Short answer: the B&O Beolit 20 for better sound quality, the Skullcandy Barrel for the lower price. The B&O Beolit 20 ranks #31 of 73 boombox speakers at $649.99. The Skullcandy Barrel ranks #39 at $150, $499.99 cheaper.
What the B&O Beolit 20 gets right: Wireless phone charging. The catch: Warm sound.
The case for the Skullcandy Barrel: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. The tradeoff: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
Buy the B&O Beolit 20 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Skullcandy Barrel if the price matters more than sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the Skullcandy Barrel at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the B&O Beolit 20 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beolit 20 | Skullcandy Barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $649.99 | $150 |
| Ranked | #31 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 6 lbs / 2.7 kg | 11.9 lbs / 5.4 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Output Power | 240W peak | 60W |
| Dimensions | 5.3" x 9.1" x 7.4" (135 x 230 x 189 mm) | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 30mm tweeters + 2x 40mm mid-range + 1x 60mm woofer + dual passive radiators | 2x 20mm drivers |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB | 104dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beolit 20: $649.99 Amazon
Pros: Wireless phone charging.
Cons: Warm sound. Rolled off treble. Bass not as deep as the Onyx Studio 7
Full B&O Beolit 20 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.3" x 9.1" x 7.4" (135 x 230 x 189 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 30mm tweeters + 2x 40mm mid-range + 1x 60mm woofer + dual passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 240W peak |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 6 lbs / 2.7 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: B&O Beolit 20 vs Earfun UBoom X - everything fake?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: $600 premium Bluetooth speaker vs $115 cheapo UBoom X
- techkiste.net: B&O Beolit 20 vs Vifa Copenhagen 2.0 sound-comparison with different music-genres
- Oluv Patreon: B&O Beolit 20 - frequency response measurements
- Reddit Search for B&O Beolit 20 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Skullcandy Barrel: $150 Amazon
Pros: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. 12 hour battery life. Bass Boost mode. Multi-Link feature connects up to 99 speakers. Doubles as phone charger.
Cons: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. Not as loud as the top ranked speakers. Rolled off treble.
Full Skullcandy Barrel review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 104dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs / 5.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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