These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Partybox 330 ranks #2 of 40 party speakers by sound quality at $549.95; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ranks #15 of 76 boombox speakers by sound quality at $189.99.
What the JBL Partybox 330 does well: A highly complete rolling party speaker: removable battery, telescoping handle and wheels, light show, Auracast, USB-C lossless and optical inputs, plus dual mic/guitar inputs. Watch for: It remains very large and heavy, and the sound improvement over the JBL Partybox Stage 320 is modest rather than transformational.
What the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 does well: 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. 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.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 ($549.95) for a party speaker; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ($189.99) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Partybox 330 is rated at IPX4 (splashing), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $189.99 |
| Ranked | #2 of 40 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 76 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 2x 1” (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Inputs | Optical | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg) | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 280W | 50W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 26.1”H x 13.1”W x 14.8”D (662.5 x 334 x 375 mm) | 11.4” x 11.3” x 5.1” (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Partybox 330:
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox 330
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 330
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
JBL Partybox 330: $549.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A highly complete rolling party speaker: removable battery, telescoping handle and wheels, light show, Auracast, USB-C lossless and optical inputs, plus dual mic/guitar inputs. It supplies a little more power than the JBL Partybox 310 and JBL Partybox Stage 320, while reviewers report better midrange clarity than the older JBL Partybox 310 and the same deep party-speaker bass.
Cons: It remains very large and heavy, and the sound improvement over the JBL Partybox Stage 320 is modest rather than transformational. JBL removed the dedicated mic gain/control knobs found on earlier models, a real drawback for frequent karaoke use. Do not upgrade from a JBL Partybox 310 or JBL Partybox Stage 320 just for the higher watt figure.
Full JBL Partybox 330 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 280W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 26.1”H x 13.1”W x 14.8”D (662.5 x 334 x 375 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 2x 1” (25mm) PEN dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Inputs | Optical |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 310
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony ULT Tower 5
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 130
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 100
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 110
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Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9: $189.99 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 (rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 (rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 (rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 (rated 3.9/5) and the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 (rated 3.3/5).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| 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 |
| 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
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
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