Short answer: the X20, for $84.99 more. It ranks #43 of 113 boombox speakers at $229.99; the Barrel ranks #60 at $145.
The Barrel’s feature list is real: water resistance, an LED lightshow synced to music, and Multi-Link for up to 99 speakers. Our notes say it still trails the top of the class on bass depth and loudness, with rolled-off treble.
The X20 leans on a 7.5-inch subwoofer and 330W peak power, with cons limited to a rising frequency response and peaks at 700Hz and 1.2kHz.
Buy the X20 for the better ranking. Buy the Barrel if the $84.99 saved matters more to you.
Battery life favors the W-King X20: rated for 24 hours against 12 hours for the Skullcandy Barrel.
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 loud stereo party speaker with a large subwoofer, a 24 hour battery with power bank, and water resistance.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | W-King X20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $145.00 | $229.99 after coupon |
| Ranked | #60 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #43 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | ~42Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) | 15.9 lbs (7200 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) | Yes (W-King app) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App + button modes) |
| 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 | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 330W peak / 200W RMS |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 19.9” x 8.5” x 10.6” (506 x 217 x 270 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 7.5” subwoofer + drivers |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) | 112dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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