Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Blast. It ranks #2 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $179.99. The Skullcandy Barrel ranks #60, rated 3.2/5, at $157.40, $22.59 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Tribit Stormbox Blast is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. A boombox with bass and volume that rival bigger party speakers, quite neutral sound, and a 30 hour battery. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 10dB, against 50Hz for the Skullcandy Barrel. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 12 for the Skullcandy Barrel. The tradeoff: Lacks a bit of detail compared to the top ranked speakers in other size categories, dip at 5.5kHz.
The case for the Skullcandy Barrel: A water resistant party speaker with a synced light show, bass boost and linking for many speakers. Watch for: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Blast. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $22.59 you would save on the Skullcandy Barrel does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A boombox with bass and volume that rival bigger party speakers, quite neutral sound, and a 30 hour battery.
A water resistant party speaker with a synced light show, bass boost and linking for many speakers.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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
| Tribit Stormbox Blast | Skullcandy Barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $157.40 |
| Ranked | #2 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Tribit App) | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 66ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 12 lbs (5.45 kg) | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 90W RMS (140W peak) | 60W |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 6.3” x 9.1” (400 x 160 x 230 mm) | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x ~107mm (4.2”) woofers + 2x ~25mm tweeters | 2x 20mm drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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