Last Updated: April 11, 2020 (Refresh Now)
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker Onyx5 Black
Last Updated: April 11, 2020 (Refresh Now)
8.2
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
69
Old Reviews
0
Unverified
8
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Review Analysis - 61 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Sound / Sound Quality
37bass, bose, onyx studio 5, hk, frequencies
+97%
-3%
" ... Everyone hears the exact same audio differently. ... Everyone has a preference as to what sounds “best”. ... You hear people refer to music as “warm” or “bright” or “tiring” or “smooth”. ... I like to think of it like this: You probably have an EQ on your car radio or home audio system. ... My preference is a curve that is high on the ends (Bass and Treble) and low in the middle (Midrange). ... This directly impacts what is heard in music. ... This particular review is specific to the Harman Kardon Onyx series and the Bose SoundLink Revolve+. ... I wanted to find the best speaker that fits MY listening profile. ... The HK Onyx Studio 5 is my favorite. ... It sounds the best (to me) and costs the least. ... To get the speakers setup, all speakers were plugged in to AC power. ... I selected specific songs that I know well across a variety of music types. ... Audiolab – Audio Test Tones ... The first thing I wanted was something that matched my listening preference as noted above. ... Strong bass and treble, and a flat midrange. ... Too much higher-midrange and it sounds hollow or echo-y. ... The Bose is definitely last place in the bass frequencies. ... You can tell the Bose unit is making an effort, but it doesn’t have that deep sound that you get from the larger drivers on the HK Onyx units, particularly the Onyx Studio 4 & 5. ... Unfortunately for that idea, Bose does a fantastic job of isolating its sound from the surface it’s on, so there’s no buzzing or resonance on any surface. ... Where the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ shines is because it is a downfiring speaker, it does a much better job dispersing sound evenly throughout a room. ... Unfortunately, while the overall sound is smooth, it’s missing the low end that I require. ... Now on to the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio, models 1, 4, and 5. ... The Studio 4 and 5 definitely sound better than the original, but it’s not a HUGE improvement. ... HK’s switch to the larger woofer in the 5 makes a notable difference, specifically when testing for sub frequencies. ... The Studio 5 also managed to have better overall staging and ever-so-slightly better vocals and treble. ... On any albums that have more of a “live” sound, the 5 fared slightly better, giving the vocals more presence in the room. ... The Bose also did very well, but the vocals weren’t quite as forward on the stage. ... Listening to “Holst: The Planets”, there are some very quiet moments that both speakers handle with aplomb. ... Now that I’ve determined the speaker that sounds the best to me, let’s discuss the other factors that distinguish these units. ... This is completely unscientific because higher frequencies will seem louder than lower ones. ... And none of the speakers are crystal clear at their max volume. ... - The Bose Soundlink Revolve+ definitely wins in the portability category. ... The Bose talks at you ... - Due to the downfiring, 360° nature of the Bose SoundLink Revolve+, I think if you had high ceilings and hung them like light fixtures, the audio in the room would be amazing! ... Reviews for all the speakers have plenty of people complaining about the ability to pair their speaker with the exact same model. ... And it’s my favorite sounding speaker! ... The Onyx Studio 4’s audio quality is right up there in a close 2nd place to the 5, but it’s currently more expensive. ... And then there’s the Bose which is currently selling for more than $100 over the Onyx Studio 5. ... The Bose is nice, but I’ll keep the extra $100 thankyouverymuch! ... All in all, if you’re not nearly as particular as me, any of these three speakers will treat you well. ... I’m obviously recommending the HK Onyx Studio 5 because it sounds the best and cost the least. ... "
" ... I'm very pleased with her it is very nice high and bass sound perfect Simply perfect ... "
" ... My impressions are generally positive - the speaker impresses first and foremost with its deep, resonant bass. ... It actually has such a bass that it nearly rivals the low frequencies of my 50-watt guitar amplifier! ... Beside the bass, the sound is generally decent, but not stellar - might be a close match to the Bose speakers, but is not as impressive as what Onkyo delivers. ... The overall clarity/mid-range and trebles leave something to be desired. ... Given that this is a mono speaker, the level of audio detail is actually quite good. ... I don't know how the stereo Onyx Studio 4 sounds, so I cannot tell if the Onyx Studio 5 is an upgrade or a downgrade. ... The speaker is portable, though leaning toward heavy - around 3 kg./ 6.5 pounds. ... I am pleased with this purchase but expected somewhat richer/clearer overall sound. ... "
" ... Great sound, very good battery life. ... "
" ... This is the best speaker on the market hands down for being Bluetooth and portable with this much power loudness and bass is incredible. ... The speaker is truly amazing I love it! ... "
" ... The sound quality is so clear and crisp way better than any JBL I’ve bought. ... "
" ... I absolutely love the sound of this speaker. ... It is a heavy duty speaker that puts out a great sound ... "
" ... I love my speaker. ... "
Sound / Bass
21speaker, bose, midrange, frequencies, crisp
+100%
" ... This thing has a monster bass and clear highs! ... "
" ... I'm very pleased with her it is very nice high and bass sound perfect Simply perfect ... "
" ... The bass and sound from this speaker is better than any speaker iv heard. ... "
" ... I have spent days looking through forums for a speaker to deliver appropriate bass and sound clarity and I found it on my own. ... "
" ... I love the sound and has a lot of bass . ... en my personal opinion I really like to hear the music with lot of bass. ... if you are looking for a Bluetooth speaker with an excellent sound with a lot bass this speaker is indicated and definitely I am going to buy the second speaker! ... "
