Short answer: the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks #13 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $30; the Marshall Willen ranks #14 and costs $120, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Anker Soundcore Mini side: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. Set against that: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers.
The case for the Marshall Willen: Exceptionally clear vocals for a mono speaker. The tradeoff: Not that deep of bass.
Buy the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Willen and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Marshall Willen at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Anker Soundcore Mini at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Anker Soundcore Mini | Marshall Willen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 | $120 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #14 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g | 0.7 lbs / 309 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.1 |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | - |
| Output Power | 5W | 10W |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) | 4" x 1.5" x 4" (101 x 39 x 101 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 75Hz |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Max Volume | - | 88dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Klipsch Austin vs JBL Clip 5
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- Klipsch Austin vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Marshall Willen
- Marshall Willen vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
The Two Speakers In Full
Anker Soundcore Mini: $30 Amazon
Pros: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. Quite cheap
Cons: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. No waterproofing
Full Anker Soundcore Mini review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Klipsch Austin
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Marshall Willen II
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- See all 23 comparisons
Marshall Willen: $120 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Exceptionally clear vocals for a mono speaker. Solid, durable build with IP67 water/dust resistance. Extremely compact - fits in a back pocket.
Cons: Not that deep of bass. A bit of a sharp treble. Discontinued.
Full Marshall Willen review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 75Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 1.5" x 4" (101 x 39 x 101 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 10W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 309 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Danny Pops: Does it surpass the first Willen? My Marshall Willen II Review
- Danny Pops: I WAS BLOWN AWAY - Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 VS Marshall Willen
- Danny Pops: Marshall Willen VS Bose, Sony, and Tribit Micro Speakers
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Willen vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Alkar Audio: Speaker Bluetooth Marshall Willen Review VS Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- MyTechAudio: MARSHALL WILLEN Detail Review Indonesia Vs TRIBIT Micro 1 & Micro 2
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Willen vs Tribit StormBox Micro 2 vs Klipsch Austin
- Reddit Search for Marshall Willen Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Willen vs Klipsch Austin
- Marshall Willen vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Marshall Willen vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Marshall Willen vs Mifa Tango
- Marshall Willen vs Marshall Willen II
- Marshall Willen vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- Marshall Willen vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- Marshall Willen vs Soundcore Mini 3
- See all 23 comparisons