Short answer: the Soundcore Motion X500. It ranks #27 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $99.99. The Zealot S97 ranks #62, rated 3.4/5, at $78.62, $21.37 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Soundcore Motion X500 is the better-sounding, lighter option. 40W stereo with 3-driver layout (two tweeters + woofer). At 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Zealot S97 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Zealot S97 lacks. Watch for: A little bright on top, a custom EQ can flatten things out a bit.
The case for the Zealot S97: For a compact 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) boombox, the S97 delivers unusually deep, clean-enough bass with a more sensible default balance than many inexpensive Zealot models. It links with other speakers (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers), which the Soundcore Motion X500 cannot. Watch for: It is not especially loud for its size, battery life is only a claimed 12 hours, and the bass preset can swamp the rest of the music.
Buy the Soundcore Motion X500. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $21.37 you would save on the Zealot S97 does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Motion X500 | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $78.62 |
| Ranked | #27 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #62 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 8” x 3.2” (220 x 202 x 81 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm (2.3”) forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7”) upward-firing driver | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Soundcore Motion X500:
- Vifa Helsinki vs Soundcore Motion X500
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Brane X vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Soundcore Motion X500
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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
Soundcore Motion X500: $99.99 Amazon $99.99 eBay
Same family: the Soundcore Motion 100 (smaller model, rated 3.7/5), the Soundcore Motion 300 (smaller model, rated 4.5/5) and the Soundcore Motion X600 (larger model, ranked higher, rated 4.3/5). See every Soundcore Motion generation.
Pros: 40W stereo with 3-driver layout (two tweeters + woofer). IPX7 weatherproof rating. Compact and very portable. Fine build quality at this price. Spatial Dynamic mode provides immersive sound. Gets close to 12 hour battery claim. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-10dB).
Cons: A little bright on top, a custom EQ can flatten things out a bit. Peaks at 250Hz and dip at 1kHz
Full Soundcore Motion X500 review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2023 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 8” x 3.2” (220 x 202 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm (2.3”) forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7”) upward-firing driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Sonos Move 2
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Onn Portable FM Boombox
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Sonos Move
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Bogasing S8 Pro Max
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Marshall Middleton II
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Teufel Rockster Cross
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Mee Audio PartySPKR
- See all 50 comparisons
Zealot S97: $78.62 Amazon $78.62 eBay
Pros: For a compact 3.3kg boombox, the S97 delivers unusually deep, clean-enough bass with a more sensible default balance than many inexpensive Zealot models. It also brings IPX6 protection, aux and microSD playback, power-bank outputs, three EQ presets and PartyAdd linking.
Cons: It is not especially loud for its size, battery life is only a claimed 12 hours, and the bass preset can swamp the rest of the music. There is no app or fine-grained EQ, so the Vocal preset is the only practical way to improve the balance. It is still heavy for a speaker with this output ceiling.
Full Zealot S97 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons