Short answer: the Zealot ZE21. It ranks #15 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $187.15; the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi ranks #20 and costs $389.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Zealot ZE21 side: Great value for the bass performance, play time and max volume in the boombox class, though the Zealot ZE41 now beats it out. Set against that: A little rolled off up top and not that balanced through the rest of the range.
What the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi gets right: Loudest speaker in the category. The catch: Bass boosted.
Buy the Zealot ZE21. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Zealot ZE21 is rated for 40 hours versus 24 hours for the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi.
Specifications Side By Side
| Zealot ZE21 | JBL Boombox 3 Wifi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $187.15 | $389.95 |
| Ranked | #15 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz | 43Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) | No |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 20.4 lbs / 9.27 kg | 14.6 lbs / 6.6 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| Output Power | 250W | 200W AC / 140W battery |
| Dimensions | 16.7" x 10.3" x 14.3" (424 x 262 x 363 mm) | 19.1" x 10.1" x 7.9" (484 x 256 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 130W subwoofer + 2x 50mm woofers + passive radiators | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Max Volume | 116dB | 111dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Zealot ZE41 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- JBL Boombox 3 vs W-King X20
- Zealot ZE41 vs JBL Boombox 3
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
- Zealot S89 vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
The Two Speakers In Full
Zealot ZE21: $187.15 Aliexpress Amazon
Pros: Great value for the bass performance, play time and max volume in the boombox class, though the Zealot ZE41 now beats it out.
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. Bass EQ is bloated and muddy sounding
Full Zealot ZE21 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.7" x 10.3" x 14.3" (424 x 262 x 363 mm) |
| Drivers | 130W subwoofer + 2x 50mm woofers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Max Volume | 116dB |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 250W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 20.4 lbs / 9.27 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Boombox 4 Vs Zealot Ze21!!!
- Jagist reviews: Zealot Ze21 Vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2!!!
- Techder Audios: JBL Boombox 4 VS Zealot ZE21 BATTLE OF THE BOOMBOXES!
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Zealot ZE21 vs JBL Boombox 3 Tailgater Special @20ft. The Budget Beast Against the OG Boombox
- Reddit Search for Zealot ZE21 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Zealot ZE21 vs Zealot ZE41
- Zealot ZE21 vs Zealot S89
- Zealot ZE21 vs JBL Boombox 4
- Zealot ZE21 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- Zealot ZE21 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
- Zealot ZE21 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- Zealot ZE21 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
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JBL Boombox 3 Wifi: $389.95 Amazon
Pros: Loudest speaker in the category. Slightly better frequency response than the non-wifi version.
Cons: Bass boosted. Dip at 160hz
Full JBL Boombox 3 Wifi review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 19.1" x 10.1" x 7.9" (484 x 256 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 111dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 200W AC / 140W battery |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs / 6.6 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Reddit Search for JBL Boombox 3 Wifi Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs JBL Boombox 3
- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs JBL Boombox 4
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