Short answer: the Zealot S97. It ranks #63 of 115 large speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $79.98; the Marshall Stockwell III ranks #79, rated 3.0/5, and costs $249.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Zealot S97 is the better-sounding pick. A budget boombox with surprisingly deep bass for its size, waterproofing, power bank outputs, and microSD and aux playback. 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 Marshall Stockwell III is the longer-running, lighter option. A stylish, rugged speaker with a very long battery you can swap yourself, a detailed app EQ, and power bank charging. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 12 for the Zealot S97. At 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) it weighs much less than the Zealot S97 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Zealot S97 lacks. Watch for: Highs are recessed by default and need the treble control maxed to compensate, still lacking detail even then.
Buy the Zealot S97. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Stockwell III 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.
A budget boombox with surprisingly deep bass for its size, waterproofing, power bank outputs, and microSD and aux playback.
A stylish, rugged speaker with a very long battery you can swap yourself, a detailed app EQ, and power bank charging.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot S97 | Marshall Stockwell III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.98 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #63 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #79 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets | Yes (parametric, via app) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IP55 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LE Audio with LC3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) | 7.1” x 6.4” x 2.9” (180 x 162 x 74 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 44W |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 3” woofer, 2x 1.75” wide-band drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 54Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | Yes (detachable strap) |
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