These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Soundcore Boom 2 ranks #10 of 82 large speakers by sound quality at $89.98; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 ranks #15 of 76 boombox speakers by sound quality at $189.99.
What the Soundcore Boom 2 does well: Pretty deep bass for the size. The catch: Only a single midrange driver, so you only get stereo for the tweeters.
Why pick the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9: 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 Soundcore Boom 2 at $89.98 if you want a large speaker. Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at $189.99 if you want a boombox speaker instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Soundcore Boom 2 is rated for 24 hours, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 only 8 hours.
If water resistance matters to you, the Soundcore Boom 2 at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Boom 2 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.98 | $189.99 |
| Ranked | #10 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 76 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 105dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power Cable (2-Prong) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 7.3” x 4” (297 x 185 x 102 mm) | 11.4” x 11.3” x 5.1” (289.2 x 287.5 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm x 90mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters | 120mm woofer + 3x 20mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 50W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Soundcore Boom 2:
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Brane X vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Soundcore Boom 2: $89.98 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the Soundcore Motion Boom (rated 4.5/5).
Pros: Pretty deep bass for the size. Cool lights in the side passive radiators. For the best sound quality use Oluv’s EQ or Alan Ross’s EQ. With the stock tuning, this speaker would rank around #24, due to the boosted bass and rising treble. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Only a single midrange driver, so you only get stereo for the tweeters. Sound processing issues with inconsistent bass notes that disappear at low levels like the Soundcore Boom and Soundcore Boost, not great for listening at low levels. Quite bass heavy with BassUp turned on, which is best left off. A little bit of a bright tuning in the treble, about +5db.
Full Soundcore Boom 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 7.3” x 4” (297 x 185 x 102 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm x 90mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 105dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 3D Audio Show: Tribit StormBox Lava vs SoundCore Boom 2 - sound quality demo More from Oluv’Sone →
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs SoundCore Boom 2 - David vs Goliath
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA vs Soundcore BOOM 2 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - indoor soundtest
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor soundtest
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Best portable speakers 2025 - get the best bang for your buck $$$
- Oluv Patreon: SoundCore Boom 3i - first impressions & EQs
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate Soundcore Boom 2 Review - Is It Worth The Hype? More from alanrossreviews →
- Oluv Patreon: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 - first impressions
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Soundcore Boom 2 💣vs Mifa Wildbox 🪇 Basement Battle of the Bluetooth Boombox Welterweights ⚖️ More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: New Release! Soundcore Boom 2 😯 Bluetooth Boombox Speaker 🔊 Unboxing, First Look & Sound Demo
- CEONTHEMAKING: Soundcore Boom 2 - HANDS DOWN The Best Speaker Under $150! More from CEONTHEMAKING →
- Josh’s Gadgets and More: Budget Monster ZZA K8 vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Sony ULT Field 5 vs Anker SoundCore Boom 2 - listening test
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Mifa Wildbox
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Marshall Stockwell II
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs B&O Beosound A5
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Vifa Oslo
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Soundcore Select Pro
- See all 85 comparisons
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
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot ZE51
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot ZE41
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot ZE21
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Zealot S89
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra
- See all 80 comparisons