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JBL Authentics 500 vs Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9

Which Speaker Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      PicturesStylePortabilityBuild QualityControlsIn The Box
    Sound
      Frequency Response AccuracyRaw Frequency ResponseSoundstageDynamics
    Active Features
      BatteryVoice AssistantApp
    Connectivity
      WiredBluetoothWi-Fi
    Comments

Products

JBL Authentics 500
Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Jul 06, 2026 01:53 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 14, 2025 08:02 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon
JBL Authentics 500 Picture

Track

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Picture

Track

Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
Yes
Battery Powered
No
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
No
Battery Powered
Yes
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Our Verdict

JBL Authentics 500

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9

The JBL Authentics 500 and Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 have different strengths. The JBL is quite a bit larger than the Harman/Kardon, so it unsurprisingly gets much louder. That said, the Harman/Kardon is battery-powered and easy to carry around with you, though we wouldn't take it outside as it lacks an IP rating against water and dust ingress. The JBL has a built-in mic, so it's the one to choose if voice assistant support is crucial to you.

GIFT THIS COMPARISON

0 

Variants

  • Authentics 500 (Black)
  • Onyx Studio 9 (Black)
  • Onyx Studio 9 (Grey)

Review

See JBL Authentics 500 Review
See Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Review
9 
4 

Check Price

Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Black
Onyx Studio 9
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
JBL
Grey
Onyx Studio 9
SEARCH
Amazon
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo  

JBL Authentics 500 Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

RGB Lights  

Locked
Locked

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Dimensions Photo  

JBL Authentics 500 Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Volume 
 

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Power Source 
 

Locked
Locked

One-Hand Carry 
 

Locked
Locked

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Photo  

JBL Authentics 500 Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Material Quality 
 

Locked
Locked

Water Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Dust Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Impact Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Floats In Water 
 

Locked
Locked

Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Photo  

JBL Authentics 500 Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Controls Photo 2  

JBL Authentics 500 Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Ease Of Use 
 

Locked
Locked

Feedback 
 

Locked
Locked

Music Play/Pause 
 

Locked
Locked

Call Answer/End 
 

Locked
Locked

Volume Up/Down 
 

Locked
Locked

Track Next/Previous 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone On/Off 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls 
 

Locked
Locked

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo  

JBL Authentics 500 In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Graph  

JBL Authentics 500 Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

JBL Authentics 500 Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

Join Now
Join Now

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

Join Now
Join Now

Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Directivity Graph  

JBL Authentics 500 Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Directivity Index 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Stereo 
 

Locked
Locked

Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

JBL Authentics 500 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Life 
 

N/A
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

N/A
Lock hrs

Power Saving 
 

N/A
Locked

Charging Port 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Powered 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

N/A
N/A

Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Speakerphone 
 

Locked
Locked

Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Activation 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Locked

Far-Field Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

App 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

JBL Authentics 500 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

App Name 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Party Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Room 
 

Locked
Locked
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Other Ports 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi 
 

N/A
N/A

Wi-Fi Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

AirPlay Latency 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Google Chromecast 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Check Price

Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Black
Onyx Studio 9
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
JBL
Grey
Onyx Studio 9
SEARCH
Amazon
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
Authentics 500
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Back to Top

JBL Authentics 500

Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

JBL Authentics 500 vs Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 9: Main Discussion

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