Short answer: the Zealot S97 for value, the Sony SRS-XG300 for the IP67 rating. The XG300 is dust and waterproof to IP67, but the source calls it overly expensive. The S97 is the value pick, with deep bass and a reasonable tuning, though it does not get very loud.
What the Zealot S97 offers: There is nothing else for $78.62 with that deep of bass and a reasonable tuning. Watch for: Doesn’t get very loud compared to other speakers in this class.
Buy the Zealot S97. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Sony SRS-XG300 is no longer sold new.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony SRS-XG300 is rated for 25 hours, the Zealot S97 only 12 hours.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot S97 | Sony SRS-XG300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $78.62 | $219.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #55 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #67 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets | No |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) | 12.5” x 5.4” x 5.4” (318 x 138 x 136 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 16W RMS |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x X-Balanced woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 54Hz |
| Strap | - | No |
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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
Sony SRS-XG300: $219.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 5, ranked higher, rated 3.5/5.
Pros: IP67 dust/waterproof rating. Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint pairing, LDAC codec support. Retractable carry handle for easy portability. Big boomy bass-forward sound, excellent for parties. Fast-charging: 10 minutes gives 70 minutes playback. Stamina mode optimizes battery. Measured bass extension of 54Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Overly expensive. Bass not as deep as competitors. Upper mids peak. Hollow sounding. Rolled off treble. Not much clarity. Does not float. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XG300 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.5” x 5.4” x 5.4” (318 x 138 x 136 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x X-Balanced woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DLX Willington: Who Sounds The Best Of Sony XG300, XB43 & JBL XTREME3 With Sound Sample BLIND CHALLENGE Reveal. More from DLXWillington →
- Techder Audios: SONY XG300 VS SOUNDCORE MOTION BOOM More from techderaudios →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Xtreme 3 Vs Sony XG300 - Its Not Even Close More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Sony XG300 Review & Compared To Sony XB43
- New Stuff TV: Sony SRS-XG300 Vs JBL Xtreme 3 More from NewStuffTV1 →
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