These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Partybox 330 ranks #2 of 53 party speakers by sound quality at $629.95; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ranks #15 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $184.99.
The JBL Partybox 330 is the longer-running, tougher pick. A rolling party speaker with deep bass, a removable battery, a light show and inputs for mics and a guitar. It is rated for 18 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9. It is rated IPX4, 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: It remains very large and heavy, and the sound improvement over the JBL Partybox Stage 320 is modest rather than transformational.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 is the lighter option. An elegant living room portable with balanced, smooth, non-fatiguing sound, app EQ, and stereo pairing for music lovers. At 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) it weighs much less than the JBL Partybox 330 at 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg). The catch: 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 ($629.95) for a party speaker; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ($184.99) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $184.99 |
| Ranked | #2 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 113 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
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