Short answer: it depends, the Blast 2 for loud deep bass, the Onyx Studio 5 for balance. The Blast 2 delivers pretty deep bass but sounds quite muddy from boosted lower and upper bass, and Xbass makes it worse. The Onyx Studio 5 is bass-heavy with balanced mids and highs and 7 to 8 hours of battery, but it is warm, lasts only 8 hours at medium volume and is not as loud.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 if you want one new; the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Battery life favors the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: rated for 30 hours against 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $499.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #30 of 85 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 85 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Microphone Input | Yes (2x 6.35mm) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable or 10w USB-C | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (see https://www.reddit.com/r/Bluetooth_Speakers/comments/w339x5/how_to_harman_kardon_onyx_studio_5_6_dual_sound/) |
| Weight | 19.2 lbs (8.7 kg) | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| App | Yes (Tribit app) | No |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 200W AC / 180W battery | 50W |
| Dimensions | 18.7” x 7.6” x 10.2” (476 x 193 x 259 mm) | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Strap | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox Encore vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
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
Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: $279.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Tribit Stormbox Blast (ranked higher, rated 4.5/5).
Pros: Pretty deep bass. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 200W AC / 180W battery |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Tribit app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 18.7” x 7.6” x 10.2” (476 x 193 x 259 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | Yes (2x 6.35mm) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable or 10w USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 19.2 lbs (8.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 - outdoor sound test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 - indoor sound test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs 2 Earfun UBoom X - outdoor test
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 custom EQ best settings! Alan Ross! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 firmware V11 update - earthquake warning!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review - fun fun fun! sometimes 😊
- Mateusz Cholewa: Soundcore Rave 3 🤗v🆚s Tribit Stormbox Blast 2👌🎶 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 😳 First Look, EQ and Light Modes Demo 🚨 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs JBL Boombox 3 🔊 Got Bass? Let’s See How They Compare 😲 Battery Powered 🔋
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs Blast 😲 A Family Feud 🚗 Tailgater Special 🔋 Battery Powered 🎶 Old vs New
- Jagist reviews: Zealot Ze21 Vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S95 Vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2!!!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs LG Xboom Stage 301
- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs Zealot S95
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- See all 81 comparisons
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: $499.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: The iconic circular cabinet and integrated handle make it an attractive room-to-room speaker. Reviews praise its generous bass, balanced mids and smooth top end at moderate levels, giving it a warm, relaxed presentation for casual indoor music.
Cons: The large bass boost can mask lower-mid detail and make dense mixes muddy. Battery life is only around eight hours at moderate volume, it is not especially loud, and it has no water resistance for outdoor use. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 11.3” (285.8 x 285.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 25mm tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Dual Sound) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (see https://www.reddit.com/r/Bluetooth_Speakers/comments/w339x5/how_to_harman_kardon_onyx_studio_5_6_dual_sound/) |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 3
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs JBL Boombox 4
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot S89
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot ZE21
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs LG Xboom Stage 301
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Zealot ZE41
- See all 58 comparisons