Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks #15 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $184.99. The Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 ranks #65, rated 3.1/5, at $90, $94.99 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 is the better-sounding option. An elegant living room portable with balanced, smooth, non-fatiguing sound, app EQ, and stereo pairing for music lovers. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2. 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 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 9. It is rated IPX7, 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. The catch: Lacking detail compared to the Onn Large Party gen 2 and not as deep of bass.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $94.99 saving on the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
An elegant living room portable with balanced, smooth, non-fatiguing sound, app EQ, and stereo pairing for music lovers.
An affordable waterproof party speaker with a big woofer, lights, a karaoke mic input and FM radio.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $184.99 | $90 |
| Ranked | #15 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #65 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | - |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Sync Mode) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS | 50W RMS / 200W peak |
| Dimensions | 11.4” x 11.3” x 5.1” (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) | 9.6” x 10.9” x 15.1” (244.1 x 277.9 x 383 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters | 8” (203mm) woofer + tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| FM Tuner | - | Yes (16 presets) |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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