JBL belongs to Harman Kardon brand, so Jbl xtreme vs onyx studio are manufactured by similar manufacturers. JBL Xtreme is portable speakers and will be ideal for you if you spend more hours outdoor. The shoulder strap makes it easy to carry but it doesn’t have any handle which would be much easier.
Between JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio, the Onyx Studio has comparatively better sound quality. The Studio 5 and 6 comes with handle which improves portability. It has only one downside which is the battery life but it will not be an issue if you don’t spend much time outdoors.
You can easily use it in your yard or patio so that it can be charged easily. If you are wondering, between JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio, which is best for what? JBL Xtreme is best for medium sized rooms but can also fill large spaces. These are known as ‘party speakers’ and you should considering buying this if you want to play it by the pool or beach.
JBL Xtreme 3 is both dustproof and waterproof so you can take it to a sports field or use it in rain. JBL Xtreme has the best battery life compared to Onyx Studio. Onyx Studio can fill large spaces as well. Both these speakers have excellent deep and tight bass but the Onyx Studio has the best sound quality.
JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio: Product review
The following section provides a comprehensive and in-detailed comparison of JBL Xtreme and Onyx Studio versions.
JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio 3
Style
Onyx Studio 3 is a rounded speaker that is available white, black, burgundy, navy and grey. It sits on two hard rubber feet and is covered by mesh speaker grill. The rear side has a handle which is more like an ‘embedded grip’. This makes it easy to carry.
Comparing the JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio 2 design, the Xtreme has cylindrical shape wrapped by woven speaker grille. The JBL Xtreme is made of splash proof material and has two metal hooks to which you can add your should strap.
The bottom side has strong plastic feet and LED light that indicates battery life. The rear side has an orange jipper that opens to show service button, aux in, the power input, two USB outputs.
Functions
Onyx Studio 3 has built-in microphone that allows you to initiate phone calls as well as conferences. It has noise and echo cancelling feature which makes the calls clearer. The Bluetooth 4.1 works fairly up to 30 ft. and you can pair up to 3 devices at a time. There is also an older version and between Onyx Studio 2 vs Onyx Studio 3, the older version has Bluetooth 3.0.
Weather-sealed (splashproof), dustproof, and water-resistant are all features of the JBL Xtreme, which the Onyx Studio 5 lacks.
The Bluetooth versions are similar in these speakers. It also allows pairing a maximum of three devices together. If you power them on later, the devices will still remain connected. Just like the Studio 3, the Xtreme has speakerphone and the noise and Echo cancelling feature make the voices clear.
Performance
Between JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio 3, the driver sizes are different. The advantage of large cabinet is that the sound production will be accurate and it can produce ‘wide sound spread’. The woofers are placed on top and bottom side. The bass is deep yet it doesn’t overpower higher frequencies.
The tweeters remain on both side of the Logo, which creates a ‘spatial’ and broader sound dispersion. The performance compensated the poor battery life. It has a warm and well-balanced sound that has rich vocals and powerful audio. The bass is the main attraction of the speaker which remains rich and warm even at high volume.
You can easily use the speakers in gardens, yards or any open area and still get pleasant sound. The sound is full and has excellent natural separation. Comparing JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio, the Xtreme has two passive radiators on both ends.
With Xtreme, you will get powerful stereo sound which improves further when you connect two or more JBL speakers. Similar to Onkyo Studio 3, the JBL Xtreme has impressive deep and clean bass. You will not get audiophile-grade sound from wireless portable speaker and that’s what we expect.
The treble region needs some improvement. The speaker uses DSP which enhances the sound. You can play music at maximum volume without any distortion. One thing to notice is, when the speaker starts playing a track, it will play the file at lower volume initially but will boost up to tuned volume.
Other features
Connecting multiple speakers
You can easily connect two Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 speakers. However, these speakers will not produce left and right stereo, rather they will be dual mono. You can easily play in multi-room with central control. If you want to listen to a single unit, then you need to disconnect the pairing.
Then again have to re-connect for dual playing of files. This seems quite a hassle and there should be an app to control these functions.
Comparing JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio 3, the JBL makes connecting speakers easier. With dedicated JBL Connect button, you can connect to multiple JBL speakers. You can connect to another JBL Xtreme or other speaker like JBL Flip 3.
Battery life
The battery is the one and only downside of the Studio 3. It takes 5 hours to charge with a playback of 5 hours only. If you play at high volume, then it will last for only couple of hours. This gives us a hint as if the speaker is built to mostly use it with mains.
Between JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio3 battery life, the Xtreme wins with a playback time of up to 15 hours.
The battery is more powerful than the Studio and takes less time to charge. In real life, the battery lasts around 14 hours. To save battery life, the speaker will automatically shut off if it remains idle for half an hour.
Controls
There are five controls at the top side of the Onyx Studio 3: Bluetooth, call receives or disconnect/ play or pause, volume up, volume down, and power button. The design is simplistic; the buttons are soft and easy to press. The power and Bluetooth buttons are backlit.
