No such luck! The Onyx 7 still has the same 3,250 mAh battery that is rated for just 8 hours at fairly low (50%) volume.Īt normal listening volumes (70-90%), you get about 5 hours of playtime from either speaker. Having said all that, we were hoping that the Onyx Studio 7 would present a significant upgrade. The combination of a heavy speaker with an unimpressive battery just doesn’t excite many users. Onyx Studio 6, sadly, doesn’t rate well for either. Generally, a bluetooth speaker will score well for battery life or score well for portability. This battery life doesn’t hold up to competitors like JBL Charge 5 (12+ hours on a 7,500 mAh battery), Soundcore Motion+(12 hours on a 6,700 mAh battery), or even the smaller and more portable JBL Flip 5 & 6 (12 hours on a 4,800 mAh battery). Onyx Studio 6 has a 3,250 mAh battery that is rated for 8 hours at 50% volume.

They aren’t the most durable bluetooth speakers you can find, but they should hold up well to frequent use.ĭurability: Onyx Studio 6 (due to waterproofing) Batteryīattery life is comparable between the two devices.

In other words, Onyx Studio 6 isn’t the most waterproof portable speaker on the market - but it is much better than the Onyx Studio 7.īoth speakers are built with some plastic construction, aluminum handles, and fabric covering the speaker. This means it is submergible and should be waterproof enough for any recreational use. Many newer speakers add the dust-proof rating, as well. Most of the portable speakers we review have an IPX7 (waterproof) rating at minimum. Unfortunately, the newer device (Onyx Studio 7) took a big hit in terms of durability. Using the controls on the Onyx Studio 6 is tedious, but the Onyx 7 redesign did a good job of correcting this.ĭesign winner: Tie (Onyx 7 for style, but Onyx 6 for function) Durability The button placement is better on the Onyx Studio 7. And each has the same Harman Kardon badge logo. In addition to the handle differences, Onyx Studio 6 is also lighter than the 7 (by almost a pound).Įach speaker has a 3.5 mm aux input. But for portability, Onyx 6 makes a lot more sense. When the device is being used in a stationary position, I think I prefer the styling of Onyx 7. Onyx Studio 7 has a handle that encircles the speaker, giving it a futuristic appearance (it looks like a planet with a ring around it). The styling is unimpressive with this design, but it is well-built for maximum portability. Onyx Studio 6 has a built-in handle that allows it to be carried like a clutch purse. Whether this is a positive thing depends on personal preference. The new version received a massive overhaul in terms of design. Sound winner: Onyx Studio 7 (slightly) Design If you are paying full MSRP, there are better options at that price.

If you can find either of these speakers on sale, they can compete on sound quality with almost any portable speaker in the sub-$200 range. Some users feel the bass is too “boomy.” But again, this difference is only perceptible if you are testing both speakers alongside one another. Onyx Studio 6 actually has slightly stronger bass, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Both speakers have total output wattage of 50 watts, if this metric matters to you. This difference will only be seen on side-by-side testing. The max volume output is roughly the same, with the slight advantage going to Onyx Studio 7. In my testing, I couldn’t hear the difference in soundstage or width. Theoretically, the soundstage will be wider as well. This results in a more crisp sound on Onyx Studio 7, especially in the mids. The biggest change with the new iteration is that Onyx Studio 7 has two tweeters, rather than the single tweeter on Onyx Studio 6. Sound quality is pretty similar between the two devices. ~~~ Check Price: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 ~~~ ~~~ Check Price: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 ~~~

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