Short answer: the B&O Beosound A5 if sound quality matters most, the Marshall Middleton if price matters most. The B&O Beosound A5 ranks #12 of 82 large speakers, rated 4.5/5, at $1,650. The Marshall Middleton ranks #34, rated 4.0/5, at $210.69, $1,439.31 cheaper.
The case for the B&O Beosound A5: At 3.86 kg, B&O Beosound A5 combines 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter with Bluetooth and aux. The tradeoff: Bass is limited by its 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification.
What the Marshall Middleton does well: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Watch for: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
Buy the B&O Beosound A5 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Marshall Middleton when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Middleton is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the B&O Beosound A5.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A5 | Marshall Middleton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,650.00 | $210.69 |
| Ranked | #12 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #34 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| IP Rating | IP65 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| 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) | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 11.2” x 7.4” x 5.1” (285 x 187 x 130 mm) | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 280W | 50W |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (Manufacturer specified) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz |
| Strap | - | Yes (detachable strap) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
B&O Beosound A5: $1,650.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: At 3.86 kg, B&O Beosound A5 combines 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter with Bluetooth and aux. Ip65 protection, up to 101db and mono playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Reviews find the sound fairly neutral.
Cons: Bass is limited by its 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Full B&O Beosound A5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 280W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 11.2” x 7.4” x 5.1” (285 x 187 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Marshall Middleton: $210.69 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Middleton II, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Measured bass extension of 39Hz (-10dB).
Cons: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz. 9kHz treble peak. Not a very smooth frequency response. A lot of Marshall’s added dsp echo which cannot be turned off, very distracting and annoying. It’s like forcing you to listen to your music in an echo chamber. Bass is reasonably deep but artificial sounding and flabby, with no attack and no dynamics. Treble is rolled off.
Full Marshall Middleton review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: 3 minutes ago….. Marshall Middleton Review, true stereophonic, no honestly 😊 More from alanrossreviews →
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- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton - first impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
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- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
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