All > Onyx Studio 7
Onyx Studio 7
Retail Price
$299.95
Lowest Price
$174.99
Release Date
April 2021
The Onyx Studio 7 is a great value proposition offering great sound, room-filling volumes, high-quality materials, and an upscale design, all at a price that undercuts its competitors. Also, it doesn’t rely on gimmicks such as a built-in light show, assistant integration, or auto-DSPs. It’s bulky, heavy, and sounds great.
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Overview
- Value for Money
- Design
- Sound Performance
- Aesthetic
- Conclusion
- Positive
- Negative
Value for Money - The Onyx Studio 7 is Harman Kardon's latest portable Bluetooth speaker that feels like it's shot out of a time machine. Despite delivering a powerful bass depth that appeals to those looking for thunder, it's almost not worth the $479.95 price as it falls short on common features seen on speakers half its price or less due to lack of EQ to adjust audio performance, water resistance, and having an outdated Bluetooth codec support. Overall, you can get a better performance for the price or even for less.
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
Design - It has a changed design resembling a handbag and a stereo output with a better sound stage.
DLX Willington
03/13/2021
Sound Performance - It has a great sound that's perfect for any occasion, almost any setting from a bedroom to a party at a friend's house, and with a long battery life that allows all-day use without the need to replace the battery. Plus, it's waterproof.
Aesthetic - It's a beautiful reversal of modern consumer audio trends in the era of miniaturization, portability, and smartening.
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Conclusion - It's a great value proposition offering great sound, room-filling volumes, high-quality materials, and an upscale design, all at a price that undercuts its competitors. Also, it doesn't rely on gimmicks such as a built-in light show, assistant integration, or auto-DSPs. It's bulky, heavy, and sounds great.
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Sources
Tags
- Value for Money
- Design
- Sound Performance
- Aesthetic
- Conclusion
Sources
- PCMag
- YouTube
- Carroll/Fletcher
- Medium
See All Sources
Cons & Pros
- Cons
- Pros
- Positive
- Negative
Cons - Its cons are that it feels like a Bluetooth speaker from a few years ago as its high price and spartan feature set aren't enough to compete by today's standards, and it doesn't have a lot of bass, though it's not a big deal to some people, others might find it to be a problem.
See All Sources
Build & Design
- Accessories
- Build
- Controls
- Design
- Dimensions
- Display
- Handle
- Inputs
- Portable
- Power Cable
- Positive
- Negative
Accessories - It comes with a quick start guide, warranty information, warning information, a charging brick, PSU, American/UK cable, and a speaker with a mesh on the outside.
The Ascend Tech Ninja
03/10/2021
Build - It's a portable speaker with a battery and built-in handle, but it's on the heavy side, so it's portable in a room-to-room sense and less in the throw-it-in-a-bag or take-it-camping sense. Inside, it has dual 1-inch (25mm) tweeters and a single 4.8-inch (120mm) woofer combined for 50 watts making it a 2.1 sound system delivering a frequency range of 50Hz to 20kHz. The passwords are on top, and the 3.5mm headphone jack is at the back. Overall, it's made entirely of blue fabric.
Controls - On top of the grille are the push-button controls for Bluetooth pairing for smartphones, computers, and other Onyx 7 for a stereo effect, power, playback that can be tapped twice for forward skip but no back navigation, and volume up/down. The buttons have an LED below the power button to determine when Bluetooth connects or indicate battery life.
Design - It has a perfect design, a sleek body with 2 front-facing speakers, and an edge-to-edge glass display. It's flexible and bendable and can be easily carried with hands. While Studio 6 resembles a designer handbag, Studio 7 resembles the planet Saturn, and Studio 1, with its cloth and metallic material.
Dimensions - It's extremely slim and light, with 12 x 10.6 x 6.3-inch dimensions and a 7.26-pound weight. It fits easily in a handbag or laptop bag for daily use. It's available in black, blue, or white cloth grilles and has a rounded body that seems to hover inside its ring-like handle.
Display - It has a scratch-resistant glass display with 400 dots per inch, meaning there will be no problems with watching movies or playing games, and it can be used to input commands.
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Handle - Its handle is the speaker's stand with a rubber piece for an upright position on a flat surface. It's an interesting design that won't be for everyone, but it is nice for the company to push the envelope in the portable speaker realm making it different from other speakers look-wise. Also, it's different from the other generations except for the 1st one, but with an adonis aluminum handle.
Inputs - At the back is a recessed panel that houses the connection options for the included power adapter, a 3.5mm aux input, and a USB-C port for service or firmware updates. However, there's no included cable for the aux input despite its price. Also, the power brick will disappoint users moving over to USB-C.
