Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks #13 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $186.99; the Sony ULT Field 7 ranks #40 and costs $400, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 offers: Auracast multi-speaker connection alongside classic stereo pairing. Harman Kardon One app with EQ. USB-C charging, up from the previous generation’s AC power brick. Watch for: Slight recessed mids, boost in the upper mids, rolled off upper treble. Not as deep bass as previous Onyx Studio speakers.
What the Sony ULT Field 7 offers: Better sounding than the XG500 Watch for: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. 8khz peak
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 7 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony ULT Field 7 is rated for 30 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9.
Water resistance is not close: the Sony ULT Field 7 is rated at IP67 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | Sony ULT Field 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $186.99 | $400 |
| Ranked | #13 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #40 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | ~52Hz |
| Max Volume | 101dB | - |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg | 13.9 lbs / 6.3 kg |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 50W RMS | 100W |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 11.3" x 5.1" (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) | 20.2" x 8.8" x 8.7" (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9") tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 vs Zealot ZE41
- Zealot ZE41 vs JBL Authentics 300
- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs Zealot ZE41
- Turtlebox Gen 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs JBL Boombox
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9: $186.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Auracast multi-speaker connection alongside classic stereo pairing. Harman Kardon One app with EQ. USB-C charging, up from the previous generation’s AC power brick.
Cons: Slight recessed mids, boost in the upper mids, rolled off upper treble. Not as deep bass as previous Onyx Studio speakers.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 101dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot ZE41
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot ZE21
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot S89
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs JBL Boombox 4
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Vifa Copenhagen 2.0
- See all 56 comparisons
Sony ULT Field 7: $400 Amazon eBay
Pros: Better sounding than the XG500
Cons: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. 8khz peak
Full Sony ULT Field 7 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 20.2" x 8.8" x 8.7" (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9") tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs / 6.3 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: SONY ULT Field 7 💣vs JBL Boombox 3 🧨 Showdown! 🪇Let’s Shake it Up! 🔋Battery Powered Basement Battle More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Sony ULT Field 7 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast Both good? 😂 More from Dominik Reviews →
- Reddit Search for Sony ULT Field 7 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Skullcandy Barrel
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Soundcore Rave Party 2
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Teufel Boomster NG (2017)
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Partybox On the Go
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Sony SRS-XG500
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs W-King T11
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Boombox
- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Soundcore Motion Boom+
- See all 48 comparisons