Short answer: the Zealot S89. It ranks #19 of 113 boombox speakers against the JBL Boombox 4’s #20, and it costs far less to get there.
The S89’s value proposition is specific: bass, runtime, and volume. Our notes call it a great value for bass performance, play time, and max volume in the boombox class, and it likely shares internals with the well-regarded Zealot ZE21. Its 250W output tops the Boombox 4’s 210W, its 40-hour battery beats the Boombox 4’s 28 hours, and its -10dB bass extension of 36Hz reaches deeper than the Boombox 4’s 41Hz. The tradeoffs are real too: our notes describe it as a little rolled off up top and not that balanced through the rest of the range, with clarity that isn’t as good as better speakers and a bass EQ that comes across bloated and muddy.
The Boombox 4’s problem is value, not raw ability. Our notes call its output capability pretty insane for the size, but also call it pretty overpriced for the category, noting it actually sounds worse out of the box than the older Boombox 3 until you dial in the 7-band EQ. It also has no aux input, something the S89 does have.
What the Boombox 4 does hold onto: a genuinely tougher IP68 rating against the S89’s IPX6, and a removable battery with USB-C digital aux input the S89 lacks.
Buy the Zealot S89 for the better price-to-performance ratio: deeper bass, longer battery life, and higher output for less money, if you can live with rougher clarity and a muddier bass EQ.
Buy the JBL Boombox 4 only if the extended-submersion IP68 rating or JBL’s ecosystem and app support matter enough to justify the higher price.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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 4 | Zealot S89 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $193.58 |
| Ranked | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #19 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | 36Hz |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX6 |
| Bluetooth Latency | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) | 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LC3, AAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 210W AC / 200W battery | 250W |
| Dimensions | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) | 21.2” x 10.4” x 9.4” (538 x 265 x 240 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators | 130W subwoofer + 2x 40mm drivers + 2x tweeters |
| Strap | No | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Boombox 4 Vs Zealot S89!!!
- Dominik Reviews: Zealot S89 vs JBL Boombox 4 - JBL Alternative? Sound Test
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