" ... If you are a BASS lover like me, you will LOVE this speaker. ... "
" ... This has the best bass of any portable speaker I've ever owned and that includes the JBL Xtreme. ... "
" ... Even though I give this 5 stars I've actually decided to send the speaker back because the bass is so incredibly potent that it's difficult to listen to music with this speaker unless you live alone and far away from others. ... In other words, the bass is so crisp and cutting that I can't really use this speaker at the volumes I like without worrying about offending neighbors on the other side of the wall, etc. ... It's truly astounding that HK achieved this much bass while maintaining a great level of crispness and clarity to the overall sound of the music. ... "
Sound / Volume
13volume, perceived, louder, graph, bose
+92%
-8%
" ... This graph is how I perceived their volume at given frequencies. ... Worth noting on this volume graph… There was essentially no perceived volume at 16kHz. ... And none of the speakers are crystal clear at their max volume. ... - I found it interesting that while the Bose wasn’t as loud at lower volumes (a percentage of total volume adjustment), ultimately the Bose did play louder than the Onyx 5. ... If someone is paying attention, the graph would seem to run counter to my claim that the Bose was overall louder at max volume. ... So the Bose effectively has a volume adjustment of 0-100 when done manually at the speaker. ... And it’s my favorite sounding speaker! ... "
" ... I prefer a 2.1 stereo or a 5.1 surround system, but despite it being a mono speaker, it sounds very full and room filling for for its size. ... "
" ... The volume is mighty and can fill out a large room easily. ... "
" ... I love my speaker. ... "
" ... I heard a friends music with this speaker. ... Speaker has awesome clear sound quality. ... "
" ... Love this speaker. ... "
" ... I absolutely love the sound of this speaker. ... "
" ... The speaker is truly amazing I love it! ... "
Connectivity / Bluetooth
10speaker, best, believe, amazing, volume
+90%
-10%
" ... Connects to cell phone super easy after charging speaker. ... "
" ... Great sound and easy to pair with cell phone. ... "
" ... The bluetooth pairs easily and works very well. ... "
" ... The best Bluetooth speaker that I bought . ... "
" ... All speakers were connected via Bluetooth to an iPhone XS. ... From this testing, I also believe that once you push Bluetooth past about 80%, the BT itself becomes the primary source of distortion, not the speaker & its amplifier. ... "
" ... This speaker is by far the best Bluetooth speaker for under $1000.00 ... "
" ... I am in love with this Bluetooth speaker because the sound quality is amazing! ... "
" ... Do NOT let the size of this compact Bluetooth speaker fool you! ... "
Body / Size
9size, portable, portability, heavy, also
+100%
" ... It's not too heavy and is convenient. ... "
" ... Really THUMPS for its size and stature. ... something this size you pair with a phone? ... "
" ... The speaker is portable, though leaning toward heavy - around 3 kg./ 6.5 pounds. ... "
" ... I like they ditched the legs as well so it's more portable. ... "
" ... It boasts a compact and very stylish form factor making it easy to take it on the go, yet produces sound in a quality and volume of a speaker two to three times its size. ... "
" ... - The Bose Soundlink Revolve+ definitely wins in the portability category. ... It also has the smallest footprint. ... Apparently, you are going to pay for the Bose name and portability. ... "
" ... Powerful little handbag look alike speaker, I love it and it makes my day better listening from it. ... "
" ... I like the style n I use it everywhere ... "
Price
8+100%
" ... A great buy for the price. ... "
" ... I bought mine for $119.00 awesome price. ... Although i would have paid full price. ... "
" ... Very reasonable price for what is being sold. ... "
" ... At this price level it's a steal! ... "
" ... A good bang for your buck ... "
" ... Donovan – Beat Café ... "
" ... The price might hear you but buy it just me when I say you get what you pay for. ... "
" ... I was really nervous because of the price but overally worth it. ... "
Battery
7life, speaker, say, last, usb
+86%
-14%
" ... Great sound, very good battery life. ... "
" ... Connects to cell phone super easy after charging speaker. ... "
" ... I will say that the Bose clearly speaks its battery capacity when you turn it on. ... And possibly the battery life or other features I didn’t cover. ... "
" ... While I don't know about the battery life as of yet what I can say is that the deep base provides such rich tones and the speaker covers our 1st story (approximately 1600sf) very well when put in the right spot on the floor. ... "
" ... Even on battery mode it packs a punch and when plugged in it’s an even more incredible experience. ... "
Sound / Frequencies
4midrange, highs, bass, vocals, studio
+100%
" ... The overall clarity/mid-range and trebles leave something to be desired. ... "
" ... My preference is a curve that is high on the ends (Bass and Treble) and low in the middle (Midrange). ... Strong bass and treble, and a flat midrange. ... The Studio 5 also managed to have better overall staging and ever-so-slightly better vocals and treble. ... The Bose also did very well, but the vocals weren’t quite as forward on the stage. ... This is completely unscientific because higher frequencies will seem louder than lower ones. ... "
" ... This thing has a monster bass and clear highs! ... "
Compatibility & Ports / Device Compatibility
4system, phone, pair, mac, iphone
+100%
" ... Great sound and easy to pair with cell phone. ... "
" ... All speakers were connected via Bluetooth to an iPhone XS. ... - The Bose and HKs are able to wirelessly connect to similar units. ... I hooked up the speaker to my Windows 10 system and it recognized it without issue. ... "
" ... something this size you pair with a phone? ... "
Body / Design
3design, sound quality
+100%
" ... What does the ‘curve’ look like? ... On the Studio 5, HK changed it up and went to a design that now looks more like a woman’s handbag, having a full handle on top. ... "
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Specifications
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