Short answer: the Zealot ZE01. It ranks #25 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $126.02; the Skullcandy Barrel ranks #39 and costs $150, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Zealot ZE01 offers: Appears to be the same internals as the S95. Watch for: A little rolled off up top and not that balanced through the rest of the range.
The case for the Skullcandy Barrel: Water-resistant (IPX5) with LED lightshow synced to music. The tradeoff: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
Buy the Zealot ZE01. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Skullcandy Barrel and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot ZE01 | Skullcandy Barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $126.02 | $150 |
| Ranked | #25 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Input | 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 |
| Output 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 |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Max Volume | - | 104dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Earfun Uboom X vs Zealot S95
- Dockin D Fine+ 2 vs Zealot S95
- Sony SRS-XB43 vs Zealot S95
- Zealot S95 vs Zealot ZE01
- Skullcandy Barrel vs Soundcore Motion Boom+
The Two Speakers In Full
Zealot ZE01: $126.02 Aliexpress Amazon
Pros: Appears to be the same internals as the S95
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 →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 120W RMS / 150W peak |
| 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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Bullionix_Gadgets_Reviews: ZEALOT ZE-01 VS ZEALOT S-95! 😱: Sound Comparison!!!
- Techder Audios: ZEALOT S89 VS ZEALOT ZE01 EXTREME POWERFULL VS COMPACTER BASS PERFORMANCE!
- Techder Audios: Zealot ZE01 VS Tronsmart Bang Max SOLID VOCALS VS DEEPER BASS
- Techder Audios: Zealot ZE01 VS Xdobo BMTL Wow Max DEEPER BASS VS LOUDER BASS?!
- Reddit Search for Zealot ZE01 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Skullcandy Barrel: $150 Amazon
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.
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 →
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 104dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs / 5.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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