Short answer: the JBL Xtreme 4 for build quality and features, the Zealot S97 if you just want deep bass on a tight budget. The Xtreme 4 ranks #43 and the S97 ranks #66 out of 120 large portable speakers, with a $229.97 gap between them.
The S97’s whole appeal is bass-for-the-money. Its own review notes there is nothing else at its price with that much bass and a reasonable tuning, thanks to a pair of 3” woofers and dual passive radiators. The tradeoff is loudness: it does not get very loud compared to other speakers in this class, and some listeners find the smaller Zealot S67 actually digs deeper, just with more distortion.
The Xtreme 4 costs several times as much, but the extra money buys real functionality, not just sound. Its own cons list flags a strange dip in the upper bass to midrange that cannot be EQ’d out and some upper mids and treble boost at high levels, so it is not without its own tuning quirks.
What the Xtreme 4 adds: an IP67 rating versus the S97’s IPX6, a removable battery, TWS stereo pairing, a companion app with 5-band EQ, and double the battery life at 24 hours versus 12.
What the S97 adds: a standard aux input and microSD playback, both missing from the Xtreme 4, plus a lower per-speaker price if you want to build out a multi-speaker PartyAdd group.
Buy the S97 if bass-for-the-dollar is what you care about and you don’t need long battery life, a rugged IP rating, or an app.
Buy the Xtreme 4 if you want a removable battery, better weatherproofing, TWS pairing, and roughly double the runtime, and the price difference isn’t a dealbreaker.
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 Xtreme 4 | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $309.95 | $79.98 |
| Ranked | #43 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #66 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 220ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 5.9” x 5.6” (297 x 149 x 141 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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