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Neither Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 nor Sonos Play 5 were recommended by experts this month

On 4 Mar 2024 (24 days ago) we went through 113 Bluetooth Speaker expert endorsements , however neither Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 nor Sonos Play 5 were included in any of those recommendations. Since neither Bluetooth Speaker received a single endorsement, as far as expert recommendations go, it's technically a tie. We do, however, recommend taking a look at JBL Charge 5 or other critically acclaimed Portable Bluetooth Speakers of this month.

For reference, JBL Charge 5 received 6 endorsements this month, from Digital Trends (26 Feb 2024), WIRED (18 Feb 2024) Tom's Guide (22 Feb 2024) and 3 others.

Rank Change Price Bluetooth Speaker
Digital Trends
TechHive
WIRED
Tom's Guide
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Popular Mechanics
PCMag
SoundGuys
What Hi-Fi
1
- $130
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is a durable and high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker with a well-balanced sound, long battery life, and PartyBoost feature, making it perfect for outdoor activities and gatherings.
15
-
2
12
-
7
-
-
1
1
N/A N/A $250
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
N/A N/A $738
Sonos Play 5
The Sonos Play 5 is a high-end wireless smart speaker that offers exceptional sound quality and is best used indoors or in a covered outdoor area, making it ideal for large rooms.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Curious to see this month's entire Portable Bluetooth Speakers ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Customers like Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 noticeably more

At ReviewFinder we prefer to focus on professional product reviews, because customer reviews can be disproportionately affected by unrelated factors such as delivery, specific seller listing problems, and, of course, fake reviews. With that said, below is the summary of consumer sentiment.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
Sonos Play 5
Consumer score (CS) is a normalized computed representation of customers' sentiment towards a product.
CS of 10 is similar to a 4.8 star review, CS of 0 is similar to a 2 star review.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5, the cheaper option, tends to get more favorable reviews than Sonos Play 5.

As can be seen in the chart above, median best-selling bluetooth speaker receives a consumer score of 9.1 (great). Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 ranks higher than that and Sonos Play 5 ranks lower than that.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
In comparison:
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 ranks #44 out of 189. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.6
Amazing
Sonos Play 5
In comparison:
Sonos Play 5 ranks #148 out of 189. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.2
Great
Median best-selling Bluetooth Speaker
In comparison:
OontZ Angle 3 Ultra ranks #95 out of 189. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.1
Great





Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is more popular than Sonos Play 5

It's fairly safe to say that Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is a more popular bluetooth speaker than Sonos Play 5, based on its 3,000+ reviews. Popularity is determined based on product sales. Note that older and cheaper products tend to sell more.


To consider

Customers who view Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 and Sonos Play 5 often consider Marshall Middleton, a cheaper option.
Table: Top compared alternatives for Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 and Sonos Play 5
Marshall Middleton $237
In comparison:
Marshall Middleton ranks #116 out of 189. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.7
Great
3 expert recommendations Cheaper
JBL Authentics 500 $699
We don't yet have enough review information for JBL Authentics 500
N/A
2 expert recommendations
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen) $201
In comparison:
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen) ranks #107 out of 189. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.8
Great
4 expert recommendations Cheaper
Soundboks Go $699
In comparison:
Soundboks Go ranks #136 out of 189. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.5
Great
2 expert recommendations
Find the best bluetooth speaker in Bluetooth Speaker Finder
Critic Consensus Common points from expert reviews summarized.
As can be seen below, in Mar 2024 neither Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 nor Sonos Play 5 were recommended by key experts who publish Portable Bluetooth Speakers recommendations.
Rank Change Price Bluetooth Speaker
Digital Trends
TechHive
WIRED
Tom's Guide
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Popular Mechanics
PCMag
SoundGuys
What Hi-Fi
1
- $130
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is a durable and high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker with a well-balanced sound, long battery life, and PartyBoost feature, making it perfect for outdoor activities and gatherings.
15
-
2
12
-
7
-
-
1
1
2
+4 $437
Sonos Move 2
4
5
-
5
-
9
-
-
2
-
3
-1 $177
Sonos Roam
The Sonos Roam is a highly versatile and durable portable speaker that delivers excellent sound quality, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, voice assistant integration, and unique features such as Automatic TruePlay and wireless charging.
3
-
10
11
-
1
-
-
-
-
4
-1 $60
Tribit StormBox Micro 2
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is a durable and waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker with powerful sound, long battery life, and versatile connectivity options.
8
-
9
-
-
2
-
-
-
3
Show all rows
Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [8]

