Short answer: the Zealot S98. It ranks #25 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality (rated 3.9/5); the Tronsmart Bang Max ranks #47 (rated 3.4/5).
The Zealot S98 is the better-sounding choice. 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. The tradeoff: 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 Tronsmart Bang Max is the longer-running, lighter pick. A powerful, feature-rich party speaker with loud, bass-rich output, app EQ, power-bank capability, lighting, TWS/multi-speaker linking, and separate microphone and guitar inputs with independent level control. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 5 for the Zealot S98. At 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Zealot S98 at 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg). The tradeoff: Its bass-first tuning prioritizes impact over accuracy: upper mids and lower treble can sound unnatural, while fine midrange and treble detail are limited.
Buy the Zealot S98. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Tronsmart Bang Max.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot S98 | Tronsmart Bang Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | - | $229.99 |
| Ranked | #25 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 160W | 130W |
| 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 | 5.3 |
| Cabinet Color | Black | - |
| Dimensions | 51.2 x 24.1 x 28.9 cm | 18.5” x 7.8” x 10.2” (470 x 199 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 134mm x2 + 38mm x2 | 2x ~165mm (6.5”) woofers + 2x ~63mm (2.5”) mid drivers + 2x ~25mm (1”) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (3 modes: bass boost, vocal, balanced) | Yes (multiple modes) |
| Features | BT, USB, TF card and line-in playback; RGB lights; TWS stereo pairing; power bank output | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | - |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX6 |
| Lights | RGB | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes (TF card) | Yes |
| 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 | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes (on the ‘S98 with Microphone’ version only) | - |
| App | - | Yes |
| Aux Latency | - | 16ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 160ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Zealot S98:
- 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.
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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
Tronsmart Bang Max: $229.99 Tronsmart eBay
Pros: A powerful, feature-rich party speaker with loud, bass-rich output, app EQ, power-bank capability, lighting, TWS/multi-speaker linking, and separate microphone and guitar inputs with independent level control. Reviews find it can fill a large room even at moderate volume, while SoundPulse or custom EQ gives it useful flexibility for parties and casual karaoke. Measured bass extension of 39Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its bass-first tuning prioritizes impact over accuracy: upper mids and lower treble can sound unnatural, while fine midrange and treble detail are limited. Deep Bass mode can swallow the rest of the mix, volume control is imprecise and some reviewers hear distortion above roughly 98dB. It is a party tool, not a neutral monitor.
Full Tronsmart Bang Max review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 130W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 16ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 18.5” x 7.8” x 10.2” (470 x 199 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x ~165mm (6.5”) woofers + 2x ~63mm (2.5”) mid drivers + 2x ~25mm (1”) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tronsmart Bang Max Review, JBL Boombox 3 wannabe 130w More from alanrossreviews →
- Techder Audios: Zealot ZE01 VS Tronsmart Bang Max SOLID VOCALS VS DEEPER BASS More from techderaudios →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Triple Threat Match 🔺 SkullCandy Barrel XT, Tribit Blast & Tronsmart Bang Max 📛 Bluetooth Boombox 🔋 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S98 Vs Tronsmart Bang Max!!! 😍😍😍 More from Jagistreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tronsmart Halo 200 partybox and karaoke machine (vs bang max, JBL Encore)
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