Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Sony ULT Tower 5 ranks #5 of 53 party speakers by sound quality at $448; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ranks #15 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $184.99.
The Sony ULT Tower 5 is the longer-running, tougher pick. A powerful party tower with deep bass, a removable long battery, and mic and XLR inputs for karaoke or DJ use. It is rated for 20 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 supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 lacks. Watch for: It has a shorter 20-hour battery claim than the Sony ULT Tower 7’s 30 hours, no wheels, and only IPX4 splash resistance.
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 Sony ULT Tower 5 at 28 lbs (12.7 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 Sony ULT Tower 5 at $448 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at $184.99 if you want a boombox speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Tower 5 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $448.00 | $184.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Sound Connect) | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | RCA input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1” x 21.1” x 11.1” (358 x 536 x 282 mm) | 11.4” x 11.3” x 5.1” (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 drivers: 1x 9” woofer, 2x 2.4” tweeter | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band; ULT1 / ULT2 / Flat) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C charging) | - |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo Pair) | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A and USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
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