Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Everboom. It ranks #35 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $159.99. The Zealot S97 ranks #62, rated 3.4/5, at $78.62, $81.37 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Ultimate Ears Everboom is the better-sounding, longer-running pick. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Zealot S97. At 2.1 lbs (949 g) it weighs much less than the Zealot S97 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). The tradeoff: Careful placement and volume setting remain important for balanced sound.
Why pick 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 plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Ultimate Ears Everboom. The catch: 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 Ultimate Ears Everboom. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $81.37 saving on the Zealot S97 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Everboom | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.99 | $78.62 |
| Ranked | #35 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #62 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (949 g) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.1” x 3.3” x 4.3” (205 x 85 x 110 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 56.6mm x 56.2mm fullrange transducers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 14W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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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
Ultimate Ears Everboom: $159.99 Amazon $159.99 eBay
Pros: Ultimate Ears Everboom uses 2x 56.6mm x 56.2mm fullrange transducers + 2x passive radiators. Its 949 g, claimed 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, aux input and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Careful placement and volume setting remain important for balanced sound. Warm tuning with an upper-bass boost and rolled-off treble, and the bass does not go very deep.
Full Ultimate Ears Everboom review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 14W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.1” x 3.3” x 4.3” (205 x 85 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 56.6mm x 56.2mm fullrange transducers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (949 g) |
- Links
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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