No critic scores
Total expert reviews: 8
  • with a score: 0
  • without a score: 8

Expert reviews [16]

84
Total expert reviews: 16
  • with a score: 7
  • without a score: 9
Highest score by TechRadar
90
Average score based on 16 reviews
84
Lowest score by MacRumors
80

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
From Seller:
  • Harman Kardon Onyx studio 5 Bluetooth 4. 2 enables wireless streaming for room-filling sound & Speakerphone lets you take hands-free calls
  • Rechargeable battery provides up to 8 hours of playtime, so you can keep the party going all night long
  • Read more
From Seller:
  • Our biggest and best-sounding speaker featuring six amplifiers with six dedicated speaker drivers. Fill even the largest rooms with pure, brilliant sound. Stereo pair for an even better sound experience.
  • Read more
From Manufacturer Manufacturer-provided product description, urls and documents.
EAN Numbers: 0028292282997, 0028292283000, 0028292283017, 6925281938191
UPC Numbers: 028292282997, 028292283000, 028292283017
EAN Numbers: 0878269001621, 0878269001690, 8717755773029, 8717755773043
UPC Numbers: 878269001621, 878269001690
Model Numbers: B07ML4JRMZ, B07MPD7N8C, PL5G2UK1, PL5G2UK1BLK, PL5G2US1, PL5G2US1BLK
Physical Features
Dimensions
Loading product dimensions...
Loading product dimensions...
Weight

4.1 lbs
 

14 lbs
 
Water Resistance

Speakers range from not being able to handle even a drop of water to being able to be fully submerged in water for several minutes. Do you plan to take your speaker outside? To the beach? To the pool? In the shower? Then you definitely need to verify the level of water resistance before purchasing. You can tell the water resistance by the IP rating—the higher the rating, the more resistant the speaker is to the elements. For reference, the first digit refers to dust protection and the second digit refers to water protection. It reads as: IP68. Anything higher than IP66 will be dust- and splash-proof, meaning it can handle some contact with water, but cannot be fully submerged or soaked.

Water Resistant IPX rating if applicable
No
IPX4 - Splash proof
Dustproof Dust is a difficult element to combat, since it accumulates naturally and you have very little control over its ability to clog up your speaker. Dust and electronics just don’t get along very well. A ... Show more
No
Yes
Rugged Design Bluetooth speakers can be durable, rugged, shockproof, dustproof, armored, splash-proof, water resistant and waterproof - all of which can be overwhelming and confusing. In order for a speaker to be c ... Show more
No
Yes
Battery

Battery life for Bluetooth speakers is measured in milliampere hours (mAh). Manufacturers will report the battery life of a speaker in the average number of hours it takes to empty from a full charge. Keep in mind this number is based on medium levels of usage. If you play the speaker on full volume, it will drain the battery faster. Some specialty features like using the speaker to charge your phone or casting an LED light show will also drain the battery faster. The manufacturer reported number is just an estimate, and may be slightly different based on your usage.

It’s also important to consider is the type of battery. Rechargeable lithium-ion (LI-ion) batters are ideal, but some speakers only take standard or rechargeable AA/AAA/C/D batteries. You may even find Bluetooth speakers that recharge via solar power—great for outdoor use!

