Short answer: the Zealot S97 for bass per dollar, the Kilburn II for build. The S97’s pitch is that there is nothing else with that deep bass and a reasonable tuning at $78.62, though it does not get very loud compared to other speakers in this class. The Kilburn II brings a 20W Class D amp, dual 8W tweeters and a rugged leather-handled build, but boosts upper bass and peaks in the upper mids.
Buy the Marshall Kilburn II when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Zealot S97 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Kilburn II is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Zealot S97.
If water resistance matters to you, the Zealot S97 at IPX6 (powerful water jets) holds up far better than the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Kilburn II | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 | $78.62 |
| Ranked | #39 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #55 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 | IPX6 |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | 3 EQ presets |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Amplifier Power | 36W | 80W |
| Dimensions | 9.6” x 6.4” x 5.5” (243 x 162 x 140 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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More top alternatives to Marshall Kilburn II:
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- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Marshall Kilburn II
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Brane X
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Marshall Kilburn II: $279.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. 20+ hour battery with quick-charge (20 min charges 3 hours of play). Rugged design with leather handle and reinforced corners, IPX2 rated. Thrives with rock music. Bluetooth 5.0 with 30ft range. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak. Very low IPX2 water rating. AC charging
Full Marshall Kilburn II review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 36W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6” x 6.4” x 5.5” (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Zealot S97: $78.62 Amazon eBay
Pros: For a compact 3.3kg boombox, the S97 delivers unusually deep, clean-enough bass with a more sensible default balance than many inexpensive Zealot models. It also brings IPX6 protection, aux and microSD playback, power-bank outputs, three EQ presets and PartyAdd linking.
Cons: It is not especially loud for its size, battery life is only a claimed 12 hours, and the bass preset can swamp the rest of the music. There is no app or fine-grained EQ, so the Vocal preset is the only practical way to improve the balance. It is still heavy for a speaker with this output ceiling.
Full Zealot S97 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons