Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks #41 of 75 boombox speakers by sound quality at $159; the Bumpboxx Flare 6 ranks #58 and costs $300, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Skullcandy Barrel offers: 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. Watch for: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. Not as loud as the top ranked speakers. Rolled off treble.
What the Bumpboxx Flare 6 offers: At 5.9 kg, Bumpboxx Flare 6 combines 6” woofer + tweeters with Bluetooth. Claimed 12 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life, ipx6 protection, up to 115db and stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Watch for: There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Buy the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bumpboxx Flare 6 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Skip the Bumpboxx Flare 6 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 75 boombox speakers.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | Bumpboxx Flare 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $300 |
| Ranked | #41 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #58 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 150W |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 24" x 6" x 14" (609.6 x 152.4 x 355.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 6" woofer + tweeters |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) | 115dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Skullcandy Barrel compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore vs Skullcandy Barrel
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential vs Skullcandy Barrel
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
Skullcandy Barrel: $159.00 Amazon eBay
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 Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
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Bumpboxx Flare 6: $300 eBay
Pros: At 5.9 kg, Bumpboxx Flare 6 combines 6” woofer + tweeters with Bluetooth. Claimed 12 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life, ipx6 protection, up to 115db and stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Full Bumpboxx Flare 6 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 150W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 24" x 6" x 14" (609.6 x 152.4 x 355.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6" woofer + tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) |
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