Short answer: the Zealot S97. It ranks #49 of 82 large speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $65.86; the LG Xboom Go PL7 ranks #75, rated 2.4/5, and costs $70, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Zealot S97: 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. The tradeoff: 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.
The case for the LG Xboom Go PL7: A 1.45kg portable with IPX7 protection, a claimed 24-hour battery, aux input, speakerphone capability, stereo pairing and Wireless Party Link. The tradeoff: Independent testing finds weak low-bass and top-end extension, a narrow soundstage and uneven off-axis response.
Buy the Zealot S97. It is rated higher for sound quality than the LG Xboom Go PL7 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot S97 | LG Xboom Go PL7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65.86 with coupon YZZL10 | $70 |
| Ranked | #49 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets | No |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) | 9.6” x 3.9” x 3.9” (245 x 98 x 98 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 30W |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 58mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Zealot S97:
- Vifa Helsinki vs Zealot S97
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Zealot S97
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Zealot S97
- Brane X vs Zealot S97
- Zealot S97 vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Zealot S97: $65.86 with coupon YZZL10 AliExpress 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 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
LG Xboom Go PL7: $70 LG eBay
Pros: A 1.45kg portable with IPX7 protection, a claimed 24-hour battery, aux input, speakerphone capability, stereo pairing and Wireless Party Link. It plays fairly loudly for its size with few obvious artifacts, and its LED-rimmed passive radiators make it a practical, fun choice for casual outdoor listening.
Cons: Independent testing finds weak low-bass and top-end extension, a narrow soundstage and uneven off-axis response. The default Sound Boost processing can make the upper mids and treble aggressive; turning it off improves balance but does not transform it into a detailed or deep-bass speaker. It has no user EQ to properly tailor the result.
Full LG Xboom Go PL7 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6” x 3.9” x 3.9” (245 x 98 x 98 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs Anker Soundcore Motion Plus - bass sound test More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Mega vs the world! (JBL Charge 5, Bose Flex, Sony XB33, LG PL7) 👍
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs LG Xboom XG7
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs Soundcore Trance/Rave Mega
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs W-King D9
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs Doss Extreme Boom
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs Soundcore Rave Neo
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs Zealot S67
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs LG PN7
- LG Xboom Go PL7 vs Ultimate Ears Megablast
- See all 24 comparisons