Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks #60 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $157.40; the ION Pathfinder 280 ranks #100, rated 2.2/5, and costs $199.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Skullcandy Barrel is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. A water resistant party speaker with a synced light show, bass boost and linking for many speakers. Its bass reaches about 50Hz before falling 10dB, against 58Hz for the ION Pathfinder 280. At 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) it weighs much less than the ION Pathfinder 280 at 23.8 lbs (10.8 kg). It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the ION Pathfinder 280. The catch: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
The ION Pathfinder 280 is the longer-running choice. A wheeled all day event speaker with a very long battery, lights, FM radio and a full graphic EQ that gets loud without strain. It is rated for 100 hours of battery against 12 for the Skullcandy Barrel. The catch: Out of the box, the midrange and treble are uneven enough to sound alternately honky and dull, and the bass does not extend as deeply as better party speakers.
Buy the Skullcandy Barrel. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ION Pathfinder 280 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A water resistant party speaker with a synced light show, bass boost and linking for many speakers.
A wheeled all day event speaker with a very long battery, lights, FM radio and a full graphic EQ that gets loud without strain.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | ION Pathfinder 280 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $157.40 | $199.99 |
| Ranked | #60 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #100 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | 58Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) | 23.8 lbs (10.8 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (High/Low frequency) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 120W |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 14.8” x 10.6” x 17.6” (375.9 x 269.2 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 2x 4” (102mm) drivers |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) | 100dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 100 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Microphone Input | - | No |
| Wheels | - | Yes |
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