Skullcandy Barrel vs Skullcandy Barrel 2

Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel. Both are rated 3.2/5 for sound quality (#58 and #60 of 98 boombox speakers), and the Skullcandy Barrel costs $162.18 against $189.99 for the Skullcandy Barrel 2, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.

The Skullcandy Barrel is the tougher choice. Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the Skullcandy Barrel 2. Watch for: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.

The case for the Skullcandy Barrel 2: Adds Auracast party linking, multipoint pairing with two phones and a 30 watt USB-C charge out to the Barrel formula, with a 60 watt Bass Boost mode, a synced LED light show, a carry strap, speakerphone and 12 hours of rated battery life. It links with other speakers (Auracast Multi-Link), which the Skullcandy Barrel cannot. Watch for: No measurements or reviews yet, so its rating is estimated from the Skullcandy Barrel, whose bass and output trail the best boomboxes.

Buy the Skullcandy Barrel. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $27.81 less than the Skullcandy Barrel 2.

Worth knowing: the Skullcandy Barrel 2 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.8 to 3.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM 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: $162.18 Amazon $162.18 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)
Aux Input	Yes
Bass Extension (-10dB)	~50Hz
Battery Life	12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth	Yes
Bluetooth Codecs	SBC
Bluetooth Version	5.3
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
Power Input	USB-C
Stereo	Yes
TWS	Yes
USB Playback	No
Weight	11.9 lbs (5.4 kg)

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Skullcandy Barrel 2: $189.99 Estimated Amazon $189.99 eBay

Pros: Adds Auracast party linking, multipoint pairing with two phones and a 30 watt USB-C charge out to the Barrel formula, with a 60 watt Bass Boost mode, a synced LED light show, a carry strap, speakerphone and 12 hours of rated battery life.

Cons: No measurements or reviews yet, so its rating is estimated from the Skullcandy Barrel, whose bass and output trail the best boomboxes. Only splash resistant at IPX5, and at $190 it costs more than the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus.

Full Skullcandy Barrel 2 review and specifications →

Released	2026 (this year)
Amplifier Power	60W
Battery Life	12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth	Yes
Built-in Microphone	Yes
Dimensions	15.5” x 13” x 10.6” (393 x 330 x 270 mm)
IP Rating	IPX5
Lights	Yes
Party Mode	Yes (Auracast Multi-Link)
Power Bank	Yes (USB-C PD, 30W)
Strap	Yes (carry strap)
TWS	Yes

• 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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