Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks #13 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $186.99; the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 ranks #22 and costs $300, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.

On the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 side: Auracast multi-speaker connection alongside classic stereo pairing. Set against that: Slight recessed mids, boost in the upper mids, rolled off upper treble.

The case for the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: Pretty deep bass. The tradeoff: Sounds quite muddy with the boosted lower and upper bass.

Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.

If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 is rated for 30 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9.

If water resistance matters to you, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at no water resistance.

Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at Amazon ($186.99) →Buy the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 at Amazon ($300) →

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2

Specifications Side By Side

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
Price$186.99$300
Ranked#13 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#22 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz40Hz
Max Volume101dB110dB
IP RatingNoneIP67
Power InputAC Power Cable (2-Prong)AC Power Cable or 10w USB-C
StereoYesYes
OmnidirectionalNoNo
TWSYesYes
Weight9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg19.2 lbs / 8.7 kg
AppYes (Harman Kardon One app)No
Bluetooth CodecsSBCSBC, AAC
EQYes (App EQ)Yes (10 band)
Party ModeYes (Auracast)No
USB PlaybackNoNo
Bluetooth Version5.3-
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)30 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Output Power50W RMS200W AC / 180W battery
Dimensions11.4" x 11.3" x 5.1" (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm)18.7" x 7.6" x 10.2" (476 x 193 x 259 mm)
Drivers120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters
Digital Aux InputNoNo
Aux Input-Yes
Microphone Input-Yes (2x 6.35mm)
Power Bank-Yes (USB-A)
Built in Microphone-No
FM Tuner-No
MicroSD Playback-No
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at Amazon ($186.99) →Buy the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 at Amazon ($300) →

More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:

The Two Speakers In Full

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9: $186.99 Amazon

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ranking card

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 →

AppYes (Harman Kardon One app)
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz
Battery Life8 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Bluetooth Version5.3
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions11.4" x 11.3" x 5.1" (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm)
Drivers120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters
EQYes (App EQ)
IP RatingNone
Max Volume101dB
OmnidirectionalNo
Output Power50W RMS
Party ModeYes (Auracast)
Power InputAC Power Cable (2-Prong)
StereoYes
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg
Check current price at Amazon ($186.99) →Search eBay for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 →

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Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: $300 Amazon

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 ranking card

Pros: Pretty deep bass.

Cons: Sounds quite muddy with the boosted lower and upper bass. Boosted treble around 6khz. Xbass mode makes it sound even more muddy. Nowhere near as neutral and balanced as the first Blast and a big downgrade unless you only care about max volume

Setup: Try the EQ from Alan Ross at this timestamp of his video

Full Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review and specifications →

AppNo
Aux InputYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)40Hz
Battery Life30 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC
Built in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions18.7" x 7.6" x 10.2" (476 x 193 x 259 mm)
Drivers1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters
EQYes (10 band)
FM TunerNo
IP RatingIP67
Max Volume110dB
MicroSD PlaybackNo
Microphone InputYes (2x 6.35mm)
OmnidirectionalNo
Output Power200W AC / 180W battery
Party ModeNo
Power BankYes (USB-A)
Power InputAC Power Cable or 10w USB-C
StereoYes
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight19.2 lbs / 8.7 kg
Check current price at Amazon ($300) →Search eBay for Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 →

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.