Short answer: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, if you are buying new. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 ranks higher than the Turtlebox Grande (#12 vs #71 of 91 boombox speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, is rated 4.1/5 at $189.99 and is still sold new.
The Turtlebox Grande is the longer-running, tougher option. 10-inch woofer. It is rated for 25 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8. It is rated IP67, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 has no water resistance. It links with other speakers (Turtlebox Party Mode), which the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 cannot. The tradeoff: In YouTube sound samples it sounds only okay, and bass is shallow for a 10 inch woofer, only down 10dB at about 55Hz.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. Claimed 8 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life and up to 96db make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Its bass reaches about 35Hz before falling 10dB, against 55Hz for the Turtlebox Grande. At 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) it weighs much less than the Turtlebox Grande at 18.8 lbs (8.53 kg). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Turtlebox Grande lacks. Watch for: Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating.
Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, the replacement for the discontinued Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Turtlebox Grande.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Turtlebox Grande | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $730.00 | $199.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #71 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (20V/3A) | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 18.8 lbs (8.53 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Amplifier Power | 86W | 50W RMS |
| Dimensions | 14” x 8.4” x 11.5” (355.6 x 213.4 x 292.1 mm) | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) woofer + 1x 1.25” (32mm) titanium tweeter | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 42ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 175ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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
Turtlebox Grande: $730.00 Amazon eBay
Same family: the Turtlebox Cub (smaller model, rated 3/5), the Turtlebox Ranger (smaller model, rated 3.5/5) and the Turtlebox Gen 3 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.1/5). See every Turtlebox generation.
Pros: 10-inch woofer. IP67 submersible shell with crush-proof ABS exterior. 158Wh battery provides ~3 days of playback. Bluetooth 5.4, party mode (100+ speakers). Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: In YouTube sound samples it sounds only okay, and bass is shallow for a 10 inch woofer, only down 10dB at about 55Hz. It is rated at just 86W, and like the smaller Turtleboxes it won’t reach its claimed 126dB at a standard one meter distance. Expensive for what it delivers. It charges only from its own barrel plug adapter, not USB-C.
Full Turtlebox Grande review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 86W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 14” x 8.4” x 11.5” (355.6 x 213.4 x 292.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) woofer + 1x 1.25” (32mm) titanium tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (20V/3A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 18.8 lbs (8.53 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8: $199.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9, ranked lower, rated 4.1/5, released Dec 2024. It adds party mode, but drops the aux input.
Older models: the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 (ranked lower, rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 (ranked lower, rated 4.1/5), the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5) and the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 (rated 3.3/5). See every Harman Kardon Onyx Studio generation.
Pros: At 3.3 kg, Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 combines a 120mm woofer and 2x 20mm tweeters with Bluetooth and aux. Claimed 8 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life and up to 96db make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. A built-in microphone and the Harman Kardon One app with EQ. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 35Hz specification. Warm tuning with boosted bass, not as loud as others, and no water resistance rating. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 42ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 175ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6” x 11.9” x 6.3” (268 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (19V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 review - part 2 of 3 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Onyx Studio 8 vs HK Onyx 6, Xtreme 3, PartyBox Encore, Go+ Play, Bag of Riddim! part 3 of 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dead room vs Live room - Onyx studio 8 self tuning test! part 1 of 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate HK Onyx Studio speaker review and comparison! 8 speakers!
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