Portable - It's a great portable music player with loud stereo speakers and great sound quality. It's a great device for those who want to use a portable wireless speaker anywhere. However, a user doesn't recommend taking it on a trip regularly as they find it portable in that it can be moved around the house while doing chores without keeping it plugged in, but not in a hike or anything else.
Power Cable - It comes with a standard power cable that's 19 volts and 2 amps, meaning 38 watts is coming out of it, so it's possible via USB-C, but it would be flimsy.
TechVideoEN
03/20/2021
Sources
Tags
- Accessories
- Build
- Controls
- Design
- Dimensions
- Display
- Handle
- Inputs
- Portable
- Power Cable
Sources
- YouTube
- PCMag
- Carroll/Fletcher
- Medium
The Ascend Tech Ninja
03/10/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
TeachVideoEN
03/20/2021
The Ascend Tech Ninja
03/10/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
TechVideoEN
03/20/2021
The Ascend Tech Ninja
03/10/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
DLX Willington
03/13/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
DLX Willington
03/13/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
TechVideoEN
03/20/2021
See All Sources
Battery & Charging
- Battery Life
- Battery Size
- Charging Time
- Positive
- Negative
Battery Life - It has a Li-ion battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh that can last for 300hrs standby and 14hrs of talk time, though not the longest in the industry, but also not the shortest. Performance-wise, it can last 8-12 hours on a single charge, generating 20 watts of power, which is enough to fill a room with music; it can also last an entire day with heavy usage and even more if brightness is reduced, with an impressive standby time as it can stand by your phone for about 2 days when Wi-Fi/GPS is not enabled. However, charging time can take up to 5hrs.
Battery Size - It has a 3250mm size battery that's a bit small considering the size of the speaker, so you'll only be able to get 8hrs of listening in time, but it depends on how high or low the volume is.
The Ascend Tech Ninja
03/10/2021
Sources
Tags
- Battery Life
- Battery Size
- Charging Time
Sources
- Carroll/Fletcher
- PCMag
- Medium
- YouTube
See All Sources
Features
- Bluetooth
- Compatibility
- Connectivity
- Pairing
- Storage
- Waterproof
- Positive
- Negative
Bluetooth - It has Bluetooth 4.2 instead of 5.1, but it still sounds great and allows the use of stereo. It also connects with smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth, so you won't need a wire to connect it. The range is impressive as users can stream from their desktop to their balcony.
Compatibility - It runs most apps in compatibility mode, and it can't run apps like Snapchat and Instagram that requires Android 4.4 or above, but the device can be rooted to get full access via Play Store. Also, it's compatible with almost every device, and all you need to do is hold your tablet or smartphone up to it. The device will instantly turn on Bluetooth and connect to the device, making it easier for people who don't know much about their device or Bluetooth.
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Connectivity - For connectivity options, its Bluetooth audio connection supports Bluetooth 4.2 and SPC, which are low considering that Bluetooth 5.1 and Sony's ldank are the latest, so you won't get the best connection and sound quality, but it still sounds good. Additionally, it has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with DLNA & Wireless screen mirroring support, microUSB 2.0, Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR, GPS with A-GPS, NFC, and GLONASS support, a 3.5 mm audio jack on top for connecting headphones or speakers, an FM Radio support via TuneIn Radio app, and a stereo pair support similar to the 5 and 6, done by connecting to another Studio 7 by pressing and holding the button for 5 seconds. In contrast, it doesn't support AptX or AAC codex; thus, it can't play Hi-Fi songs, and there's no companion app with EQ, so the sound signature can't be adjusted.
Pairing - It's still on Bluetooth 4.2, but its tried-and-true wireless components work well with no issues in pairing with various devices, including Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. Similar to the 5 and 6, it can be paired in stereo by pressing and holding the play and pause buttons for 3 seconds.
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Storage - It has 32 GB of memory, enough to store hundreds of songs and thousands of photos, and 4 GB of internal storage for storing music, videos, and pictures in its memory. You can expand the memory using a MicroSD card if it's insufficient.
Sources
Tags
- Bluetooth
- Compatibility
- Connectivity
- Pairing
- Storage
- Waterproof
Sources
- Medium
- Carroll/Fletcher
- YouTube
- PCMag
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Caroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
The Ascend Tech Ninja
03/10/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
TechVideoEN
03/20/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
See All Sources
Performance & Specification
- Durability
- Treble Performance
- Sound Performance
- Vocals Performance
- Sound
- Bass Sound
- Sound Bluetooth
- Tweeters & Woofers
- Positive
- Negative
Durability - It's a strong, sturdy, and durable speaker that's powerful enough to withstand a fall of 1.2 meters in height and still work fine. Thus, it can be carried anywhere without worrying about tearing it up or damaging it, as it also features a bendable metal neck that allows convenient positioning.