Battery Life
8 hours
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Charging Time How long it takes to charge the battery
5 hours
no data Know this info? Contribute!
battery_charging_full Power Bank This refers to the speaker’s ability to act as a charging station for your device. In addition to input power (which charges the speaker), some speakers also come with output power, meaning it can cha ... Show more
No
No
Sound Quality
speaker_group Sound System A speaker’s sound system is described as either mono or stereo. Mono speakers play audio from a single channel, giving the impression that the sound is coming from one direction. Stereo uses two or mo ... Show more
Stereo
Stereo
speaker_group Number of Drivers To understand the inner-workings of a Bluetooth speaker, look first at the number and type of drivers. Drivers are the cones or horn-shaped objects inside the speaker box. The number of drivers tells ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
6
wifi_tethering Subwoofer Having a separate speaker driver dedicated to the lower frequency tones gives your speaker a more robust, rounded out sound. It allows the other drivers to focus on the sounds that they’re best equipp ... Show more
No
No
Speaker Breakdown Use the speaker breakdown to better understand sound quality based on the makeup of the speaker. Manufacturers will often report additional details on the speaker drivers, such as the shape (cone or d ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
6 dedicated speaker drivers
graphic_eq Frequency Range Measured in Hertz (Hz), frequency response range describes how high and low a speaker can play. The larger the range, the better the speaker will be at reproducing the audio being played. As a frame o ... Show more
2402MHz – 2480MHz
no data Know this info? Contribute!
wifi_tethering Connectivity
Hands-Free Function If you plan on using your speaker to make and take calls, it needs to come equipped with a built-in microphone and speakerphone. To make a call, you can use voice-activated dialing or key in the numbe ... Show more
No
No
device_hub Connects to Multiple Devices In most cases, your Bluetooth speaker will connect to one device at a time and your device will connect to one Bluetooth speaker at a time. Some speakers come equipped with a feature that allows you t ... Show more
Yes
No
settings_input_composite Aux Cable Port While Bluetooth is a quick and easy way to connect your device to a speaker, at times you may want to use a hardwired connection instead. You would do this through a 3.5mm headphone or auxiliary jack. ... Show more
Yes
No
phonelink_ring Remote / App Control Apart from the controls on the speaker itself, some Bluetooth speakers may come with a remote to turn the speaker on or off, activate Bluetooth scanning, turn volume up or down, or respond to calls. I ... Show more
No
No
speaker_group Connects to Other Speakers Generally speaking, Bluetooth speakers aren’t usually meant to connect to other Bluetooth speakers unless they come equipped with a hub or transmitter. In those situations, your device connects to the ... Show more
Yes
Yes
nfc NFC Near Field Communication (NFC) is a new technology that allows you to connect devices by simple tapping them together. To use it, your device (phone, tablet, computer, etc.) and your speaker must have ... Show more
No
No
AirPlay AirPlay is a feature for Apple products that offers another way to connect your devices to Bluetooth speakers. The speaker must come equipped with AirPlay in order for you to connect your Apple device ... Show more
No
Yes
radio FM Radio
No
Yes
Additional Features
Additional Features Any other features that make this device unique
Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
Apple AirPlay-compatible with iOS devices
Accessories Chargers, cables, cases that come with the device
1x Power adaptor
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Loading price comparison chart...

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is a popular and one of the more expensive options. It's in the top 3 bestselling bluetooth speakers and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as JBL Extreme 3 or JBL PartyBox 100 .

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 was released in 2018. There are a lot of newer bluetooth speakers on the market. Show newer Bluetooth Speakers

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 is $124.96 more expensive than an average bluetooth speaker ($124.99).

Sonos Play 5 is a well-known and one of the most expensive options. It's in the top 3 bestselling bluetooth speakers and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Soundboks Go or JBL Authentics 500 .

Sonos Play 5 is $623.01 more expensive than an average bluetooth speaker ($124.99).

You might also like:

High-rated Bluetooth Speakers in a similar price range.

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