The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a unique rounded design. It's easy to bring with you on-the-go thanks to its integrated handle, and it even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. With a neutral, balanced sound profile, it's well suited for listening to a wide range of audio content, though it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass. It doesn't get very loud, either, and it lacks sound customization features like an EQ.
Our Verdict
The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 is alright for music. It has a very balanced, neutral sound profile that makes it suitable for listening to lots of different music genres. However, like many smaller speakers, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy, punchy low-bass, which can be disappointing if you love bass-heavy genres like hip-hop. It also has to downmix stereo content into mono, which doesn't sound as immersive, and it lacks sound customization features.
- Decent frequency response accuracy.
- Supports multi-device pairing.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Downmixes stereo content into mono.
The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 is middling for videos and movies. Its neutral, balanced sound profile can reproduce dialogue clearly, but it lacks low-bass, so you don't really feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. It has to downmix stereo content into mono, which doesn't sound as immersive. Also, its latency with Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth is likely too high to be suitable for watching videos, though some apps compensate for latency differently.
- Decent frequency response accuracy.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Downmixes stereo content into mono.
The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 is satisfactory for podcasts. Its balanced mid and treble ranges reproduce clear, accurate, and detailed dialogue. You can also pair it with up to two devices at the same time, making it easy to switch between listening to a podcast on your laptop and listening to an audiobook on your phone. However, it doesn't get very loud, and there's some compression present when you play it at max volume.
- Portable design.
- Supports multi-device pairing.
- Doesn't get very loud; some compression at max volume.
- 4.7-hour battery life.
The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 doesn't support voice assistants.
The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 is adequate for outdoor use. This well-built speaker has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Its integrated handle makes it really easy to bring on the go. However, its 4.7-hour battery life isn't ideal for long days outside, and it doesn't get very loud.
- IPX7 rating for water resistance.
- Portable design.
- Doesn't get very loud; some compression at max volume.
- 4.7-hour battery life.
Changelog
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Updated Dec 05, 2024:
We mentioned the Harman/Kardon Go + Play 3 in the Dynamics section of this review.
- Updated Mar 25, 2024: We've added a comparison between this soundbar and the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 8 in Soundstage.
- Updated Jul 20, 2022: Clarified that the speaker can't be stereo paired in 'Controls' and 'Soundstage' boxes.
- Updated Feb 16, 2021: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 comes in several different color variants: 'Gray', 'Black', and 'Blue'. We tested the 'Gray' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a very neutral, balanced sound profile out-of-the-box. Its integrated handle makes it easy to bring this speaker with you on-the-go, and it even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, it has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it, and it doesn't have a lot of sound enhancement features like an EQ. You can also check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers for bass, and the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers.
The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6. The JBL is better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It's smaller, is more portable, and has a longer-lasting battery life than the Harman, though battery life can depend on your usage habits, and your experience may differ. That said, the Harman can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the JBL.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony SRS-XB43 or the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6. The Sony is better-built with longer battery life, and it supports voice assistants from your smartphone. Also, its companion app offers a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound profile. However, the Harman/Kardon has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box.
The JBL Xtreme 2 and the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 have similar overall performances, and depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Harman/Kardon has a more neutral, balanced sound profile out-of-the-box. However, the JBL has a better soundstage performance, longer battery life, and it supports voice assistants from your smartphone, unlike the Harman/Kardon.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a slightly better speaker than the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6. The Anker can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, and can get slightly louder than the Harman/Kardon. Its sound is more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. It's also smaller, making it more portable. That said, the Harman/Kardon offers a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and can produce a more extended low-bass than the Anker. It also has slightly less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels.
Test Results
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