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5) and the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 (rated 3.3/5). See every Harman Kardon Onyx Studio generation.
Pros: An elegant 4.2kg living-room portable with a measured 41Hz -10dB bass point, 101dB maximum level, three tweeters, app EQ, stereo pairing and Auracast multi-speaker linking. Reviews praise its balanced, smooth presentation and non-fatiguing treble, making it a more music-focused choice than most party speakers. Measured bass extension of 41Hz (-10dB).
Cons: It has no water resistance, aux input or USB playback, and its eight-hour claimed battery life is short for an outdoor portable. Bass is less deep than some earlier Onyx Studio models, while the slightly recessed mids and rolled-off top end mean it is not the most open or detailed option; it still charges from an AC power cable rather than USB-C.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2024 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.4” x 11.3” x 5.1” (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot ZE21
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot S89
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra
- See all 99 comparisons
Marshall Tufton: $369.99 Amazon $369.99 eBay
Pros: 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. 3-way speaker design covers full frequency range in 360°. Sturdy construction with IPX2 rating. Measured bass extension of 42Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall. Not as loud as others in the class. Very low water rating
Full Marshall Tufton review and specifications →
| Released | May 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9” x 6.4” x 13.8” (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.25” woofer + 2x 2” full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons