Short answer: the Skullcandy Barrel for better sound quality, the Soundcore Motion Boom+ for the lower price. The Skullcandy Barrel ranks #39 of 73 boombox speakers at $150. The Soundcore Motion Boom+ ranks #47 at $140, $10 cheaper.
What the Skullcandy Barrel offers: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. Watch for: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
On the Soundcore Motion Boom+ side: 80W stereo from dual 30W woofers + dual 10W tweeters with titanium drivers for treble clarity. Set against that: Default presets are all warm sounding with rolled off treble.
Buy the Skullcandy Barrel if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Soundcore Motion Boom+ if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | Soundcore Motion Boom+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $140 after $40 coupon, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #39 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | 52Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs / 5.4 kg | 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) | Yes (Soundcore app) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App EQ) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Output Power | 60W | 80W |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 22.1" x 9.6" (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 15.1" x 5.1" x 7.7" (384 x 130 x 196 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 30W: Dual drivers |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 104dB | 108dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Aux Latency | - | 17ms |
| Battery Life | - | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 33ms |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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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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Soundcore Motion Boom+: $140 after $40 coupon, Discontinued Amazon
Pros: 80W stereo from dual 30W woofers + dual 10W tweeters with titanium drivers for treble clarity. 13,400mAh battery for 20 hours (12-15 at high volume). IP67 waterproof, floats, rugged build inspires confidence. Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint pairing, Soundcore app EQ, PartyCast 2.0 mode. USB-C input, USB-A output for powerbank.
Cons: Default presets are all warm sounding with rolled off treble. Will need a custom EQ to get closer to neutral. A shrill sounding 6khz peak comes out when volume is above about 60%. Not much deeper bass than a Motion Boom and a lot less deep bass than other speakers in the class. Discontinued.
Full Soundcore Motion Boom+ review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Soundcore app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 17ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15.1" x 5.1" x 7.7" (384 x 130 x 196 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 30W: Dual drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 108dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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