Onyx Studio (Generation 1)

Bose soundlink flex or that ufo Herman kardon

Harmon Kardon Onyx Studio the original one. Bought mine 2013 refurbished on eBay and it’s still going. Bought a replacement battery and it was super easy to replace.

I’ve wondered the same thing. Even small Bluetooth speakers were always stereo originally. If you remember, the first few generations of the HK Onyx Studio, JBL Charge, JBL Flip, etc., were all stereo, then suddenly everything was mono. I can understand it for the very smallest speakers - Bose Micro, Tribit Micro, JBL Go, etc. - it wouldn’t make sense to try to cram dual speakers into those tiny housings or to try to create stereo sound in such a small space, but with the rest of them, I don’t get it. The only thing I can think of is the ‘race for the bass.’ After a while, it evolved to where all anyone cared about was ‘how much bass is there?’ and if companies could cram 1 large woofer into the same space that had once held 2, or even 4, smaller speakers, they could produce much more bass. The other possibility, as someone suggested when I asked basically the same question on another post a couple of weeks ago, is so that companies can now force you to buy 2 speakers instead of 1 if you want stereo sound.

HK Onyx Studio, thank me l8r.

HK Onyk Studio should be good for you. It has a battery, good bass, fun to watch movies, and captures the sound of the atmosphere completely. When placing it, you don't have to place it next to your macbook. You can place it anywhere. The sound will jump onto the screen itself. Another thing is that listening to music is beautiful too.

Yeah, both the HK Go+Play and Onyx Studio series would blow away the Max. They are my go-to speakers when I want the music to really shine through. Incredibly deep bass and crystal clear mids and highs. None of my other 5 portable Bluetooth speakers come close. Edit - Just saw someone post the HK Go+Play 3 is selling on ebay for $132 right now. At that price, it's a no brainer.

The Onyx Studio series is in a class of its own. It’s the loudest most clear sounding bass portable Bluetooth speaker you can get at that price. I sold all my other “boombox” speakers and kept the Onyx. The Luna is nice, but it’s not in the same category. You’d need like 4 of them to match the Onyx.

My Onyx Studio is the best sounding speaker I have. Guarantee it blows away the JBL. You won’t find a better speaker than the Onyx unless you get something in the $600+ range.

If you're "upgrading", go to the next level.. not the same speaker in a different housing. Look for a used HK Studio Onyx. Pick the style you like the look of and hear your music in a truly upgraded fashion. Even the 10-15 year old ones still sound awesome. The HK Go+Play series is just as good too. Either one will blow you away over what you had.

I constantly see the HK G+P recommended here and after using one, I understand why. It’s a beast. Only matched by their Onyx Studio series. I hardly ever see any Sony recommendations.

No rumors yet; although FCC filings have appeared for the JBL GO5 & IIRC they point to a relese date sometime this summer-- both the XTREME3 and XTREME4 have been released with their GO/CLIP counterparts (GO3/CLIP4 & GO4/CLIP5 respectively) so there could be a launch? But I haven't seen any info at all specifically about the XTREME5. The XTREME4 is a nice speaker, clear sound & deep bass but lacks a bit of punch. As others have pointed out, it's the only JBL speaker that works with PARTYBOOST and Auracast pairing protocols (but not both at the same time). If you are considering a purchase, keep in mind it often goes on sale for 20-30% off; IMO at retail price it dosen't offer very good value for money.

What are you looking for? Happy to try & pick the best speaker for you. IMO the XTREME4 is great for a specific use case (deep bass at the expense of bass loudness, very portable, long battery life) but not for everyone. BOOMBOX3 is pretty great IMO, water & dust proof whilst still being portable and offering some great sound. The WiFi version is even more feature-packed, and has a more neutral sound. The new BOOMBOX4 is amazingly loud too-- some people report distortion issues on select tracks though. HK's Onyx Studio series offers a more refined sound, but no water/dustproofing. If you're looking for the best sound quality, proper "HiFi"-esque bookshelf/floorstanding speakers will be the best: something like the Edifier MR5 will be fantastic. Or, if budget & space truly isn't a concern, there's lots of wonderful stuff in the high-end audio space, recent releases like the KEF LS60 have integrated high-quality drivers, DSP, and amplification into a super-convenient package. For portability, the CHARGE6 gets very close to the XTREME4 to my ears whilst being much more portable. And for value, the Earfun Uboom X is IP67 rated just like the XTREME4, sounds great, and is very impressive value considering it's 1/3 of the price of the XTREME4. Soundcore's Boom 2 Plus also plays in a similar league, although it isn't advertised to have have Oluv's EQ & equal loudness contour.

For your use case, it sounds like the XTREME4 could be a good fit. I'd also consider the **Sonos Move** line: to my ears, they sound better and more balanced with more punch, can get quite loud, and supports WiFi connectivity. Bose's competitor, the Soundlink Max is also worth checking out-- it sounds warmer/less trebly than the XTREME4. IMO the XTREME4 isn't the most balanced speaker around with a boosted high end and deep bass, and a lack of punch; it does sound good though. I like my XTREME4 & when on sale, I think it's a great speaker. Like I said in my comments above: it's not a bad speaker, just not the best value & alternatives like the Earfun Uboom X provide better value (and a more neutral sound with EQ options to my ears). If you're willing to sacrifice water/dust resistance, the HK Onyx series might provide more power & bass; otherwise something ultra-high-end from the likes of B&O might sound more refined.