Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 2 on measured sound quality, the Zealot S97 on price. The Boom 2 ranks #10 of 120 large speakers, the S97 ranks #66, and the Boom 2 costs $20.01 more.
The Boom 2’s stock tuning undersells it. Our notes say that with the stock tuning it would rank far lower due to boosted bass and rising treble, and recommend Oluv’s EQ or Alan Ross’s EQ to unlock its real potential, which includes pretty deep bass for the size. Even so, it has a real hardware limitation: a single midrange driver means only the tweeters actually deliver stereo separation. Our notes also flag sound processing issues where bass notes can disappear at low listening levels and recommend turning off BassUp, which makes it too bass heavy.
The S97 is a genuine budget standout for its bass. Our notes call it unmatched at its price point for that depth of bass with a reasonable tuning. The tradeoff is real, though: it doesn’t get very loud compared to other speakers in this class, has a short battery life, and is fairly heavy for its size.
Battery life clearly favors the Boom 2: 24 hours against the S97’s 12 hours. The Boom 2 also adds an app with EQ control and PartyCast multi-speaker pairing, while the S97 counters with an aux input, MicroSD playback, and a built-in microphone, none of which the Boom 2 has.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 2 if you’re willing to apply an EQ preset for the best sound, and want a longer battery and app control.
Buy the Zealot S97 if you want strong bass for the money and don’t need maximum loudness or a long battery.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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
| Soundcore Boom 2 | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $79.98 |
| Ranked | #10 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #66 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 105dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 7.3” x 4” (297 x 185 x 102 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm x 90mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | - |
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