Short answer: the Zealot S98. It ranks #25 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality (rated 3.9/5) and is still sold new; the JBL Boombox 2 ranks #40 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Boombox 2’s replacement, the JBL Boombox 4, is rated 4.0/5 at $549.95.
The Zealot S98 is the better-sounding pick. Zealot rates the S98 at 160W through four drivers, two 134mm woofers and two 38mm tweeters, in a 51.2 x 24.1 x 28.9cm cabinet. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Boombox 2 lacks. Watch for: At 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) net and 51.2cm wide the S98 is a two-hand carry, not a grab-and-go speaker.
The JBL Boombox 2 is the longer-running choice. 24 hour battery life (default volume); 20+ hours even at 60% volume. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 5 for the Zealot S98. The catch: Somewhat bass heavy and boomy.
Buy the Zealot S98. It is rated higher for sound quality; the JBL Boombox 2 is no longer sold new.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot S98 | JBL Boombox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | - | $449.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #25 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #40 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 160W | 160W |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 36000mAh | - |
| Battery Life | ~5 hours (TF card playback, manufacturer) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Cabinet Color | Black | - |
| Dimensions | 51.2 x 24.1 x 28.9 cm | 19.1” x 7.9” x 10.1” (485 x 201 x 257 mm) |
| Drivers | 134mm x2 + 38mm x2 | 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 modes: bass boost, vocal, balanced) | No |
| Features | BT, USB, TF card and line-in playback; RGB lights; TWS stereo pairing; power bank output | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | - |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX7 |
| Lights | RGB | - |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes (TF card) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (5V/2A output) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB Type-C (DC 5V/2A) | AC Power brick |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) (net), 19.4 lbs (8.79 kg) gross | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes (on the ‘S98 with Microphone’ version only) | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 33ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 46Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 140ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| App | - | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Microphone Input | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Zealot S98 compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Zealot S98
- Zealot S89 vs Zealot S98
- Zealot S98 vs JBL Boombox 3
- Zealot S98 vs Zealot S95
- Zealot S98 vs W-King X20
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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 S98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Zealot rates the S98 at 160W through four drivers, two 134mm woofers and two 38mm tweeters, in a 51.2 x 24.1 x 28.9cm cabinet. A 36000mAh battery doubles as a 5V/2A power bank and recharges over USB-C, while IPX6 water resistance, RGB lighting, three EQ modes, TWS stereo pairing and Bluetooth 5.3 with BT/USB/TF/line-in playback cover party and outdoor use. Independent reviewers including Jagist Reviews and YARNZO Tech rate its bass output highly against JBL models. At 7.3kg net with a carry handle it remains transportable. Jagist Reviews and YARNZO Tech’s sound-meter comparisons against the JBL Boombox 3 and JBL Xtreme 4 rate its bass and output highly for the money.
Cons: At 7.3kg net and 51.2cm wide the S98 is a two-hand carry, not a grab-and-go speaker. Zealot publishes no standard battery-life rating, no charging time, no app and no Bluetooth codec list, so real runtime, control features and codec support are unverified; the only runtime figure is a roughly five-hour TF-card playback claim. The 160W rating and the 20Hz bass-extension claim have no independent measurement, so actual bass depth, distortion and maximum output are unknown. Wireless microphone support is not fitted to the standard version.
Full Zealot S98 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 160W |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 36000mAh |
| Battery Life | ~5 hours (TF card playback, manufacturer) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Cabinet Color | Black |
| Dimensions | 51.2 x 24.1 x 28.9 cm |
| Drivers | 134mm x2 + 38mm x2 |
| EQ | Yes (3 modes: bass boost, vocal, balanced) |
| Features | BT, USB, TF card and line-in playback; RGB lights; TWS stereo pairing; power bank output |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Lights | RGB |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes (TF card) |
| Power Bank | Yes (5V/2A output) |
| Power Input | USB Type-C (DC 5V/2A) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) (net), 19.4 lbs (8.79 kg) gross |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes (on the ‘S98 with Microphone’ version only) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S98 Unboxing And Review!!! 😍😍😍 She Is A Beast!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S98 Vs W-king X20!!! 🥰🥰🥰
- Jagist reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast Vs Zealot S98!!! 😁😁😁
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S95 Vs Zealot S98!!! 😍😍😍
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S98 Vs Tronsmart Bang Max!!! 😍😍😍
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S98 Bass Test!!! Beastly!!! 😍😍😍
- YARNZO Tech: Jbl boombox3 vs zealot s98 full sound comparison 🔊🎧 More from YARNZO Tech →
- YARNZO Tech: Zealot s89 vs zealot s98 Full sound comparison (with DB sound meter App)
- YARNZO Tech: Jbl xtreme 4 vs zealot s98. both were released 2024 does size really matter here 🤔let’s find out
- YARNZO Tech: Zealot s98 vs Jbl xtreme 4. outdoor sound test 🔊
- YARNZO Tech: Outdoor sound test between zealot s98 and jbl boombox2 👂🎧🔊
- YARNZO Tech: Zealot s98 vs zealot s89 and zealot s95 outdoor sound battle 🔊
- YARNZO Tech: Zealot s98 water test 💦💧
- flmclau: Zealot S98 vs Jbl Partybox100 outdoors flat mode and bass sound test
- flmclau: Zealot s98 160W!!!quick unboxing and sound test,is it better than Jbl boombox 3?
- flmclau: Zealot S98 extreme bass test Speaker grill removed,the beast unleashed 🔥🔥🔥
- Audio y Mas *🔊: ¡Este altavoz gigante suena increíble! Zealot S98💪
- TElcoPApi: Unboxing ZEALOT-S98 Bluetooth Speaker & SoundTest 
- UFO SoYLX: Zealot S98 Vs Zealot S89 Deep Bass speaker 2025 📟
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Boombox 2: $449.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Boombox 4, ranked higher, rated 4/5, released Jul 2025.
Older model: the JBL Boombox (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5). See every JBL Boombox generation.
Pros: 24 hour battery life (default volume); 20+ hours even at 60% volume. IPX7 rated. Doubles as a power bank. Bluetooth 5.1 with PartyBoost (up to 100 speakers). Reaches 101dB. Measured bass extension of 46Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Somewhat bass heavy and boomy. Discontinued.
Full JBL Boombox 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 160W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 140ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 19.1” x 7.9” x 10.1” (485 x 201 x 257 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 3 review vs JBL Boombox 2 a subwoofer and a 3 way equals heaven? 💋 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 2 vs Onyx Studio 7 big bass battle 💋
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast vs JBL Boombox 2 big bass boombox speakers 💕
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 2 bass monster or the mature Harman Kardon Go+ Play 2 mini for bass?? 💥
- Mateusz Cholewa: 2 x 🔊Teufel Boomster 2021🎵 vs JBL Boombox 2 AC🔌 Power Test Audio🎧. More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- GYMCADDY: Soundboks Go Vs JBL Boombox 2 Vs UE Hyperboom Vs Sony XG500 More from GYMCADDY →
- YARNZO Tech: Outdoor sound test between zealot s98 and jbl boombox2 👂🎧🔊 More from YARNZO Tech →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons