Short answer: the B&O Beosound A5 for better sound quality, the Marshall Kilburn II for the lower price. The B&O Beosound A5 ranks #12 of 120 large speakers, rated 4.5/5, at $1,650. The Marshall Kilburn II ranks #42, rated 3.8/5, at $219, $1,431 cheaper.
The B&O Beosound A5 is the better-sounding, tougher choice. A premium, dust and waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with fairly neutral sound and a big woofer for real bass. It is rated IP65 against IPX2 for the Marshall Kilburn II. It links with other speakers (Beolink Multiroom), which the Marshall Kilburn II cannot.
The Marshall Kilburn II is the longer-running, lighter pick. A rugged Marshall styled stereo speaker with a leather handle, quick charging and a sound that suits rock. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the B&O Beosound A5. At 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the B&O Beosound A5 at 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg). It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the B&O Beosound A5. The catch: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
Buy the B&O Beosound A5 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Marshall Kilburn II when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A5 | Marshall Kilburn II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,650.00 | $219.00 |
| Ranked | #12 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| IP Rating | IP65 | IPX2 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 11.2” x 7.4” x 5.1” (285 x 187 x 130 mm) | 9.6” x 6.4” x 5.5” (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter | 1x 4” (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 280W | 36W |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (Manufacturer specified) | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~58Hz |
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