Short answer: the Ranger. These rank #56 and #139 out of 142 portable speakers, and while the S61 is far cheaper at $20 against the Ranger’s $250, the gap in sound quality is severe.
The S61’s cons are blunt: it sounds like a soup can, has no bass at all, and has a weird frequency response all over. The Ranger’s cons are milder by comparison, describing thuddy bass that isn’t as deep as higher ranked speakers, which is still a real step up from having essentially no low end.
The S61 does win on battery life and price, with a rated 40 hours against the Ranger’s 12 plus hours, plus IPX7 waterproofing, true wireless stereo pairing, and a compact single-driver design. It has also been discontinued and is no longer sold new.
One note: the Zealot S61 is discontinued, but it still ranks #139 of 142 medium speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Ranger for meaningfully better sound quality and a more durable, actively sold speaker.
Buy the S61 only if you find one at a steep discount and battery life matters more to you than how it sounds.
Skip the Zealot S61 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 142 medium speakers.
If battery life is a priority, the Zealot S61 is rated for 40 hours versus 12 hours for the Turtlebox Ranger.
Specifications Side By Side
| Turtlebox Ranger | Zealot S61 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250.00 | $20 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #56 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #139 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 3.1" x 3.1" (241 x 80 x 80 mm) | 4.1" x 4.1" x 6.7" (103 x 103 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) woofers | 66mm full-range |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1089 g | 1.5 lbs / 665 g |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Output Power | - | 20W |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- JBL Charge 6 vs Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Harman Kardon Esquire 2
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Zealot S61
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Zealot S61
Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 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
Turtlebox Ranger: $250.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Much better frequency response than the other Turtlebox speakers. Has magnets for attaching it to things. Appears to be quite tough
Cons: Bass sounds kind of thuddy and isn’t as deep as higher ranked speakers. Overpriced. Heavy for the size, likely due to the toughness
Full Turtlebox Ranger review and specifications →
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 3.1" x 3.1" (241 x 80 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) woofers |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1089 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Turtlebox Ranger vs JBL Charge 4
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Bose Soundlink Revolve
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Sonos Play
- See all 85 comparisons
Zealot S61: $20 Discontinued 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. Discontinued and no longer sold new. Discontinued.
Full Zealot S61 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| 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