Short answer: the Marshall Kilburn II for better sound quality, the Zealot S97 for the lower price. The Marshall Kilburn II ranks #36 of 77 large speakers at $294.73. The Zealot S97 ranks #46 at $65.86, $228.87 cheaper.
What the Marshall Kilburn II offers: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. Watch for: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
On the Zealot S97 side: There is nothing else for $48 with that deep of bass and a reasonable tuning. Set against that: Doesn’t get very loud compared to other speakers in this class.
Buy the Marshall Kilburn II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Zealot S97 if the price matters more than sound quality.
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).
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Kilburn II | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.73 | $65.86 with coupon YZZL10 |
| Ranked | #36 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 77 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 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 |
| Output 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 |
| Max Volume | 102dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
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- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 vs JBL Xtreme
- Marshall Kilburn II vs W-King D8
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Zealot S97
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Kilburn II: $294.73 Amazon
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.
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 →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 36W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
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- Marshall Kilburn II vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
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Zealot S97: $65.86 with coupon YZZL10 Aliexpress
Pros: There is nothing else for $48 with that deep of bass and a reasonable tuning
Cons: Doesn’t get very loud compared to other speakers in this class. Short battery life. Pretty heavy. Many say the S67 has deeper bass, but also gets more distorted
Full Zealot S97 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 80W |
| 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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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