The Xtreme displays the controls on the top panel Bluetooth, volume down, power button, JBL connect button, volume up, and a play/pause button.
JBL Xtreme Pros
- At max volume, battery lasts 6 hours
- Excellent sound quality
- Deep bass
- Dsp minimizes distortion
- Highly portable
- splashproof
Cons
- Some units may have problem in battery.
Onyx Studio 3 Pros
- Impressive sound
- Accurate stereo imaging
- Deep and clean bass
- Easy controls
- Well-built
- Easy to hold ‘grip’
Cons
- Sound may seem btight at max volume.
- Poor battery life
JBL Xtreme 2 vs Onyx Studio 5
Style
Between JBL Xtreme vs JBL Xtreme 2, the Xtreme 2 has Bluetooth 4.2 and has IPX7 water proof rating. Other features and controls are almost similar to the JBL Xtreme. The Xtreme 2 is slightly larger than the Xtreme. The fabric grille and rubber port have IPX7 and is waterproof. There’s a five LED on the bottom side of the front part of the speaker. This acts as a power bank.
The differences between Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Onyx Studio 3 starts with looks. The Studio 5 doesn’t have legs found in previous models up to Onyx Studio 4. It sits o rubber bottom and has aluminium handle which makes portability easier. The controls are shifted on the front panel of the speaker. Comparing JBL Xtreme 2 vs Onyx Studio 5, the Studio 5 is not waterproof. It is available in black , blue and grey.
Functions
Both these speakers support Bluetooth 4.2 but have aptX or AAC. For JBL Xtreme 3 Bluetooth pairing, you can connect two devices at a time. Onyx Studio also allows pairing of 2 devices simultaneously. Between JBL Xtreme 2 vs JBL Xtreme 3, the Xtreme 2 supports Google Assistant with smartphone.
JBL Xtreme 2 is Weather-sealed (splashproof), dustproof and water-resistant while Onyx Studio 5 doesn’t have that.
Between Onyx Studio 4 vs Onyx Studio 5, the Studio 5 doesn’t have built-in mic for speakerphone. The LED light on the front panel will glow red when the battery is low. Onyx Studio 5 Bluetooth works up to 50 ft given that there are no obstacles.
Performance
With JBL Xtreme 2, you can expect deeper bass as the passive radiators enhances bass and it can get as low as 55Hz. Between JBL Xtreme 2 vs Onyx Studio 5, the Studio 5 seems to have deeper bass. The Xtreme 2 sounds better than the Xtreme. The speakers can get very loud so with 75% volume you can hear it 30 to 40 ft away.
Their performance will be mostly good in outdoors. In some cases, the loudness might be inadequate for you. JBL Xtreme 2 is a party speaker and the overall sound quality is impressive. It has clean treble and decent mids. The sound is delicate and it has excellent stereo imaging.
Comparing JBL Xtreme 2 vs Onyx Studio 5 drivers, the Studio 5 has larger drivers along with passive radiator. The large woofer, passive radiators and lower frequency response, makes it the best bass speaker. The bass is deeper and tighter compared to previous Onyx Studio models.
Another major difference between JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio is that, the Studio 5 doesn’t have stereo separation whereas the Xtreme 2 has. The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 delivers a natural life-like sound with precision.
The mids and highs are decent but bass is what separates it from other Bluetooth speakers. The vocals are clear, full-bodied and pronounced.
Other features
With JBL Connect +, you can connect up to 100 JBL speakers. This seems to be a good thing, but in real life no one will buy more than 2 speakers, let alone 100. It can be connected to JBL speakers that have Connect+. JBL Charge 4 has Connect + but you can’t connect it with JBL Charge 3 or Flip 4.
The Onyx Studio 5 doesn’t have the ability to pair with other Onyx speakers. You can only pair it with another Onyx Studio 5. Connecting two speakers is what the speaker calls dual mode. You can do this to achieve more powerful sound but they will not play in stereo mode.
Comparing Onyx Studio 4 vs Onyx Studio 5, the Studio 4 can connect up to 100 other speakers with Connect+. Also, it works with HK Connect app which the Studio 5 doesn’t. The Studio 5 has two bass modes. Ideally, the speaker will be in high mode but, you can change it to low mode. This is done by pressing the Bluetooth and volume down button together and waiting for 10s.
Battery life
JBL Xtreme 2 battery life is similar to Xtreme. If you play at moderate volume, it will last around 19 hours. This is very useful if you plan on partying near the beach the whole day. But bear in mind that you need AC adapter for charging and not micro USB.
Xtreme 2 has 7h longer battery life than Onyx Studio 5.
JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio, which one has more powerful battery? The winner is always JBL Xtreme. Onyx Studio 5 battery will last for around 3 hours at maximum volume and 8 hours at half of it.
Controls
You can control JBL speakers through JBL app. For Onyx Studios, between Onyx Studio 4 vs Onyx Studio 5, you can control the Studio 4 via Harman Kardon app but not the Studio 5.
JBL Xtreme 2 Pros
- IPX7 waterproof
- Well-balanced sound
- Deep bass
- Excellent stereo separation
- Rugged design
- Higher battery life
Cons
- Average loudness
Onyx Studio 5 Pros
- Deeper and tighter bass
- Can get very loud
- Excellent sound quality
- Easy to carry handle
- Premium fabric grille
- No distortion at max.volume
Cons
- Isn’t compatible with HK apps
JBL Xtreme 3 vs Onyx 6
Style
JBL Xtreme 3 has three different colors: black, blue and camouflage. The shape and controls are similar to the previous models. Onyx Studio 6 has similar design like Studio 5. It is available in black, blue, and gray.
Functions
One major difference between JBL Xtreme 3 vs Onyx Studio 6 it that, the Xtreme 3 supports Bluetooth 5.1 with AAC and SBC codecs but the Studio 6 has 4.2 version with SBC only. Studio 6 can hold connection up to 50 ft when you are outside. The higher version is better because it ensures greater Bluetooth range and lower energy usage.
Between JBL Xtreme 2 vs JBL Xtreme 3, the Xtreme 3 has USB-C charging port; it is lightweight and doesn’t include the speakerphone feature of Xtreme 2. Both speakers allow connecting two devices a time.
Performance
JBL Xtreme 3 sounds sharper whereas the Xtreme 2 has a warm sound profile. The sound quality is neutral with decent soundstage and stereo separation. The vocals are clear, again, the bass is chest-thumping. These speakers can get loud enough to use in large or crowded rooms.
Overall, the audio is powerful and satisfactory. However, comparing JBL Xtreme 3 vs Onyx Studio 6, the Studio 6 has slightly better sound quality. In the Studio 6, all drivers and bass radiator lies on the front side. It produces thumping and rumbling bass that will satisfy bass heads.
Other frequencies are well-balanced, the vocals are clear and overall, the audio is impressive. The speakers are also very loud. The drivers, DSP and other features ensure the sound remain warm and natural even at max volume.
Other features
JBL Xtreme 3 is one of the best outdoor speakers because it has a sturdy build, it is waterproof and dustproof. Unlike Xtreme 2, it doesn’t have Connect+ to connect to 100 other JBL speakers. The Xtreme 3 has partyboost feature and you can only pair it with other ‘partyboost JBL’ speakers.
Between Onyx Studio 5 vs Onyx Studio 6, the Studio 6 finally has IPX7 rating. It is waterproof similar to Xtreme 3 but not dustproof.
Battery life
JBL Xtreme 3 has a 7h longer battery life than Onyx Studio 6.
JBL Xtreme 3 will last or 15 hours with 2.5 hours of charging time. This time you can charge the speaker with USB-C charging port. Similar to older models, it shows 8 hours of battery life but in real time testing, it may last 4 to 5 hours.
Controls
You can control the Xtreme 3 speaker with JBL Portable app which you can download in iOS or Android. For Onyx Studio 6, there is no app to adjust EQ settings. You can pair two Onyx Studio 6 speakers to get more powerful and louder sound but you will get mono sound not stereo.
The Onyx Studio 5 can also be paired with Studio 6 but not with Studio 4 or older versions. This is known as Wireless Dual Sound. The Studio 6 doesn’t support any voice assistant like the Studio 5.
JBL Xtreme 2 Pros
- Waterproof & dustproof
- Excellent stereo separation
- Long playback time
- JBL app to control speakers
Cons
- Average loudness
Onyx Studio 5 Pros
- Excellent bass
- Waterproof
- Impressive loudness
- waterproof
Cons
- mono sound
Parting words
JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio, which one is the best? The latest models of both these series have the newest technology, for instance Bluetooth. In terms of affordability, you can choose JBL Xtreme 2. However, the JBL Xtreme 3 is sturdier and has higher Bluetooth version. But you can easily overlook these features.
On the other hand, between JBL Xtreme vs Onyx Studio, the Onyx Studio 6 sounds better and has deeper bass. The bass is room-shaking and will satisfy if you are a bass head. Compromising Bluetooth 5.1 and no speakerphone, you can be fully satisfied with it. It also has lower battery life compared to JBL Xtreme.
Onyx Studio 5 or older models have mediocre performance and they do not even have weatherproof rating which is a must if you are considering a portable speaker. If you can increase your budget, then JBL Xtreme 3 is quite a rugged speaker with latest Bluetooth version among all models discussed here. However, Onyx Studio will be a wise choice also.
The Onyx Studio has a more natural sound profile. The JBL Xtreme, on the other hand, is more well-made, with a longer battery life and better soundstage performance.
FAQ
What are some of the best portable speaker under $300?
Some of the best portable speakers under $300 are:
- Marshall Stockwell Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Black (4091390)
- Sony SRSX55/BLK Powerful Portable Bluetooth Speaker
- Sony SRSX55/BLK Powerful Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Are wireless Bluetooth speakers good?
Bluetooth is the best way to go wireless. This allows you to wirelessly connect to multiple devices including smartphone, tablets, iPhones easily. Some wireless speakers also rely on Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth.
One drawback of Bluetooth is that, you need to stay within the Bluetooth range, otherwise you will be disconnected.
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