Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks #41 of 75 boombox speakers by sound quality at $159; the EcoXGear Defender ranks #59 and costs $249.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the EcoXGear Defender offers: A rugged 4.54kg outdoor speaker with IP67 protection, a floating design, a flashlight, bottle opener, aux input, USB-C power-bank output and claimed 25-hour battery life. Independent testing found it gets very loud for its size, while its three ecoEQ presets let you choose a bass-heavy default, a more balanced indoor mode or a brighter outdoor mode. Watch for: Its single front-facing driver layout has narrow dispersion: clarity and detail drop noticeably when you move off-axis, and the soundstage is limited. The default setting can be over-bassy at lower volumes, while there is no app, precise EQ, battery indicator or multi-speaker party mode.
What the Skullcandy Barrel offers: 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. Watch for: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. Not as loud as the top ranked speakers. Rolled off treble.
Buy the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks higher for sound quality than the EcoXGear Defender and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Skip the EcoXGear Defender if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 75 boombox speakers.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| EcoXGear Defender | Skullcandy Barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $159.00 |
| Ranked | #59 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (App EQ) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.1A) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| FM Tuner | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | 60W |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 15.4" x 9.6" (170.2 x 391.2 x 243.8 mm) | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm full-range driver | 2x 20mm drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~50Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Skullcandy Barrel compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential vs Skullcandy Barrel
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
EcoXGear Defender: $249.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A rugged 4.54kg outdoor speaker with IP67 protection, a floating design, a flashlight, bottle opener, aux input, USB-C power-bank output and claimed 25-hour battery life. Independent testing found it gets very loud for its size, while its three ecoEQ presets let you choose a bass-heavy default, a more balanced indoor mode or a brighter outdoor mode.
Cons: Its single front-facing driver layout has narrow dispersion: clarity and detail drop noticeably when you move off-axis, and the soundstage is limited. The default setting can be over-bassy at lower volumes, while there is no app, precise EQ, battery indicator or multi-speaker party mode.
Full EcoXGear Defender review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 15.4" x 9.6" (170.2 x 391.2 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm full-range driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
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Skullcandy Barrel: $159.00 Amazon eBay
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. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
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