Treble Performance - The guitars and drums in One Ear's were textured, while the high hats are slightly over-sharpened, but it can be resolved if the speaker is used in a larger space or outside. Also, the over-sharpening in the upper treble didn't translate into sibilance in poorly-mastered songs such as Satisfy.
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Sound Performance - It features powerful dual front-facing speakers that provide a crystal clear sound with deep bass that makes it suitable for all music enthusiasts.
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Vocals Performance - It gave a pleasant low-mid richness paired with a high-mid crispness on Callahan's baritone vocals, and the acoustic strums and higher-register percussive hits get enough high-mid and high-frequency presence to keep things bright and defined. Overall, it's a highly boosted and sculpted mix with lots of added bass depth. In another track, it delivered the vocals clearly and cleanly, without much-added sibilance, but at times it sounds like they're battling for space with the added bass thunder.
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
Sound - It's an impressive speaker in terms of sound quality, as it plays nice mid-bass and lower-range bass, and even the mids are good.
TechVideoEN
03/20/2021
Bass Sound - In a track with less deep bass in the mix, such as Bill Callahan's Drover, gives a better sense of Studio 7's general sound signature with thunderous drums on the track, like the sub-bass in the previous track, with the speaker on a resonant surface, it will vibrate intensely. Overall, the sound quality of Studio 7 is clear and loud and can easily fill a hall with a nice bass, and the music doesn't break or crack at higher volumes with a better mix than Studio 5, making it perfect for listening to songs, watching movies, and playing games.
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
Sound Bluetooth - Its upper register is clear and articulate but not wholly bright or airy, and it's also surprising how many details it picked up, even when streaming over Bluetooth. However, JBL struggled with treble cohesion and recalled some of their past portable speakers.
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Tweeters & Woofers - It runs on a 120mm main woofer and 2 25mm tweeters with 50W by amp in AC mode, and in DC mode, it can be even lower. The tweeters and woofers tell that it walked away from the mono sound and is now into the stereo sound output.
DLX Willington
03/13/2021
Sources
Tags
- Durability
- Treble Performance
- Sound Performance
- Vocals Performance
- Sound
- Bass Sound
- Sound Bluetooth
- Tweeters & Woofers
Sources
- Carroll/Fletcher
- Medium
- PCMag
- YouTube
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
TechVideoEN
03/20/2021
PCMag - Tim Gideon
05/05/2021
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
DLX Willington
03/13/2021
See All Sources
Comparison
- Onyx Studio 7 vs Studio 6
- Positive
- Negative
Onyx Studio 7 vs Studio 6 - Performance-wise, Studio 6 has a better sound stage than Studio 7 because of the stereo sound that the 2 tweeters are putting out now. The 6 sounds brighter because the highs are sharper than on the 7, but they're not bad highs and still sound good because of the tweeters putting out separate channels left and right, and the 7s sound deeper, allowing you to hear better. Also, you can hear more spatial sounds from the 7 than the directional and mono sounds from the 6.
DLX Willington
03/13/2021
Sources
Tags
- Onyx Studio 7 vs Studio 6
Sources
- YouTube
DLX Willington
03/13/2021
See All Sources
Availability & Price
- Availability & Price
- Value
Availability & Price - It's available for a promotional price of $199 from the official T-Mobile website when you purchase any other accessory with it. Alternatively, it's available on the H/K website for a full price of $479.
Medium - Aaron
05/05/2021
Value - For Rs. 8,000, it's one of the most portable devices out there that can be carried anywhere without any hassle making it an amazing speaker for a great price.
Carroll Fletcher
11/30/2021
See All Sources
Miscellaneous
- Lack - USB-C
- Lacks
- Limitation
- Positive
- Negative
Lack - USB-C - It sounds and looks great, but it doesn't have a USB-C charging possibility, unlike with Xtreme 3.
Lacks - The V3s Pro can't be directed to specific rooms or follow virtual boundaries due to its lack of WiFi, onboard cameras, or LiDAR sensors. Also, no mapping is probably not a problem if you only have a few rooms, but don't expect it to remember where it has already swept like more sophisticated vacs can.
Mashable - Leah Stodart
12/04/2021
Limitation - The ILIFE V3s Pro would be a dependable cleaning partner for spaces where hair and crumbs show up frequently.
Mashable - Leah Stodart
12/04/2021
See All Sources
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