Short answer: the Soundcore Rave Neo 2. It ranks #21 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $84.99. The Zealot S97 ranks #62, rated 3.4/5, at $78.62, $6.37 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Soundcore Rave Neo 2 is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. BassUp helps at higher volumes but is best left off at lower volumes. It is rated for 18 hours of battery against 12 for the Zealot S97. The catch: Slight treble rolloff.
What the Zealot S97 does well: 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. The tradeoff: 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 Rave Neo 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $6.37 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 Rave Neo 2 | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $84.99 | $78.62 |
| Ranked | #21 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #62 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 107dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| 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 | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 6.1” x 11.8” (198 x 154 x 299 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” woofer, 2x 2” tweeters | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Soundcore Rave Neo 2 vs Vifa Helsinki
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- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Soundcore Rave Neo 2 vs Brane X
- Soundcore Rave Neo 2 vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
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 Rave Neo 2: $84.99 Amazon $119.29 B&H Photo Video Woot $84.99 Lowest eBay
Older model: the Soundcore Rave Neo (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5). See every Soundcore Rave Neo generation.
Pros: Soundcore Rave Neo 2 uses 4” woofer, 2x 2” tweeters. Its 3.6 kg, claimed 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX7 protection, aux input, up to 107dB and limited-stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. BassUp helps at higher volumes but is best left off at lower volumes. Measured bass extension of 44Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 44Hz specification. Slight treble rolloff.
Full Soundcore Rave Neo 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 6.1” x 11.8” (198 x 154 x 299 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” woofer, 2x 2” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 107dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Rave To The Max With The Soundcore Rave Neo 2! 👆 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Longest I have ever been, and I don’t care who sees it! ❤
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Soundcore Rave Party 2 🎇 & Rave Neo 2 🎉 Head to Head Off The Floor. A Family Battle❗️ More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: $350 Ultimate Ears EpicBoom gets Epic Beat-Down 😮by $120 Soundcore Rave Neo 2. Bluetooth Speaker KO🤛
- Flossy Carter: Soundcore Rave Neo 2 / Rave Party 2 - Affordable Party Speakers with RGB Lights More from FlossyCarter →
- Technoid: Soundcore Rave Neo 2 Review - Get the Grill & Pool Ready!!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- See all 60 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