yugatech x infinix
yugatech choice awards 2024

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 Review

Sound Performance

If the features you just read aren’t what you’re here for, then you’d be glad to know that the Onyx Studio 2 delivers impressive sound. Playing a couple of Adele’s tracks, we were treated to warm, soulful mids that maintain its clarity throughout. The quality is very spot on in a way that you hear even the smallest details like hearing her lips open before singing or her voice generally sounds like she’s actually there with you in the room.

As for the lows, the single bass radiator held its ground and contributed to the table by providing deep, powerful bass kicks. Each thump and bump of the bass is felt and you could really tell it has a lingering oomph in each kick. The highs are decent, but not as satisfying as the mids and lows.

Check out the quick video below showing its bass radiators at work:

Additionally, this speaker could have its volume turned all the way up and it will still maintain clarity with very little to no distortion. This means that it could easily fill a large room with balanced and distinctive sound without breaking a sweat.

One could possibly think that since the bass kicks are really powerful, the whole thing probably vibrates and sort of jumps all over the place. That makes sense, but is not the case with the Onyx Studio 2. The entire speaker stays in place and stands its ground as it uses the rubber tips at its base to absorb the vibration.

Using it for calls yielded the same clear results, sound-wise. Its built-in microphone was able to pick up the voice of everyone in the room while talking over the phone. We were able to distinctly hear the voice from the other end, and the person could also hear us clearly.

Battery Life

The company mentions that its 2600mAh (3.7V) rechargeable Li-Ion battery could last up to 5 hours of continuous playback. Although after playing music non-stop via Bluetooth streaming, it was only able to last for less than three hours. The parameters include Bluetooth playback with 85% volume while playing songs through Spotify.

It doesn’t have any battery indicator so users will never know when it’s about to run out of juice. The case is the same when charging since one wouldn’t know when the device is fully charged or not. What we did was just to leave it unplugged until the time comes that we needed to bring it somewhere else and that’s the only time we unplug it from the socket.

Conclusion

harman-kardon-onyx-studio2-speakers-review-philippines-8

The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 is a worthy upgrade from its first model and now has AUX function if you opt to just go for wired connectivity. We also liked that it has its own rechargeable battery so it doesn’t wholly rely on being plugged to a socket and you can bring it from one room to the other easily. As for the sound, we loved how it could produce really clear audio even when you crank its volume all the way up. Bass is also very impressive thanks to its radiator that adds that needed oomph in every drum kick. One thing we find a bit lacking in this aspect are the highs which can still be improved, if you ask us.

If we had one thing we could demand, though, is that they should have put a way to know how much battery is left on the Onyx Studio 2. It doesn’t show any indication that it is indeed charging or when the battery’s full. So after extended periods of playing music, it will just simply die on you without giving any heads up.

The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 has an SRP of Php14,995USD 256INR 21,662EUR 243CNY 1,861 and is available at JBL Stores.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 specs:
Speakers: 4 x 15W
Frequency Range: 2402MHz – 2480MHz
Impedance: 4 ohm/speaker
Bluetooth 3.0, A2DP, AVRCP
2600mAh (3.7V) Li-Ion battery

What we liked about it:

  • Powerful bass
  • Impressively clear mids
  • Built-in battery
  • AUX input

What we didn’t like:

  • No battery indicator
  • Highs could still be improved
Kevin Bruce Francisco
Kevin Bruce Francisco
Kevin Bruce Francisco is the Senior Editor and Video Producer for YugaTech. He's a Digital Filmmaking graduate who's always either daydreaming of traveling or actually going places on his bike. Follow him on Twitter for more tech updates @kevincofrancis.
  1. highs that have us wanting for more is perhaps Harman’s signature sound. even most JBLs, may it be home-fi, theater sound, or pro audio, they stick to that not so trebly sound yet still nice to listen to. i guess they do that for the ff. reasons:

    1. to emphasize more on the details and warmth of the mids as a trebly sound can overpower mids at times

    2. to keep the experience sweet and free from listening fatigue even for prolonged hours

    3. consistency on their products, maintaining that signature flat and clean sound

    btw, nice reviews from Yugatech. long live Yugatech. an avid reader here. :)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 Review » YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews

Yearly Device Database

Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2024

Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2023

Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2022

Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2021

Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2020

Popular Topics

What We Do

YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews
© 2024. All Rights Reserved.