Short answer: the ION Tailgater TD, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #95 of 111 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 2.3/5, at $109; the ION Pathfinder Go ranks #107, rated 2.0/5, at $109. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 111 boombox speakers; for better sound, the Bugani Brief Pro ranks #28 at $99.98.
The case for the ION Tailgater TD: A rugged IPX5 speaker with a 5.25 inch woofer and 2 inch tweeter at 7.1 lbs (3.24 kg), lighter than the ION Tailgater Classic. The tradeoff: Its bass is nowhere near as deep as top ranked boomboxes like the Tribit Stormbox Blast and Harman Kardon Go + Play 3, which reach down to about 43 Hz and 35 Hz.
Why pick the ION Pathfinder Go: A smaller sibling of the ION Pathfinder 280 with a 6.5” woofer, two 2.5” tweeters and a claimed 65W, IPX5, USB-C charging, a USB charge-out, FM radio, an aux input and app EQ with Stereo-Link pairing. Watch for: RTINGS measured a boomy bass bump and a harsh peak in the upper mids, and found the larger ION Pathfinder 280 and ION Pathfinder 320 both better and louder.
Buy the ION Tailgater TD. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ION Pathfinder Go at the same price, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged IPX5 speaker with a 5.25 inch woofer and 2 inch tweeter at 3.24 kg, lighter than the ION Tailgater Classic.
Amazon $109.00 eBay
A smaller sibling of the ION Pathfinder 280 with a 6.5” woofer, two 2.5” tweeters and a claimed 65W, IPX5, USB-C charging, a USB charge-out, FM radio, an aux input and app EQ with Stereo-Link pairing.
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Specifications Side By Side
| ION Tailgater TD | ION Pathfinder Go | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.00 | $109 |
| Ranked | #95 of 111 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #107 of 111 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 5.25” woofer + 1x 2” tweeter | 1x 6.5” woofer, 2x 2.5” tweeters |
| Amplifier Power | 22W | 65W |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.24 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.47 kg) |
| Dimensions | 12” x 11.6” x 7.4” (305 x 295 x 189 mm) | 13.2”H x 13.5”W x 6.5”D (336 x 343 x 165 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (1/4”) | - |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes (Stereo-Link, 2 units) | Yes (Stereo-Link) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| App | Yes (ION Sound Control) | Yes (ION Sound Control) |
| EQ | Yes (3-band EQ) | Yes (3-band graphic EQ with presets, in app) |
| Stereo | No | Partially |
| Strap | No (built-in handle) | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| FM Tuner | Yes (6 presets) | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
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