Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks #39 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $150; the Marshall Tufton ranks #60 and costs $450, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Skullcandy Barrel side: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. Set against that: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
The case for the Marshall Tufton: 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. The tradeoff: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall.
Buy the Skullcandy Barrel. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Tufton and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Marshall Tufton. It ranks near the bottom of the 73 boombox speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the Skullcandy Barrel at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Tufton at IPX2 (light drips).
Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | Marshall Tufton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $450 |
| Ranked | #39 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | 42Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs / 5.4 kg | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Output Power | 60W | 80W |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 9" x 6.4" x 13.8" (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 1x 5.25" woofer + 2x 2" full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX2 |
| Max Volume | 104dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Skullcandy Barrel: $150 Amazon
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.
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 →
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 104dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs / 5.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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Marshall Tufton: $450 Amazon
Pros: 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. 3-way speaker design covers full frequency range in 360°. Sturdy construction with IPX2 rating.
Cons: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall. Not as loud as others in the class. Very low water rating
Full Marshall Tufton review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9" x 6.4" x 13.8" (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.25" woofer + 2x 2" full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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