JBL Boombox 4 vs Skullcandy Barrel

Last updated: October 5, 2026

Short answer: the JBL Boombox 4 for output; the Skullcandy Barrel for a lit-up budget option. The JBL has pretty insane output for its size with a 7-band EQ, but it is overpriced, sounds worse than the Boombox 3 out of the box and drops the aux input. The Barrel is IPX5 water-resistant with an LED lightshow and 12 hour battery life, but its bass is not as deep and it is not as loud as the top ranked speakers.

JBL Boombox 4 vs Skullcandy Barrel

Buy the JBL Boombox 4 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Skullcandy Barrel when the price outweighs sound quality instead.

If battery life is a priority, the JBL Boombox 4 is rated for 28 hours versus 12 hours for the Skullcandy Barrel.

Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Check JBL Boombox 4 price at Amazon ($549.95) →Check Skullcandy Barrel price at Amazon ($157.47) →

Specifications Side By Side

JBL Boombox 4 Skullcandy Barrel
Price$549.95$157.47
Ranked#20 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#55 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
AppYesYes (Skullcandy app)
Aux InputNoYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz~50Hz
Battery Life28 hours (Manufacturer specified)12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
EQYes (7 band)Yes (App EQ)
IP RatingIP68IP67
Bluetooth LatencyAAC 144ms, SBC 48ms-
Maximum SPL115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)104dB (Manufacturer specified)
Party ModeYes (Auracast)No
Power InputAC Power cordUSB-C
Removable BatteryYes-
StereoYesYes
OmnidirectionalNoNo
Weight13.2 lbs (5.98 kg)11.9 lbs (5.4 kg)
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, LC3, AACSBC
Bluetooth Version5.45.3
Built-in MicrophoneNoNo
Power BankYes (USB-C, up to 30W)No
TWSYesYes
Digital Aux InputYes (USB-C)No
USB PlaybackNoNo
FM TunerNoNo
Microphone InputNo-
MicroSD PlaybackNo-
Amplifier Power210W AC / 200W battery60W
Dimensions20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm)11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm)
Drivers2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators2x 20mm drivers
StrapNo-
Lights-Yes
Check JBL Boombox 4 price at Amazon ($549.95) →Check Skullcandy Barrel price at Amazon ($157.47) →

How JBL Boombox 4 compares with other leading options:

Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full

JBL Boombox 4: $549.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay

JBL Boombox 4 ranking card

Older models: the JBL Boombox 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5), the JBL Boombox 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5) and the JBL Boombox (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).

Pros: Pretty insane output capability for the size. IP68 protection and Auracast pairing with other current JBL speakers. Measured bass extension of 41Hz (-10dB).

Cons: Pretty overpriced for the category. Better than the Boombox 3 mostly because there are more 7 EQ bands instead of just 3 and it can be better tuned. Try Oluv’s EQ for it. Out of the box sounds worse than the Boombox 3. No Aux input.

Full JBL Boombox 4 review and specifications →

Amplifier Power210W AC / 200W battery
AppYes
Aux InputNo
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz
Battery Life28 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, LC3, AAC
Bluetooth LatencyAAC 144ms, SBC 48ms
Bluetooth Version5.4
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputYes (USB-C)
Dimensions20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm)
Drivers2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators
EQYes (7 band)
FM TunerNo
IP RatingIP68
Maximum SPL115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)
MicroSD PlaybackNo
Microphone InputNo
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Auracast)
Power BankYes (USB-C, up to 30W)
Power InputAC Power cord
Removable BatteryYes
StereoYes
StrapNo
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight13.2 lbs (5.98 kg)
Check current price at Amazon ($549.95) →Check current price at B&H Photo Video →Search eBay for JBL Boombox 4 →

Skullcandy Barrel: $157.47 Amazon eBay

Skullcandy Barrel ranking card

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 Power60W
AppYes (Skullcandy app)
Aux InputYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)~50Hz
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Bluetooth Version5.3
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm)
Drivers2x 20mm drivers
EQYes (App EQ)
FM TunerNo
IP RatingIP67
LightsYes
Maximum SPL104dB (Manufacturer specified)
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeNo
Power BankNo
Power InputUSB-C
StereoYes
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight11.9 lbs (5.4 kg)
Check current price at Amazon ($157.47) →Search eBay for Skullcandy Barrel →