Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Review
Harman Kardon Onyx Design
The Onyx Studio speaker has the appearance of two black convex lenses joined together and measures 11 inches in diameter. The mid-section is five inches thick. Black cloth covers the front grille that bears the Harman Kardon lettered logo. The rear has a rubberized texture. In the center lies a passive radiator bearing a chrome disc that also features the company logo. Out of the box, a transparent, plastic cover adhere to this disc and must be removed to prevent a strange bass sound. The top rear of the speaker has a built-in handle grip, which enables easy portability of the 4.6 pound device.
The bottom rear of the Onyx Studio has two chrome, fixed legs that are angled back and out, which makes the speaker stand at somewhat of a backward angle. The simplistic, touch-style controls are found on the top outer perimeter of the speaker. Represented by icons are the power, volume + and – and Bluetooth connection buttons. The rear of the Onyx studio also features a micro USB port for downloading firmware and the power port for plugging in the charging adapter.
Below you can find a video from PhoneArena who created a nice Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Review.
Onyx Studio Performance
Contained within the Onyx Studio lie two 3-inch woofers, two 0.75-inch tweeters and two passive radiators. Four channels provide up to 15 watts of power each for a grand total of 60 watts. The manufacturer claims that the speaker also boasts frequencies ranging between 60Hz to 20kHz. For a self-contained Bluetooth device, the speaker performs exceptionally well.
The bass sounds are sufficient to create a slight rumble and the mid-section tones are equally rich. At full volume, the Onyx capably handles the song “Silent Shout,” by The Knife, with plenty of power and no distortion. The warm, lower tones and softened treble that the speaker produces also enhances the popular Rolling Stones hit “Gimme Shelter.” Albeit the initial guitar notes are somewhat subdued by the bass. The overall balance between the low, middle and high tones may disappoint some who prefer rich higher notes heard in music featuring horns or piano. On the other hand, the vocals of “Negasonic Teenage Wasteland” are often overpowered on some speakers by the sharp guitar riffs. However, the combination of boosted low tones and regulated high tones that the Onyx Studio speaker creates provides a more rewarding balance.
Pros of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio
The speaker is sturdy and well-constructed.
The sound quality is balanced though the lower tones are stronger, which will appeal to fans who prefer bass.
For a Bluetooth speaker, the device capably produces rich, powerful sound without distortion.
Though not small, the wireless Harman Kardon Onyx Studio is lightweight and portable, which makes it easy to carry from room to room or outdoors.
The Onyx Studio functions on the fully-charged battery or when plugging the charger/adapter into an outlet.
Cons of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio
The speaker is only compatible with Bluetooth devices, as there is no auxiliary input port.
When fully charged, the battery lasts up to five hours, which is considerably less than comparable competitive models.
The suggested retail price is around $400, though reports indicate consumers may find significant deals when purchasing a smartphone or when shopping at certain discount online venues. A good example is Amazon where at the time of writing (august 2014) the Onyx Studio is for sale at a price around $17
Though a bit larger than most, the wireless and convenient grab-and-carry design is not that off-putting. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio speaker offers superb sound quality without the bulk or hassle of other Bluetooth sound systems.
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