Short answer: the Zealot ZE01, unless the light show is the point. The Skullcandy Barrel is water-resistant (IPX5) with an LED lightshow synced to music, but its bass is not as deep as the top ranked speakers. The ZE01 appears to share the S95’s internals, with the same rolled-off top and middling balance.
Buy the Zealot ZE01. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $7.72 with the Skullcandy Barrel does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot ZE01 | Skullcandy Barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.90 | $162.18 |
| Ranked | #35 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #55 of 90 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 120W RMS / 150W peak | 60W |
| Dimensions | 13.1” x 11.2” x 8.1” (332 x 284 x 207 mm) | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 120mm speakers + dual 42mm speakers | 2x 20mm drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Zealot ZE01 compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Zealot ZE01
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Zealot ZE01
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Zealot ZE01
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Zealot ZE01
- JBL Partybox Encore vs Zealot ZE01
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 ZE01: $169.90 Amazon AliExpress eBay
Pros: Appears to be the same internals as the S95. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: A little rolled off up top and not that balanced through the rest of the range. Clarity isn’t as good as better speakers.
Full Zealot ZE01 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 120W RMS / 150W peak |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.1” x 11.2” x 8.1” (332 x 284 x 207 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 120mm speakers + dual 42mm speakers |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Skullcandy Barrel: $162.18 Amazon eBay
Pros: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. 12 hour battery life. Bass Boost mode. Multi-Link feature connects up to 99 speakers. Doubles as phone charger. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. Not as loud as the top ranked speakers. Rolled off treble.
Full Skullcandy Barrel review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) |
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