Short answer: the JBL Boombox 3, unless lights on a budget are the point. The Boombox 3 is IP67 rated but has a mid-bass dip that makes bass undefined, boosted bass with a 700Hz peak and weaker mids and treble than the Blast. The Skullcandy Barrel counters with IPX5 water resistance and an LED lightshow, but less deep bass.
Buy the JBL Boombox 3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $204.95 you would save on the Skullcandy Barrel does not close the gap.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Boombox 3 is rated for 24 hours, the Skullcandy Barrel only 12 hours.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A loud, fully waterproof boombox with a dedicated subwoofer, a 24 hour battery and power bank charging.
A water resistant party speaker with a synced light show, bass boost and linking for many speakers.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 3 | Skullcandy Barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.95 | $145.00 |
| Ranked | #27 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 25ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 180W AC / 136W battery | 60W |
| Dimensions | 19” x 10.1” x 7.9” (482 x 257 x 200 mm) | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 20mm drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Strap | No | - |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Watch Them Compared
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