Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks #41 of 75 boombox speakers by sound quality at $159; the Diamondboxx M3 ranks #53 and costs $700, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
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 Diamondboxx M3 offers: An unusually compact 5kg high-output boombox, with a claimed 200W RMS Class A/B amplifier, 114dB maximum level, active crossovers and a choice of large battery packs. It has aux input, USB-C power and TWS pairing, while the aluminum heat sink is designed to sustain loud playback without thermal shutdown. Watch for: Despite its output, bass does not reach as deep as the best large portables and can distort when pushed hard. The treble-forward tuning can sound aggressive, there is no app or EQ to correct it, and the lack of a water rating makes it a poor match for poolside or rough-weather use.
Buy the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Diamondboxx M3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Skullcandy Barrel at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Diamondboxx M3, which has no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | Diamondboxx M3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $700 |
| Ranked | #41 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #53 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) | 11 lbs (5 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 | No |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 200W RMS / 400W peak |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 14.7" x 9" x 8" (373.4 x 228.6 x 203.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 3" woofer + tweeter array |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
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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) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Diamondboxx M3: $700 eBay
Pros: An unusually compact 5kg high-output boombox, with a claimed 200W RMS Class A/B amplifier, 114dB maximum level, active crossovers and a choice of large battery packs. It has aux input, USB-C power and TWS pairing, while the aluminum heat sink is designed to sustain loud playback without thermal shutdown.
Cons: Despite its output, bass does not reach as deep as the best large portables and can distort when pushed hard. The treble-forward tuning can sound aggressive, there is no app or EQ to correct it, and the lack of a water rating makes it a poor match for poolside or rough-weather use.
Full Diamondboxx M3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 200W RMS / 400W peak |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 14.7" x 9" x 8" (373.4 x 228.6 x 203.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer + tweeter array |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
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