Short answer: the Zealot S97 for bass, the Doss Soundbox XL for features and volume. The S97 is the value pick for deep bass and a reasonable tuning, though it does not get very loud. The Doss brings 32W of output, a 100dB max volume, a 10-hour battery, IPX4 splashproofing, a MicroSD slot, a dual woofer setup with subwoofer and TWS pairing, but it sounds a little hollow.
On the Zealot S97 side: There is nothing else for $78.62 with that deep of bass and a reasonable tuning. Set against that: Doesn’t get very loud compared to other speakers in this class.
Buy the Zealot S97. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $2.63 saving on the Doss Soundbox XL is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot S97 | Doss Soundbox XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $78.62 | $75.99 |
| Ranked | #55 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #65 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets | No |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX4 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 1.2 lbs (557 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) | 11.8” x 2.6” x 5.2” (300 x 66 x 132 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 32W |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 76mm subwoofer, 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 55Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Zealot S97: $78.62 Amazon 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 →
| 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
Doss Soundbox XL: $75.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: 32W output power, 100dB max volume, 10-hour battery life, IPX4 splashproof, MicroSD card slot, dual woofer setup with subwoofer, built-in microphone, TWS pairing support. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: A little hollow sounding.
Full Doss Soundbox XL review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 32W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 2.6” x 5.2” (300 x 66 x 132 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 76mm subwoofer, 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (557 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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