Short answer: the Zealot S97. It ranks #62 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $78.62. The W-King D9 ranks #91, rated 2.5/5, at $71.24, $7.38 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Zealot S97 is the better-sounding option. 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 links with other speakers (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers), which the W-King D9 cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the W-King D9 lacks. 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 W-King D9 is the longer-running, lighter pick. A compact 4.4 lbs (2 kg) boombox with 60W RMS output, a claimed 106dB maximum level, a measured 47Hz -10dB bass point, IPX6 protection, power-bank output, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 12 for the Zealot S97. At 4.4 lbs (2 kg) it weighs much less than the Zealot S97 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). The catch: Treble rolls off early, limiting air and fine detail, while owner reports note Bluetooth interference and some noise at maximum speaker volume.
Buy the Zealot S97. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $7.38 saving on the W-King D9 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot S97 | W-King D9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $78.62 | $71.24 |
| Ranked | #62 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #91 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets | No |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX6 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) | 4.7” x 12.4” x 4.7” (120 x 315 x 120 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 60W RMS |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm drivers + passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 47Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for 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 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
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
W-King D9: $71.24 Amazon $71.24 eBay
Pros: A compact 2kg boombox with 60W RMS output, a claimed 106dB maximum level, a measured 47Hz -10dB bass point, IPX6 protection, power-bank output, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback. Long-term owners praise its loud, punchy character and useful indoor/outdoor voicing for casual outdoor listening. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Treble rolls off early, limiting air and fine detail, while owner reports note Bluetooth interference and some noise at maximum speaker volume. There is no app or adjustable EQ, and its bass does not reach as deep as larger rivals, so it is better suited to energetic background music than neutral listening.
Full W-King D9 review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2020 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.7” x 12.4” x 4.7” (120 x 315 x 120 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons