Short answer: the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus if sound quality matters most, the Zealot S61 if price matters most. The Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus ranks #21 of 140 medium speakers at $79.99. The Zealot S61 ranks #137 at $20, $59.99 cheaper.
What the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus offers: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same. Watch for: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
What the Zealot S61 offers: 20W output, IPX7 waterproof, exceptional 40-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.2, TWS stereo pairing, compact 665g design, single full-range driver, built-in microphone, AUX input, USB-C charging Watch for: Sounds like a soup can, no bass at all. Weird frequency response all over.
Buy the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Zealot S61 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Zealot S61. It ranks near the bottom of the 140 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Battery life favors the Zealot S61: rated for 40 hours against 20 hours for the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus | Zealot S61 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $20 |
| Ranked | #21 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #137 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g | 1.5 lbs / 665 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 66mm full-range |
| Output Power | 24W | 20W |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) | 4.1" x 4.1" x 6.7" (103 x 103 x 170 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
Other pairings from the same speaker class worth checking:
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Tribit Stormbox Mini
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Tribit Xsound Surf
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Tribit Xsound Go
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Zealot S61
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Zealot S61
Prices on this page were last checked September 1, 2026 at 2:15 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
Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus: $79.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. Identical driver, tuning, and sound to the Thunderbox Plus and the newer Maxsound Plus V2.
Cons: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category. No true wireless stereo pairing between two units, unlike the V2.
Full Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 24W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: All Tribit Speakers Compared - Maxsound Plus, Stormbox, Xsound Go, Maxboom More from alanrossreviews →
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- Alan Ross Reviews: Anker Soundcore 3 vs Tribit Maxsound Plus - Best £50 speaker
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs Maxsound Plus and Soundcore Boost - ultimate travel speaker!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Earfun Uboom Review - full test - vs tribit maxsound and motion plus!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Maxsound Plus v1 vs V2 - upgraded Maxsound Plus tested! 🏅
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Zealot S61: $20 Amazon Aliexpress eBay
Pros: 20W output, IPX7 waterproof, exceptional 40-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.2, TWS stereo pairing, compact 665g design, single full-range driver, built-in microphone, AUX input, USB-C charging
Cons: Sounds like a soup can, no bass at all. Weird frequency response all over.
Full Zealot S61 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 4.1" x 6.7" (103 x 103 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 66mm full-range |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 665 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons