Today, we will be revealing all the details you need between Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs 6 portable speakers to find your best choice.
With more speaker brands, countless variations, and multiple options, it has become challenging to choose among the products.
And that’s the reason we are here to help you compare among the best Bluetooth wireless speakers and make the right and informed decision.
Let’s get started:
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs 6: Quick Comparison
| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
| Check PriceFull Review>>> |
 | Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
| Check PriceFull Review>>> |
Also Read:
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 vs 5: Who Is Better?
| Specification | Harman Kardon Onyx 5 | Harman Kardon Onyx 6 |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth Range | 110ft | 110-120ft |
| Bluetooth Transmitter Power | 0-9 dB | 0-9 dB |
| Dimensions | 284mm x 291mm x 128mm | 284mm × 291mm × 128mm |
| Drivers | 2 | 2 |
| Charging Time | 5 hours | 5 hours |
| Battery Lifespan | Up to 8 hours | 8 hours |
| USB Port | 1 USB port | 1 USB port |
| Battery Capacity | 3283mAh | 3283mAh |
| 3.5 mm Audio output | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof | No | Yes |
| Waterproof Rating | – | IPX7 Waterproof |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Gray | Black, Blue, Gray |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
A Few Words Before We Begin The Detailed Review:
Technology has been an essential part of modern human life. We can’t imagine a world without technology. And like every other thing, it also undergoes evolution.
From 2g internet to 5g, from keypad mobile to large touch screen smartphones, from desktops to laptops, everything we see around has been evolving faster than we had ever imagined.
Talking about speakers, it follows the same scenario. We witness new designs and technology modifications that bring out the best sound experience every passing year.
Now, if you want to get amazing garage speakers with great sound, we have tested 5 worthy choices.
Talking about Harman:
Several brands are marketed under JBL, BSS Audio, Crown, Infinity Harman Kardon, etc.
Harman has been one of the most loved speaker brands in the audio sector globally. After it became successful, Harman started acquiring other major audio brands.
In 2017, Samsung acquired Harman, and now the brand works as an independent subsidiary of Samsung.
Ok, but which speaker should you choose between onyx studio 5 and 6. Let’s find it out here:
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs 6: Quick Comparison
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 vs 5: Who Is Better?
- A Few Words Before We Begin The Detailed Review:
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Is it worth it?
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Build Quality
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Design
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Performance
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Is it good?
- An Easy Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Buying Guide!
- Which wireless Bluetooth speaker is the better choice: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 or Onyx Studio 6?
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Is it worth it?
Elevated Audio experience
- Speakerphone for taking hands-free calls
- Elegant look
- Distinctive design
- Better vocals and treble
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Overview
Harman Kardon will always amuse you with its speakers with unmatched designs and jaw-dropping audio quality. When you look at other speakers made by Harman Kardon, you’ll realize that the company’s main focus has always been fabulous design and build quality.
However, the only drawback of this speaker is its battery life.
Contrary to what is claimed by the brand, most users have reported a much lower battery life of around 3-4 hours. This is quite disappointing as the sound quality is still one the best.
The speaker does not come with a voice assistance feature, so the option of using Siri or Google Assistant seems ruled out.
Also Read: Can You Carry Speakers During Flight?
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Build Quality
The speaker comes with premium fabric which gives it an elegant look. The handle on the top is made of metal, making it easier to carry. However, the other parts are not rugged and can be pressed with a slight finger push.
This means that the speaker is not suitable for outdoor usage and might not withstand accidental damage, as it does not come with a reinforced metal grill like most other speakers.
It is best for indoor usage, and the user has to be careful while moving around with the speaker.
There is no waterproofing either, which means the speaker’s scope being used in all weather conditions stands limited.
The buttons offered are easy to click and quite responsive. The speaker can be paired with another Harman Kardon speaker by holding the pairing button for 5 seconds.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Design
The speaker comes in a circular shape. Looking at the speaker for the first time, it might be hard to spot it as a speaker.
The unique design of the speaker will turn a lot of heads. They are equipped with a specially designed aluminum handle, giving it a premium and elegant look. The physical buttons are placed correctly and can be accessed with ease.
The battery indicator could have been designed better, as it only offers one tiny LED that turns red when the battery is about to die. Instead of one, four, or five separate LED’s could have done a better job in indicating the remaining battery life of the speaker.
It comes in three colors- Black, White, and Grey.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Performance
The speaker is loud enough for using it in indoor areas. It can also be heard from far, but the Onyx 5 comes with one less woofer, and the tweeter makes the bass sound less engaging.
However, sound clarity is not compromised as the speaker produces crystal clear sound.
- Also Read: How do I stop my record from skipping?
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Battery Capacity
The total battery capacity of the speaker stands at 3283 mAh. It takes almost 5 hours to charge the battery completely. But the real-life performance of the battery leaves us disappointed. The battery only lasts around 3-4 hours, whereas the brand claims a massive 8 hours battery life.
The battery indicator is not of much use as the speaker offers only one LED, which turns red only when the battery is about to die, making it difficult to understand.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Sound Quality
The Onyx 5 comes with one less woofer than its previous model Onyx 4. It was done to make the design slimmer, but this design change has become a downside for the speaker as now the base has also decreased, although it can be managed if used in small environments.
Talking about the depth of sound, it has retained the ability to produce more in-depth notes. The sound definition is good when played on medium-range volumes. The sound is clear and sharp when played on higher volumes.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5: Connectivity
Being a wireless Bluetooth speaker, many questions surround the range that the speaker offers. The range of the Bluetooth extends to around 110-120ft which is quite impressive as very few speakers of this price in the market offer something close to this.
The speaker offering Bluetooth 4.2 might sound disappointing as other speakers come with Bluetooth 5.0, which is even faster.
It has been observed that there are minor distortions when played on iOS, but with Android, the speaker works slightly better.
Although the speaker comes with a USB dock at the back, it can only be used for firmware updates. The speaker cannot be charged using the USB cord as it comes with another cable dedicated for charging.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Is it good?
- Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
- Aluminum and fabric finish premium material
- Subtle design
- No microphone
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Overview
The Onyx Studio 6 comes with many changes compared to the Onyx 5. This speaker comes with IPX7 waterproofing which was a much-needed feature. Wondering what is IPX7 rating is all about? Do check here.
There are minor differences in design, like the new handle comes in space grey color, which goes pretty well with the black-toned speaker instead of the Onyx 5, which had a silver handle.
The Onyx Studio series of the Harman Kardon speaker does not have illuminated buttons. It was highly expected that the Onyx 6 would get illuminated buttons to upgrade from the previous version. Still, it did happen so that the buttons remained unchanged, making it hard to operate in the dark.
The Bluetooth version remains the same at 4.2. Many users complain about connectivity, so offering Bluetooth 5 as an upgrade would have improved the speaker.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Build Quality
Apart from minor color changes, everything remains the same on the Onyx Studio 6 speaker.
This means the body’s material is also the same and not strong enough for outdoor usage. However, it comes with IPX7 waterproofing, so you can also use it for pool parties and the beach. The new space grey color handle is also aluminum, as it was on Onyx 5. The speaker weighs around 6.5 pounds.
There are three ports on offer- an Auxiliary port, micro USB port, and charging port.
However, just like the Onyx 5, the micro USB port cannot be used to charge the speaker. It can only be used for service and firmware updates.
The speaker’s bottom comes with a rubber grip to remain firm on tables or other surfaces.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Design
There’s no significant difference in design than Onyx Studio 5, as Harman has continued the speaker’s circular shape. Harman Kardon is known for its fabulous design, premium build quality, and the same can be seen on the Onyx Studio 6. The speaker looks exceptionally appealing.
The speaker comes covered in premium fabric, which gives it an elegant look, but this fabric often fails to stand out in terms of strength, as the main body is prone to damage if accidentally dropped while using.
The Onyx Studio 6 follows the same trend as its predecessor by offering one LED for indicating both powers on/off and battery usage.
When the battery is low, the LED turns red, indicating the low battery status. Most users complain of single LED lights and want multiple LEDs or voice prompts when the battery level decreases.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Performance
The Onyx Studio 6 Bluetooth speaker offers a deep base at mid and high volume levels, although the speaker does not produce sound at low volumes.
So if a user wants to maximize the battery output and play audio on lower volumes for a small environment like rooms, the speaker’s true potential will remain unnoticed.
The speaker’s range remains the same at 120 ft, which is quite good as many speakers at this price point fail to offer it.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Battery Capacity
The battery life on the Onyx Studio 6 seems to have improved from the previous models. The Onyx Studio 5 claimed a battery life of 8 hours but, in reality, only offered an average of 4 hours of battery life.
The Onyx Studio 6 offers almost 8 hours of real-time playback, which is why it stands out among other speaker brands.
It is essential to keep in mind that in most wireless Bluetooth speakers, the battery life hugely depends on the volume it is being played and the type of music being played.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Sound Quality
The sound quality of the Onyx Studio 6 has slightly improved from the Onyx Studio 5. The woofer is powered by 50W and offers deep and rich bass. The sound quality is outstanding and will feel premium at any volume level.
The sound’s loudness is enough for small environments, and the sound can be heard even at far distances.
The sound’s sharpness is similar to the Onyx Studio 5; hence, the overall sound quality remains the same with minor differences, becoming a better choice than the Onyx Studio 5.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6: Connectivity
The Onyx Studio 6 was expected to get the newer version of Bluetooth, but sadly it comes with the same old 4.2 Bluetooth, which is average and does the job.
There seem to be no connectivity issues, and the speaker pairs well both with Android and iOS.
The Onyx Studio 6 can be paired to up to two devices simultaneously, which is an advantage if more than one person uses the speaker.
An Easy Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Buying Guide!
Build Quality
Speakers nowadays are built from different materials like plastic, aluminum, and other metals, so you might feel one is heavier than the other.
We need strong build quality and a lightweight design to use the speakers under harsh conditions prone to accidental damage. The speaker’s weight should be less so that it can be easily accessible.
We present a detailed comparison of Harman Kardon Studio 5 And Studio 6 speakers considering all these aspects:
Sound Quality
Whether for outdoor or indoor use, a speaker’s sound quality holds significant importance. Good bass and booming loud sound can be excellent criteria for making the correct choice.
However, it would help if you did not forget that the sound’s clarity also matters for music lovers.
Portability
Speakers come in different forms and serve other purposes. Boombox, Soundbars, Waterproof speakers, and Party speakers come in different sizes. Some of these are easier to carry, while some are not portable.
Battery Life
The problem with most wireless Bluetooth speakers is their limited battery life. With every passing year, the batteries have become more long-lasting.
So when you buy a wireless Bluetooth speaker, always make sure that the battery life is long enough to meet your usage demands.
Exclusive features
Some brands offer unique features in the wireless Bluetooth speaker. For all the audiophiles craving exceptional sound experience, it is always necessary to dig deeper and find which brand offers extra features like 360° surround sound, artificial intelligence, subwoofer bass balancing, and more.
Which wireless Bluetooth speaker is the better choice: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 or Onyx Studio 6?
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 comes with Bluetooth 4.2 and a below-average battery life of 4-5 hours (real-time).
The Onyx Studio 6 comes with real-time 8 hours of battery life, which lasts long enough even when played on higher volume levels. However, the Bluetooth version remains the same on both.
Onyx Studio 5 and Onyx Studio 6’s design remains mostly the same, with minor changes like the latter one gets the handle of different colors, which adds to its premium look and feel.
However, other materials of the body remain entirely the same.
One added benefit that Onyx Studio 6 offers is IPX7 waterproofing, which is not present in the previous models, so the Studio 6 comes out as a better choice in portability and usage.
About the Author
Rach Wellard
Rach Wellard is the driving force behind Sound & Solitude. Her mission is to help you discover the profound impact of sound in your daily life and to explore the beauty of solitude. With a deep passion for the connection between soundscapes and emotions, she brings a unique blend of expertise and personal dedication to our platform.
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